Just want to echo what others have said about the importance of documentation - you're in a much stronger position than you might think! The combination of a 70% hour reduction plus hostile work environment creates a solid constructive discharge case. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you write your appeal letter, make sure to explicitly state that you were financially unable to survive on 12 hours per week. Include your monthly expenses (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.) and show how the reduced income made it impossible to meet basic living needs. TWC needs to see that continuing to work wasn't a reasonable option. Also, don't forget to mention in your appeal that you made good faith efforts to address the situation before quitting - those two conversations with your boss about the hour reduction show you tried to resolve things internally first. The fact that you're taking time to prepare thoroughly and gather evidence puts you way ahead of many people who just wing it. You've got this!

Amy, I'm late to this thread but wanted to share something that really helped me with my TWC appeal last year. Make sure to submit your appeal in writing AND follow up with a phone call to confirm they received it. I mailed mine but it got lost initially and I almost missed my deadline. Also, when you're preparing for the hearing, practice staying calm if your former employer makes false statements. My ex-boss completely lied during the hearing and said I was a "problem employee" when I had never received any disciplinary action. The hearing officer saw right through it because I had my documentation ready and stayed professional in my responses. One more tip - if possible, submit your appeal letter AND any supporting documents (pay stubs, medical records, etc.) at the same time rather than sending them separately. It keeps everything together in your case file. You can fax or upload them through the TWC website portal. The appeals process is definitely stressful but you have such strong evidence with that massive hour reduction. Wishing you the best of luck!

I just wanted to say how impressed I am by your persistence in finding resources despite facing such an overwhelming situation with a newborn. Reading through all the advice you've received, it's clear you're being incredibly proactive in pursuing every option available. One additional resource that might help is checking with your county's health department - many have maternal health programs that include emergency assistance for new mothers that aren't well-publicized. They sometimes have different eligibility requirements than the state programs and can move faster. Also, if you're comfortable with it, consider creating a GoFundMe or similar crowdfunding campaign. Many people are willing to help new parents in crisis situations, and it can provide some immediate relief while you're waiting for the official assistance programs to process. The legal advice about your disability denial is spot-on - definitely pursue that angle since proper disclosure of benefit limitations is required. That could be your best path to getting the financial support you deserve. You're doing everything right in an impossible situation. This system that leaves new mothers without support is absolutely broken, but your determination to find solutions for your family is inspiring. Hang in there - you've got this! 💙

I'm a social worker in Texas and wanted to add a few more resources that specifically help new mothers in financial crisis. Contact the Healthy Texas Women program through your local health department - they often have emergency assistance funds for postpartum women that many people don't know about. Also check with local hospitals' community benefit programs - they're required to provide community health support and many have specific funds for new mothers facing financial hardship. Since you mentioned the stress of this situation, don't overlook mental health support during this time. Many maternal mental health programs include assistance with practical needs like bill payment while addressing postpartum stress. The Postpartum Support International website has a Texas provider directory that might help. You're navigating an incredibly complex system while caring for a newborn - that takes tremendous strength. Keep documenting everything with your disability appeal, and don't hesitate to reach out to multiple programs simultaneously since they often have different funding sources and timelines. You're not just advocating for yourself, but potentially helping other mothers who will face this same impossible gap in support.

I'm dealing with this EXACT same situation right now! Got a similar "urgent" letter with a tight deadline and have been calling that main number constantly with zero success. The stress is unreal - they make it sound like your entire claim is at risk but give you no details about what's actually wrong. This thread is honestly a lifesaver though. I had no idea there were so many alternative numbers and strategies to try. I'm definitely going to attempt the 7 AM sharp approach tomorrow along with some of these other department numbers people have shared. The idea of calling multiple lines simultaneously with a friend/family member is genius! One thing I'll add - I found that if you call the main TWC line and immediately press 0 when you hear the automated message start, sometimes it bypasses some of the menu options and gets you to a different queue. Doesn't always work but worth trying when you're desperate. Also keeping my fingers crossed that like most people here, my issue will turn out to be something simple that takes 5 minutes to resolve once I finally reach a human. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and backup strategies - gives me hope that there's light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel!

I went through this EXACT nightmare situation about 6 months ago and I completely understand the panic you're feeling right now! Those vague "urgent" letters with impossible-to-meet deadlines are absolutely maddening, especially when their phone system seems designed to keep you from actually reaching anyone. Here's what finally worked for me after literally crying from frustration: I called the TWC Overpayment Collections line at 800-834-9202. I know it sounds totally unrelated, but they have different call routing and the rep there was able to look up my case and transfer me directly to the right department. Sometimes these different divisions have back-door access that bypasses the main phone nightmare. Also, try this specific sequence when you call the main line: dial 800-939-6631, then immediately press 3-2-1 as soon as you hear any audio (don't wait for prompts). This sometimes gets you to a different queue that has shorter wait times. My "urgent" issue turned out to be that they needed me to re-verify my address because I had moved 4 months earlier, even though I updated it online at the time. Literally took 2 minutes to fix once I had someone on the phone. Don't give up - document every call attempt with timestamps, and you WILL get through! The fact that you're being proactive about this puts you ahead of the game. Keep us posted on what works for you!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the same situation right now! My employer just filed an appeal last week and my hearing is scheduled for early September. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I was absolutely panicking thinking my payments would stop immediately when I got that appeal notice in the mail. It sounds like the consensus is clear that benefits definitely continue during the appeal process, which is such a huge relief. I've already started gathering all my documentation based on the advice here - emails, texts, termination paperwork, everything. The tip about writing out a timeline while everything is still fresh in memory is something I'm doing this weekend. What's interesting is that my situation is very similar to yours - my employer originally said the layoff was due to "restructuring" but now they're claiming I was terminated for "policy violations" that I was never written up for. Seems like employers changing their story is pretty common in these appeals. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's given me so much more confidence going into this process!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been following TWC issues for a while - you're getting excellent advice from everyone! Just to reinforce what's been said: yes, your benefits absolutely continue during the appeal process. That's federal law, not just TWC policy, so it's consistent across all states. The fact that your employer changed their reasoning from "business needs" to "performance issues" without any documented warnings is actually a major weakness in their case. Appeal hearing officers see this all the time and they know employers sometimes file appeals hoping claimants won't show up or will be unprepared. A few additional tips for your August 11th hearing: - Log into the hearing 15 minutes early (not just call in - most are done online now) - Have a glass of water nearby - these calls can be longer than expected - If you have any witnesses who can speak to your work performance or the circumstances of your termination, ask if they can participate - Don't be afraid to ask the hearing officer to repeat a question if you didn't understand it clearly You're going to do great! The preparation advice everyone's given you here is spot on. Keep documenting everything and stay confident - inconsistent employer stories rarely hold up under questioning.

I just wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. I went through a very similar situation about 18 months ago - employer appealed after 6 weeks claiming performance issues when I was originally told it was a "position elimination." What really helped me during the hearing was having a written statement prepared that I could refer to if I got nervous. I kept it to one page with bullet points covering: 1) What I was told when terminated, 2) My recent performance history, 3) Complete lack of any disciplinary actions, and 4) The timeline showing their story change. The hearing officer actually commented that my organization and preparation made it easy to follow my case. Meanwhile, my former employer seemed unprepared and kept contradicting themselves when asked for specifics about these alleged "performance issues." I won my appeal and continued receiving benefits without any interruption. The whole experience taught me that these late appeals often happen because employers get hit with their quarterly UI tax bill and suddenly want to fight every claim to reduce their rates. Stay strong and trust that the truth will come out during the hearing. You've got excellent documentation and a clear timeline showing their story doesn't add up. The hearing officer will see right through their attempt to rewrite history!

Reading through all this advice, I just want to echo what everyone's been saying - you really do have a strong case here! The 7-week delay combined with their complete story change from "budget cuts" to "performance issues" is going to be a huge red flag for the hearing officer. I had a similar situation where my employer waited until they got their quarterly tax notice before suddenly deciding to appeal. What really sealed the deal for me was having documentation that contradicted their claims - it sounds like your positive performance reviews and lack of any disciplinary action will serve the same purpose. One thing I'd add to all the great preparation advice you've gotten: during the hearing, don't be afraid to pause and think before answering questions. It's better to take a moment to give a clear, factual answer than to rush and potentially say something confusing. The hearing officer will appreciate your thoughtfulness. You've been doing everything right with your work searches and payment requests, and now you're preparing thoroughly for the hearing. That shows you're taking this seriously and handling it professionally. Based on everything you've shared, I really think you're going to come out of this just fine. Good luck on Tuesday - you've got this! 🍀