my cousin works for TWC and says they have a HUGE backlog right now bcuz of all the layoffs in tech and oil. she said even with expediting or whatever your using it can still take a week or more to get someone to actually review your claim once you talk to them. the person on the phone just flags it in their system

UPDATE: Just got a call from TWC this morning! So it took about 18 hours after using Claimyr. The agent was super helpful and found that my claim was pending because of an employer response issue. My former company had checked the wrong box about my separation reason. The agent submitted a correction request and said my claim should be processed within 3-5 business days. Huge relief! Definitely worth it to actually talk to someone who could see the specific problem.

The whole "waiting week" thing is another TWC SCAM to make it confusing for people to get their full benefits!!! They DELIBERATELY make the questions confusing so people won't claim what they're entitled to. I've been dealing with their ridiculous system for MONTHS trying to get my benefits straightened out. Don't let them intimidate you!!

One thing to remember about the waiting week payment - when you do request it after finding work, the system might ask you to verify your employment details like start date, employer name, etc. Make sure you have all that information ready when you file for it. I had to submit my first paystub as verification when I claimed my waiting week.

I ran out of benefits last month and now I'm doing doordash and instacart to make ends meet... not great money but better than nothing while still looking for something full time. didnt know about the 6.5% unemployment rate thing tho, interesting

One more important thing: even after your benefits exhaust, continue to request payment every two weeks for at least a month or two. This does two things: 1. It keeps your claim active in case any extension programs are suddenly authorized 2. It maintains your work search documentation in the system You won't receive any payments after exhausting your 26 weeks, but maintaining this routine can help if anything changes with extension availability. Also, don't forget that the TWC partners with WorkInTexas.com for job matching - make sure your profile there is completely filled out and updated, as this can help with targeted job referrals.

One more thing! Make sure she requests payment on her designated filing day after applying! So many people file the initial claim and then don't realize they have to REQUEST PAYMENT every two weeks on a specific day of the week (based on the last digit of their SSN). Missing payment requests can mess up the whole claim!

To answer your earlier question - yes, payment requests are also done online through the same TWC account or through Tele-Serv (automated phone system). You'll need to help her request payment every two weeks, and she'll need to report any work and earnings during that period. For the Gmail account, make sure she can access it independently if possible. TWC sends important notices through email, and you don't want to miss a determination letter or appeal deadline because you weren't checking her email. Also, after the initial claim is processed (usually 2-3 weeks), she'll receive a Statement of Benefits in the mail that shows her weekly benefit amount (WBA). Check this carefully - if there are errors in her work history, this is when you'll see them reflected in a lower benefit amount.

UI claim specialist here. This 'inactive status' situation is extremely common, especially in industries like warehousing, retail, and hospitality. You qualify for benefits under TWC rules as long as: 1) Your reduction in hours was not your fault (which appears to be the case) 2) You're available to work (make sure you indicate this) 3) You're actively seeking work (minimum 3 work search activities per week) When you file, select 'still employed but hours reduced' and clearly explain your situation. If approved, you'll need to submit payment requests every two weeks and report any hours/wages if your employer does eventually give you some shifts. If your initial claim is denied, immediately file an appeal - you have 14 calendar days to do so. Many employers contest these claims despite them being legitimate, and appeals are often successful when the facts show zero hours for an extended period.

my company did this to me and called it 'temporarily furloughed' but it was just a way to not lay people off officially. i got unemployment no problem!! just make sure you do your work searches even though technically your still employed!

Off topic but whatever happend to that TWC online chat feature they were supposed to roll out? Would be so much easier than these phone calls that never go through. Every time I check the website it still says "coming soon" but it's been that way for ages. Anyone actually seen it working?

Just checking in - were you able to submit your payment request and explain the job refusal situation? Hope it went smoothly.

One more important thing: review the TWC rules about what constitutes "misconduct" under Texas unemployment law. It's defined as "mismanagement of a position of employment by action or inaction, neglect that jeopardizes the employer's property, putting co-workers' safety at risk, or intentional wrongdoing or malfeasance." A legitimate reduction in force or position elimination is NOT misconduct. If your termination letter clearly states your position was eliminated, that's strong evidence in your favor. Also, during the hearing, if your employer brings up alleged misconduct that they never previously documented or discussed with you, point that out to the hearing officer. TWC typically expects employers to have given employees warnings and opportunities to correct behavior before termination if it was truly for misconduct.

make sure u send any documents you plan to use to BOTH the hearing officer AND your former employer before the hearing. there are rules about when these need to be submitted. if u try to introduce new evidence during the hearing that you didn't share beforehand they might not accept it!!

my sister works at a bank and she says twc payments usually hit accounts overnight so if u requested thursday you'd probably see it friday morning or monday morning since banks dont process on weekends

Update: The payment just hit my account this morning! So it took exactly 2 business days (Thursday request -> Monday deposit). Thanks everyone for your help and advice. Such a relief to have this sorted before rent is due!

After reading all the comments and your responses, it sounds like your claim is likely delayed due to employer verification. Since you mentioned the hotel closed completely, TWC may be having trouble confirming the closure. Here's what you can do:\n\n1. If you have any documentation of the closure (news articles, company emails, WARN notice), upload it to your TWC portal under \

Thank you so much! I do have an email from our general manager announcing the closure. I'll scan and upload that tonight. I also found a local news article about the closure online. If I don't hear back by next week, I think I'll try that Claimyr service out of desperation. Really appreciate everyone's help!

wait so they TOLD u that gifts from friends count?? that makes no sense. did they say anything about how theyd even know about cash that wasnt from ur job???

If you really wanna hear something crazy I got furloughed last year then they gave us all "retention bonuses" to stay with the company even though we weren't working any hours? Makes no sense. TWC counted that against my benefits even though I wasn't actually working to earn it. The whole system is weird.