I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation and it's been incredibly frustrating! Filed my appeal on January 5th after they wrongly classified my separation as "voluntary quit" when I was actually laid off from my hotel job due to seasonal downsizing. It's now been over 8 weeks with absolutely zero communication. What finally helped me make some progress was following the advice I've seen throughout this thread: **Called 512-463-2826 (Appeals Department) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday** - After weeks of getting nowhere with the main TWC line, I actually got through to someone who confirmed my appeal is in their system. They warned me processing times are currently 10-12 weeks due to massive backlogs. **Sent a fax to 512-475-2044** with my claim ID, appeal date, and status request - Got a callback within 4 business days which was way faster than any phone attempts. **Double-checked addresses in BOTH systems** - This was huge! Found out my appeals system address was outdated even though I'd updated my regular TWC account multiple times. They really don't sync automatically. The financial stress while waiting has been brutal. I've been doing Instacart and odd jobs just to survive, but reading everyone's success stories here keeps me motivated to stick it out. Hotel/restaurant layoffs seem to have decent success rates when you have proper documentation of the downsizing. For anyone else waiting, the real timeline seems to be 8-12 weeks minimum right now, not the fake "10 days" on their website. Keep requesting those payments every two weeks even though you're not getting them - crucial for backpay if you win! Don't give up - this system is completely broken but persistence really does seem to pay off eventually!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the complete silence from TWC after filing an appeal is absolutely maddening, especially when you're stressed about rent and basic expenses. I went through something very similar about 8 months ago and completely understand the frustration. Here's what I learned that might help: **Call 512-463-2826 (Appeals Department) at exactly 8:00 AM** - This is the direct appeals line, not the main TWC number that everyone gets stuck on. I had much better luck getting through in the first 15-20 minutes after they open. **Try faxing 512-475-2044** - Include your claim ID, January 7th appeal date, and request for status update. I know fax seems ancient, but I actually got a response within 3 days after weeks of failed phone calls. **Double-check your mailing address in BOTH systems** - This is crucial! The regular TWC account and appeals system don't sync addresses automatically. Many people miss their hearings because notices get sent to old addresses. **Keep requesting payments every two weeks** - Even though you're not getting paid during the appeal, continue requesting. This keeps your claim active and is required for backpay if you win. The realistic timeline right now seems to be 8-12 weeks based on everyone's experiences, not the misleading "10 days" they claim on their website. Your January 7th filing means you should hopefully hear something within the next few weeks. Restaurant layoff appeals actually have pretty good success rates when you have documentation of the downsizing. Make sure you organize all those emails from your manager about staff reduction - that evidence will be crucial for your hearing. Don't file another appeal as that will reset your place in line. The system is completely broken but persistence really does pay off. I eventually won my case and got full backpay for all the weeks I waited. Hang in there!

I've been navigating a similar situation for about 8 months now and wanted to share some insights that might help! Working part-time with variable hours while collecting partial unemployment can definitely work, but there are some key things to understand: **You can absolutely search for and accept another part-time job while receiving benefits** - TWC doesn't require you to only pursue full-time employment. The system is designed to help people transition back to stable work, and that often means building up multiple part-time positions. **The magic number to remember is your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)**. TWC calculates: Your WBA minus 30% of your WBA, then subtracts your total gross weekly earnings. As long as the result is positive, you'll receive some benefit payment. **Critical documentation tip**: Start keeping a simple log RIGHT NOW. Track your work hours by the actual dates you worked (not when you got paid), your gross earnings for that TWC week (Sunday-Saturday), and all your work search activities with proof saved. I learned this the hard way when I got selected for an audit. **Work search requirements don't change** - you still need 3 documented activities per week regardless of your current employment. But these can include updating your WorkInTexas profile, registering with temp agencies, following up on applications, and yes, applying for part-time positions absolutely counts! The fluctuating payments can be stressful when you're trying to budget, but once you get into a rhythm with proper reporting, it really does provide that crucial financial bridge. The key is consistency and accuracy with your documentation. You're asking all the right questions to set yourself up for success!

I've been through almost exactly this situation! Working part-time with unpredictable hours (12-25/week at a restaurant) while collecting partial unemployment benefits. Here's what I learned that might help: **Yes, you can definitely get benefits while searching for another part-time job** - TWC doesn't require you to only look for full-time work. As long as your combined earnings from all part-time jobs stay under your weekly benefit amount (after the 30% deduction), you'll still qualify. **The work search requirement stays the same** - you still need to complete and document 3 work search activities every single week, even though you're already employed part-time. This was a surprise to me initially! These activities can include job applications, updating your WorkInTexas profile, contacting staffing agencies, following up on previous applications, etc. **Get your reporting timing right** - This is crucial and where I made my biggest mistakes early on. Report your earnings based on when you actually WORKED the hours, not when you received your paycheck. TWC's benefit week runs Sunday through Saturday. **Start documenting everything immediately** - Keep a simple weekly log of your work dates, hours, earnings, and work search activities with screenshots/confirmations saved. TWC can audit you randomly and ask for proof going back weeks or months. One thing that really helped me was creating a Sunday evening routine where I spend 15 minutes reviewing the previous week's work and planning my upcoming work search activities. It prevents those stressful scrambles when it's time to submit your payment request. The fluctuating payments can be nerve-wracking when budgeting, but this system really can provide that financial bridge while you build more stable income. Hang in there - you're asking the right questions and clearly want to do this correctly!

Hey Ethan! I totally understand your panic - I was in the exact same situation when I first started my unemployment claim a couple months ago. That first work search log is so stressful when you're not sure what counts! But here's some great news: you're actually in much better shape than you think! From what you've described, you already have your 3 activities: 1. Your first job application (with email confirmation) 2. Your second job application (with email confirmation) 3. All that time you spent researching companies and figuring out WorkInTexas - this 100% counts as job search preparation! I made the exact same mistake thinking I could only apply through WorkInTexas. The hours I spent learning that system, setting up my profile, and researching employers all counted when I documented them properly. Just document it like: "3/28/25: Spent 2+ hours researching employers in my field and setting up WorkInTexas profile - created account, uploaded resume, learned search features." TWC is pretty understanding with first-time filers who are making genuine efforts. Your whole claim won't be rejected over this - worst case they might ask for clarification, but you have documentation. Just make sure to consistently do 3 clear activities each week going forward. The first week is always the scariest because you're learning the system, but it gets so much easier! You've got this!

Hey Ethan! I can totally understand your panic - I was in almost the exact same situation when I first started collecting unemployment about 6 months ago. That first work search log feels so overwhelming when you're new to the system! But here's the thing that should help calm your nerves: you're actually in much better shape than you realize. From everything you've described, you likely already have your 3 required activities covered: 1. Your first job application (keep that confirmation email!) 2. Your second job application (keep that confirmation email too!) 3. All that time you spent researching companies and learning how to navigate WorkInTexas - this absolutely counts as legitimate job search preparation! I made the exact same mistake thinking WorkInTexas was the only place I was supposed to apply. Turns out all those hours I spent setting up my profile, figuring out how the search functions work, and researching potential employers definitely counted when I documented them properly. For your documentation, just write something like: "3/28/25: Spent 2-3 hours researching potential employers in my field and setting up WorkInTexas profile - created account, uploaded resume, learned search functions and job alert features." Don't stress about your entire claim being rejected - TWC is generally pretty understanding with first-time filers who are clearly making genuine efforts. The worst that might happen is they ask for clarification, but you have documentation. Just make sure to consistently hit 3 clear activities each week going forward. The first week is always the scariest because you're learning all the rules and requirements, but it gets so much easier once you establish a routine. You've totally got this!

Just wanted to add one more strategy that worked for me when I was in a similar panic situation - try calling the TWC Technical Support line at 800-939-6631 option 1, then option 3. I know it sounds weird since it's for website issues, but sometimes their tech support can transfer you to customer service or at least tell you what department is flagging your account. Also, if you have any documentation from your previous employers (like separation notices or pay stubs), have those ready when you call. My urgent letter was about employment verification, and having my paperwork ready made the call go super smooth once I finally got through. One last tip - if all else fails and you're running out of time, show up in person at your local Workforce Solutions office with all your documentation and a written statement explaining your attempts to reach TWC by phone. They can't resolve it directly, but they can document your compliance efforts and sometimes facilitate contact with TWC on your behalf. Better to have that paper trail than miss the deadline completely! Don't let this broken system defeat you - you're doing everything right by being proactive and persistent!

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'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed my claim 6 days ago after getting laid off from my manufacturing job (plant downsizing eliminated my whole department). The anxiety about bills and not knowing when I'll hear back is definitely getting to me too. This thread has been absolutely incredible though - I had no idea about checking the correspondence inbox daily or that I could start requesting payments before getting approved! @Royal_GM_Mark your insider perspective about the 14-18 day timeline for straightforward layoffs is so reassuring. I've immediately started implementing all the advice here: set a daily 8:30am alarm to check correspondence, began my payment requests (felt weird but glad I did it), and I'm creating a tracking spreadsheet tonight. @TillyCombatwarrior with your 7-year work history and clear layoff situation, you should definitely be in that fast-processing category! The financial stress is real (I'm down to about 2.5 weeks of savings) but seeing how many people have successfully gotten through this exact process gives me so much hope. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it makes this whole overwhelming process feel so much more manageable knowing we're not alone in it!

I'm on day 11 of waiting after filing my claim following a layoff from my healthcare administration job (hospital downsizing). This thread has been absolutely incredible - I was completely lost before finding this discussion! @Royal_GM_Mark your insider perspective about the 14-18 day timeline for straightforward layoffs has been such a relief to hear. I had been making all the classic mistakes: only checking correspondence every few days, didn't know I could request payments before approval, and wasn't properly tracking my work search activities. Now I'm checking my inbox every morning at 8am (set a phone alarm like others suggested), started my payment requests even though it felt weird at first, and created a simple tracking spreadsheet last night. @TillyCombatwarrior your situation with 7 years at the same company and a legitimate layoff sounds very straightforward - you should definitely be in that faster processing category! The financial stress is real (I'm down to about 2 weeks of expenses) but seeing how many people with similar situations have successfully gotten through this process gives me so much hope. Thank you everyone for creating such an amazing support network - it makes this overwhelming process feel so much less scary when you know you're not going through it alone!