I've been reading through all these responses and wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through this exact process. I quit my job in San Antonio about 4 months ago due to similar issues - management kept cutting my hours (dropped from 38 to about 24 hours per week), ignored multiple safety complaints, and started scheduling me for shifts that conflicted with my second job without any notice. The good news is that I was approved for benefits, but it took persistence and really solid documentation. Here's what I wish I'd known from the start: **Document everything in real-time** - Don't try to recreate your timeline later. I used a simple notes app on my phone to record incidents as they happened, including dates, times, and witnesses. **Calculate the financial impact precisely** - I showed that my hour reduction cost me $640/month, which was more than my car payment and utilities combined. TWC seemed to really focus on the concrete financial harm. **The "good faith effort" requirement is real** - I had to show I tried multiple approaches: informal conversations with my supervisor, formal emails to HR, and even offered to work different shifts to accommodate their needs. None of it worked, but having that paper trail was crucial. **Be prepared for the long game** - My initial claim was denied, but I won on appeal. The whole process from filing to receiving my first payment took about 10 weeks, so make sure you have some savings or other support during that time. From what you've described, your situation sounds even stronger than mine was. The combination of 30% hour cuts, documented safety issues, and schedule manipulation that prevents additional employment is exactly what TWC considers "good cause." Just make sure you exhaust those internal remedies first and document every step. Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions about the process - happy to help a fellow Texan navigate this system!

Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in a somewhat similar situation in Austin - my retail employer has been gradually cutting hours across the board and there are some workplace issues I've been dealing with. What I'm taking away from everyone's stories is that documentation really is everything. @StarStrider and @Samantha Johnson especially - your advice about being specific with financial calculations and exhausting internal remedies first seems to be the common thread in successful cases. @Omar Fawaz - based on everything people have shared here, it sounds like you actually have a really strong case if you decide to move forward. The 30% hour reduction alone seems significant, plus you have the safety issues and scheduling problems all documented. The fact that you've already tried working with management and are planning to file a formal HR complaint shows you're following exactly the process that worked for others. One thing I'm curious about - for those who went through the appeals process, how much detail did you go into during the phone hearing? Did you submit documents beforehand or just present everything during the call? I want to understand what that process actually looks like in case I end up in a similar situation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences so openly - this thread has become an incredibly valuable resource for understanding how TWC actually handles these "good cause" situations!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now at my new manufacturing job! They also hold back 2 weeks of pay and I was so confused about what to report. After reading through all these responses, it's crystal clear - report when you WORKED, not when you get PAID. What really helped me was calling my HR department and asking them to email me a breakdown of my hours for the week. Most companies are pretty good about providing this info since they have to track it anyway for payroll. That way you have documentation if TWC ever questions it later. Also just wanted to add - if you're working 32 hours at $16.50 like you mentioned, that $528 gross will probably reduce your weekly benefits significantly or eliminate them entirely depending on your benefit amount. But like others said, it's way better to report correctly and get reduced/no benefits than to mess up and owe money back later. TWC does NOT mess around with overpayments!

Just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been following this discussion closely - this has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually starting a new job next week that also has a 2-week pay hold, so this timing is perfect. Based on all the responses here, it's clear that TWC wants you to report wages when you EARN them (when you work), not when you receive payment. The key points I'm taking away are: 1. Calculate your gross wages (hours worked × hourly rate) for the week you actually worked 2. Get documentation from your employer (timesheet, hours breakdown) to back up your numbers 3. It's better to slightly overestimate than underestimate if you're unsure of exact amounts 4. Keep records of everything in case TWC has questions later Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the cautionary tales about overpayments. That $2,700 repayment story really drove home why it's so important to get this right from the start. I feel much more prepared now!

This is such incredible news - congratulations on your victory! 🎉 As someone who's brand new to this community and the unemployment appeals process, your success story gives me tremendous hope and really helps me understand what makes a winning case. The preparation you did with those 5 years of performance reviews was absolutely brilliant - it perfectly demonstrates why having solid documentation is so crucial when facing these hearings. Being able to show that you never received proper warnings or performance improvement plans clearly made your case much stronger. While your employer's no-show definitely worked in your favor, it's obvious you had all the right evidence to win regardless. I'm also really encouraged that TWC processed your decision so quickly (5 days instead of 7-10!) and specifically acknowledged your credible testimony in writing - it shows they really do evaluate cases fairly when presented with clear facts and honest testimony. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and update everyone with such positive news. These success stories mean everything to those of us just starting to navigate this stressful system. Hope that backpay hits your account super fast!

Congratulations on your successful appeal! This is such encouraging news for everyone in this community. As someone who's been following TWC cases for a while, your story perfectly illustrates why preparation and documentation are absolutely critical. Having those 5 years of performance reviews ready to counter their claims was brilliant - it shows you understood the importance of backing up your testimony with concrete evidence. The fact that you could clearly demonstrate the lack of proper progressive discipline (no written warnings, no PIP) really strengthened your position significantly. While your employer's no-show definitely worked in your favor, it's clear you had a solid case either way because you came so well-prepared. I'm also encouraged that TWC processed your decision in just 5 days instead of the quoted 7-10 days and specifically acknowledged your credible testimony in the decision letter - it really shows they do evaluate cases fairly when presented with clear facts. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with this positive outcome. These success stories are invaluable for people still waiting on their own decisions and feeling anxious about the process. Hope your backpay processes quickly!

This is such a frustrating situation but unfortunately pretty common with TWC's system. A few things that might help speed up the process: 1. When you call back, ask specifically for the "Employer Services" department - they handle these employer mismatches and can often resolve it faster than general customer service. 2. Have your Social Security number, the INCORRECT employer name they have on file, and your CORRECT employer's full legal name and EIN ready when you call. 3. If your employer uses ADP, Paychex, or another payroll company, that might be what's showing up in TWC's system instead of your actual employer name. 4. Document everything - get reference numbers for your calls and ask for the rep's name/ID number. This helps if you need to escalate. The good news is once they fix the employer issue, your benefits should process normally. Don't let them tell you that you need to file a whole new claim - this should be correctable with the existing one. Keep requesting payments while they sort it out!

I went through this exact nightmare last year! TWC had me listed under some random construction company when I worked in healthcare. Here's what finally worked for me: First, complete the ID.me verification immediately online - don't wait for any mail. Go to ID.me/txworkforce and use your driver's license. This will at least get that roadblock cleared. For the employer correction, you need to be very specific when you call. Ask for a "wage record correction" and have your actual employer's Federal EIN number ready (it's on your W-2). The key is getting them to update your wage records in their system, not just your claim information. Also - and this is important - make sure you keep requesting your biweekly payments even while this is being sorted out. I made the mistake of stopping my payment requests thinking they wouldn't process anyway, and it caused additional delays when everything got fixed. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but I did get all my back payments once it was resolved. Stay persistent and don't let them close your case - keep calling until it's fixed!

One more tip that really helped me - I created a simple template for tracking each work search activity that includes: Date, Company Name, Position Title, Method (online application/email/in-person), Contact Person (if applicable), and Notes. This way if I ever get audited, I have all the details TWC might ask for in one organized place. Also, don't forget that you can count time spent researching companies and positions as part of your job search activities. If you spend significant time on a company's website learning about their culture, values, and open positions before applying, that preparation work can strengthen your application and shows you're being thorough in your search. Best of luck with everything - you've got this!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're doing freelance or gig work while collecting unemployment, those activities can sometimes count toward your work search requirements too! Things like updating your profile on freelance platforms, bidding on projects, or networking with potential clients can qualify. Just make sure any income you earn gets reported properly to TWC. Also, I've found that keeping a bookmark folder in my browser with all the job sites I use regularly makes it much easier to stay organized with applications. Sites like Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, ZipRecruiter, and company career pages. The faster you can navigate between sites, the more efficient your job search becomes! One last thing - don't sleep on local job placement agencies and staffing firms. Registering with them and meeting with recruiters definitely counts as work search activities, and they often have access to jobs that aren't posted publicly.