I'm in week 23 of my claim and this whole discussion has been incredibly enlightening! Like so many others here, I was completely confused by the TWC website about what happens with the waiting week when you exhaust benefits. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been such a relief - it's clear that you just submit your regular payment request and the system automatically recognizes when you're eligible for the waiting week upon exhaustion. The consistent 5-7 business day processing timeline that everyone mentions is really helpful to know. It's amazing how much clearer this community makes things compared to the official TWC documentation. For anyone else approaching benefit exhaustion, it sounds like the key is just to treat it like any other payment request - same portal, same work search requirements, and let the system handle the rest. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who recently went through this process. It's such a weight off my shoulders knowing that waiting week payment will still be there!

I'm currently in week 21 of my claim and have been absolutely dreading this exact situation! This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to panic thinking I might lose out on that waiting week payment when my benefits run out in a few weeks. The TWC website is so unclear about what happens when you exhaust benefits versus returning to work. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me so much confidence that the process is actually straightforward. It's reassuring to know that multiple people have successfully received their waiting week payments just by submitting the regular payment request when exhausting benefits. The 5-7 business day processing timeline that everyone consistently mentions is really helpful to know too - I would have been checking my account obsessively after 2-3 days otherwise! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences. This community is so much more helpful than trying to decipher the confusing official TWC information alone. I feel so much more prepared now knowing exactly what to expect when I reach that final payment request!

@Sean, definitely start by logging into your TWC account first like others mentioned. I had to correct my employer info last year - turned out they had the wrong business name listed which was messing up my claim. The online portal will show you most of your info, but sometimes wage details are hidden until you dig deeper. If you can't figure out what's wrong from looking at your account, try calling the employer unit specifically (different number than regular claims) - they were actually more helpful than the main line in my experience. Good luck!

I went through a similar situation a few months ago and what really helped me was printing out everything from my TWC account before making any calls or corrections. Having all the details in front of me made it so much easier to explain what was wrong when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you do end up calling, have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and a pen/paper ready - they'll ask for all that info right away and sometimes the connection is spotty so you want to be efficient with your time. One thing I learned the hard way: if they tell you a correction will take "a few days" to process, it usually means at least a week, so don't panic if you don't see changes immediately.

That's wonderful news about finally getting through to TWC! It's such a relief when you can actually speak to someone who can look into your specific situation. The employer response delay is unfortunately very common, especially during company restructuring when HR departments are overwhelmed. I'm really glad TWC will make a determination even without the employer response - that's actually a protection for claimants so unresponsive employers can't indefinitely delay benefits. The payment advance option is something many people don't know about, so definitely worth exploring for your car payment situation. Thanks for sharing the update - it gives hope to others dealing with similar delays that persistence with calling really does pay off!

I went through something very similar last month! My ID.me verification was complete but my benefits were stuck in "pending" status for almost 4 weeks. Turns out there was a wage discrepancy - TWC had different employment dates than what I reported, and they were waiting for my employer to clarify. The frustrating part is they never sent me any notice about this issue, I only found out when I finally got through to an agent. My advice: keep calling early morning (around 7:15am works best for me), and don't give up on requesting your weekly payments even though nothing seems to be happening. Once they resolve whatever secondary issue is causing the delay, all those pending payments will process at once. Hope you get it sorted out soon!

I've been having this exact same error since Wednesday and was starting to panic! This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea this was happening to so many people. Based on all the great advice here, I'm planning to try the 5 AM approach tomorrow morning since it's worked for multiple people. I'll also try clearing all my browser data first and maybe use incognito mode like others suggested. It's really frustrating that TWC gives such vague error messages instead of explaining what's actually wrong. The fact that we all have to become tech support specialists just to get our unemployment payments is honestly ridiculous, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing solutions! Has anyone noticed if certain payment request days (like Wednesday vs Thursday) seem to have more issues than others? Wondering if server load is worse on specific days when more people are requesting payments. Fingers crossed one of these workarounds gets us all sorted out soon!

I've been dealing with this exact same error since Monday! Getting that "Unable to process your request" message every single time I try to submit my payment request. This thread has been so helpful - I was starting to think my claim had been suspended or something. Based on everyone's success stories, I'm definitely going to try the 5:30 AM approach tomorrow morning. I'll also clear all my browser data and try incognito mode like others suggested. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become IT troubleshooters just to access our own unemployment benefits! The stress is unreal when you have bills due and can't get through their system. Really appreciate everyone sharing their workarounds - this community support is better than anything TWC provides. Has anyone tried calling the Tele-Serv line during peak hours vs early morning? Wondering if phone system timing matters as much as the website timing.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to get through for three days straight and the call drops every single time right when I'm about to talk to someone. It's like they're doing it on purpose. One thing that helped me figure out what might be going on - I called my former employer directly and asked if they had reported anything to TWC recently. Turns out they had submitted some kind of update about my separation that triggered the additional info request. At least now I know what I need to clarify when I finally get through to someone. Have you tried calling super early like 6:55 AM and just sitting on hold until they officially open? Sometimes you can get in the queue before the system gets completely overwhelmed. Also worth trying the 800-939-6631 number instead of the main one - I've had slightly better luck with that line. This whole system is absolutely ridiculous though. How are we supposed to provide information if they won't tell us what they need and then make it impossible to reach anyone? Hope you get through soon!

Hey Freya, I totally feel your frustration - I went through this exact same nightmare about 2 months ago! The dropping calls are the absolute worst part because you waste so much time just to get disconnected right when you think you're finally going to talk to someone. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was going through it: that "additional information needed" message often doesn't show up in your online portal for several days, and sometimes the issue is something completely random like they need you to re-verify your identity or clarify one tiny detail about your work search. Since you have bills due Monday, I'd suggest trying the nuclear option - show up at your local Workforce Solutions office first thing Monday morning WITHOUT an appointment. I know some offices say you need appointments, but if you explain that you have bills due and haven't been able to get through on the phone for a week, they'll usually work with you. Bring all your documentation (ID, social security card, any TWC letters you've received, bank statements showing direct deposit setup). The good news is that once you actually get to talk to someone, these issues usually get resolved in 5-10 minutes. It's just the getting to someone part that's absolutely brutal. Hang in there - your payments will come through once this gets sorted out!