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! 🍀

I'm going through this nightmare too and honestly, this thread is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! Filed my appeal in early August for a $2,400 overpayment - they're claiming I received benefits while working, but I reported every single hour and dollar through their system religiously. I even called to double-check my reporting multiple times during that period because I was paranoid about making mistakes. It's been over 4 months now with no hearing date, and like everyone else here, I get different timelines every time I manage to get through to someone (which is maybe 1 out of every 20 calls). The most recent agent told me they're "severely understaffed" and appeals are taking 8-10 months now, which means this definitely won't be resolved before tax season. What really gets me is that I've been paying into this system for years through my payroll taxes, and now when I actually needed unemployment benefits during a rough patch, they're treating me like a criminal for their own system errors. I have bank statements, pay stubs, and screenshots of every report I submitted, but apparently that doesn't matter until they get around to scheduling my hearing. The tax refund anxiety is real - I'm expecting about $3,100 back and that money is already earmarked for catching up on bills and fixing my car. The thought of them intercepting it for an overpayment I don't actually owe is keeping me up at night. Definitely going to look into that Claimyr service and the deferral request form mentioned here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we know we're not alone in this mess!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare and it's honestly making me question the entire system! Filed my appeal back in October for a $1,950 overpayment they claim I owe because I supposedly didn't report contract work - except I have PROOF that I reported every single payment through their online portal, including confirmation emails and screenshots of the submissions. What's driving me absolutely crazy is that I've now called 63 times (yes, I'm keeping a detailed log) and have only spoken to an actual human being 4 times. Each conversation gives me completely different information - one agent said 5-6 months, another said 7-9 months, and the last one couldn't even locate my appeal initially and acted like I was lying about filing it! The tax refund situation is causing me serious anxiety. I'm expecting around $2,600 back and that money is already allocated for rent, groceries, and keeping my utilities on. The thought that TWC could just steal it while my appeal is still pending for THEIR mistake is absolutely infuriating. I've been unemployed for 8 months and this refund is literally what's going to keep me afloat. After reading through this thread, I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service and hunt down that mysterious "Request to Defer Collection" form. It's ridiculous that we have to become detectives and pay extra fees just to get basic information about our own cases. The whole system feels designed to exhaust us into giving up and paying money we don't owe. Samuel, I really hope you get your hearing scheduled soon - 5 months is already way too long and the stress isn't fair to any of us!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got my first job out of college 6 months ago and got laid off last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I probably don't have enough quarters either. @Mason, thanks for sharing your situation - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one confused by this system! The advice about checking which base period TWC used is really smart. I'm going to dig out my determination letter when it comes and make sure they calculated everything correctly. One question for the group - if someone worked part-time during school (like 10-15 hours a week for a year), would those wages potentially count toward the base period quarters? Or do you need to meet a minimum earnings threshold per quarter for it to "count"? I had a campus job my senior year but wasn't sure if those small paychecks would make any difference. Also planning to keep better track of my earnings going forward so I'll know exactly when I can reapply. This whole experience is definitely a crash course in how unemployment works!

@Morgan - @Ravi is absolutely right about those campus wages counting! I actually work in workforce development and see this scenario a lot. Every dollar of wages matters for TWC calculations, no matter how small the paycheck. Since you mentioned working part-time for a year during school plus 6 months at your recent job, you likely have wages spread across 6+ quarters, which is way better than having all your wages concentrated in just one or two quarters. This distribution could actually make you eligible even if your total wages seem low. Here's what to look for when your determination letter arrives: 1. Which 4 quarters they used as your base period 2. Your total base period wages 3. Whether you have wages in at least 2 of those quarters 4. If your highest quarter is at least 1.5x your wages in another quarter Don't assume you'll be denied just because the paychecks were small - I've seen people with $2,000 total base period wages get approved because they met all the distribution requirements. The fact that you're thinking ahead about tracking earnings shows you're already learning from @Mason's experience. Keep us posted on how it turns out!

I'm a self-employed accountant who just successfully completed this process last month, so I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: **Documentation Organization Tip**: Create a single PDF file with all your key documents in order - tax returns first, then 1099s, bank statements, and client cancellation emails. This makes uploading much easier and ensures nothing gets lost in their system. **Timeline Management**: While others mentioned 4-6 weeks, mine actually processed in just 3 weeks because I called the TWC customer service line exactly 7 days after applying to confirm they received all my documents. Sometimes a simple check-in call can prevent your application from sitting in a queue. **Work Search Strategy**: For the 3 weekly work search activities, I mixed traditional job applications (about 1 per week) with business development activities (networking events, client outreach emails, professional development courses). The key is being very specific in your descriptions - instead of "sent client emails," write "contacted 5 potential clients via email regarding tax preparation services, including XYZ Company and ABC Corporation." **Benefit Calculation Reality Check**: My benefits came out to about 35% of my previous average monthly net income. It's not great, but it definitely helps bridge the gap while rebuilding your client base. The client cancellation situation you described sounds very similar to what I experienced - definitely document those as "economic conditions beyond your control." You're going to get through this!

I just went through this exact process as a freelance copywriter who lost 80% of my clients in January due to budget cuts. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: **The Application Process**: You'll use the same online system as regular employees, but when it asks about employment status, select "self-employed" and be very detailed in explaining your business and why your income dropped. Don't just say "lost clients" - be specific like "clients terminated contracts citing budget reductions due to economic conditions." **Essential Documents to Gather Now**: - 2024 tax returns (Schedule C is crucial) - All 1099s from clients - Business bank statements for past 6 months - Every client cancellation email (even vague ones help) - Business license/registration if you have it **Key Things I Learned**: - Benefits are calculated on NET Schedule C income, not gross revenue - The system may initially seem to deny your claim, but that's normal for self-employed applications - Start documenting work search activities immediately (networking, client outreach, professional development all count) - Call TWC exactly one week after applying to confirm they received your documents **Timeline**: Mine took 5 weeks total, but I think being super organized with documentation prevented longer delays. Your situation with clients canceling due to budget cuts definitely qualifies as involuntary income loss. Save every email mentioning cost-cutting or service pauses - that's your evidence that this wasn't your choice. The process is intimidating but absolutely doable with the right preparation. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I just went through this exact situation last month - TWC called me about my part-time evening classes at Tarrant County College while I was collecting benefits after my retail management position was eliminated. I was terrified when I got the call, but reading experiences like @Mikayla Brown's really helped me prepare. The investigator was actually pretty reasonable once I explained that my classes were only Monday/Wednesday 6-9pm and that I was completely available during all business hours. I made sure to emphasize that I would absolutely quit school if offered suitable full-time employment. The key thing that seemed to help was that I had already documented everything - my class schedule, my work availability, and my ongoing job search activities. When the investigator asked for details, I was able to give specific times and even offered to email my course schedule as proof. Got my determination letter about 10 days later confirming my benefits would continue without interruption. Such a relief! For anyone going through this now, definitely take @Declan Ramirez and @Sean Matthews advice seriously about being clear on your priorities and availability. TWC really does seem to focus on whether school actually interferes with your ability to work, not just punish people for trying to improve their skills. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community support makes such a difference when you're dealing with these stressful situations!

This entire thread has been absolutely amazing to read! As someone who's been putting off enrolling in some IT certification courses because I was terrified TWC would cut my benefits, all of these success stories are giving me the confidence to finally move forward with improving my skills. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice is - be honest, document everything, emphasize work availability, and make it crystal clear that employment is your top priority. It's also reassuring to see that TWC investigators seem to be pretty reasonable when people are prepared and transparent about their situations. @Sofia Torres (the claims examiner) - thank you SO much for sharing that insider perspective! Knowing that the success rate is actually high for honest claimants with limited class schedules makes this feel so much less scary. Your tip about being specific with availability times is gold - I'm definitely going to prepare exact hours rather than just saying "available for work." And @Mikayla Brown thanks for starting this discussion and updating us on your positive outcome! Threads like this are exactly why I love this community - real people sharing real experiences to help others navigate these challenging situations. I'm going to bookmark this entire conversation for reference when I enroll in my courses next month!