This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got laid off in January but didn't file until February (kicking myself for waiting). My claim just got approved yesterday and I'm also looking at several weeks of back pay. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is making sure you submit those payment requests for all the prior weeks, which I honestly had no idea about. The TWC system definitely doesn't make it obvious that you need to do this step. Going to log in right now and look for that "Prior Claim Weeks" option. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's so much better than trying to navigate this alone!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process recently. Like others have mentioned, TWC does typically pay back weeks as a lump sum, but the key thing is making sure you've actually requested payment for each period. I made the mistake of assuming it would be automatic once my claim was approved - it's not! You have to go in and manually request each two-week period you're eligible for. Also, a heads up - when you get that lump sum payment, make sure to set aside money for taxes if you didn't have them withheld. I got hit with a surprise tax bill because I forgot that unemployment benefits are taxable income. The larger the back pay amount, the bigger potential tax impact. But overall, once you get through the payment request process correctly, TWC is usually pretty reliable about getting the money to you within a few business days. Sounds like you're on the right track now!

This exact thing happened to me 3 weeks ago and I completely understand the panic! After going through this nightmare myself, here's my advice: Call the TWC customer service line at (800) 939-6631 right when they open at 8:00 AM. I literally set an alarm for 7:58 AM and started dialing at exactly 8:00. You'll still be on hold for 1-3 hours but at least you're in the queue early. Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and any recent pay stubs ready. When you finally get through, explain that your account was flagged in error and you need it reviewed immediately. Be polite but firm - ask for a case number and the rep's name. In my case, they said it was an "automated system error" and cleared it within 48 hours after the call. The whole system is completely broken but don't give up! Most of these fraud flags are false positives. Stay persistent and you'll get through this mess! 💪

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now and it's such a relief to find others dealing with it too! My account got flagged yesterday completely out of nowhere - I've been filing correctly for months and suddenly I'm locked out for "suspected fraud." The stress is unreal because I depend on these benefits to pay rent. Reading through all these comments is both terrifying and hopeful. It sounds like this is happening to a ton of people and their fraud detection system is just completely broken. I'm going to try calling that direct fraud hotline number (800) 252-3642 that Oliver mentioned at exactly 8 AM tomorrow with all my documents ready. Has anyone had success getting through on weekends or are weekdays the only option? I'm worried about taking time off work to deal with this but it sounds like that might be necessary. This whole situation is so frustrating - we're already struggling financially and then they make us jump through hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to! 😤 Will definitely keep everyone posted on how it goes. Thanks for all the detailed advice and phone numbers - this community is a lifesaver! 🙏

I've been lurking on this thread for days because I'm having the exact same nightmare with TWC's website! Just wanted to add my experience - I finally got through this morning using a combination of tips from here. What worked for me: 5:50am filing time, Chrome in incognito mode, disconnected from my work VPN (huge difference!), used ethernet cable instead of WiFi, and completely closed my password manager. The game changer was actually clearing my browser cache AND cookies before starting - not just cache like some sites suggest. Also discovered that my browser's translate extension was somehow interfering even though the site is in English. Once I disabled all extensions, the connection was much more stable. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - I noticed the site works better if you don't use the browser's zoom function at all. I usually zoom to 110% for better readability but keeping it at exactly 100% seemed to help with stability. It's absolutely insane that we need this many workarounds for a basic government service, but this thread has been a lifesaver. Thanks to everyone for sharing your solutions - you've basically created the TWC troubleshooting guide that should exist but doesn't!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past month and this thread has been absolutely incredible! After trying probably every combination of browsers, times, and devices, I finally got through yesterday using what I'm calling the "nuclear option" approach based on all the tips here. My winning combination: 5:30am filing on Wednesday, completely fresh browser install (uninstalled and reinstalled Chrome), used my neighbor's WiFi instead of my own (with permission!), disabled literally every extension and plugin, cleared all browsing data, used my phone's mobile data as backup, and had everything pre-written in a physical notebook so I could type it all manually. The most important discovery for me was that my home internet provider (Spectrum) seems to have some kind of conflict with TWC's system during peak hours. Switching to a different network made a huge difference in connection stability. Also want to add something I haven't seen mentioned - if you're using Windows, try temporarily disabling Windows Defender's real-time protection while filing. I know it sounds risky, but like the antivirus suggestions others made, it seemed to help with the connection issues. This thread should honestly be sent to TWC administrators as evidence of how broken their system is. The fact that dozens of people need to share this many technical workarounds just to access basic unemployment services is completely unacceptable. But thank you all for creating this amazing troubleshooting community - you've saved my sanity!

To directly answer your question: Yes, TWC can potentially backdate your claim, but it's not automatic and not guaranteed. Here's what you need to know: 1. Call TWC as soon as possible and specifically request backdating. Explain why you delayed filing (they'll need a good reason) 2. If approved for backdating, you'll need to certify for those missed weeks by requesting payment for each week individually 3. You must have been eligible during those weeks, including meeting the work search requirement (3 work search activities per week) 4. Document whatever job search activities you can remember doing during those weeks (applications, interviews, resume submissions, networking) 5. Be prepared that they might only approve partial backdating or none at all depending on your circumstances The most important thing now is to start requesting payments on your current claim according to your payment request schedule and continue meeting work search requirements going forward.

Just want to add that when you do call TWC about backdating, be prepared to wait on hold for a really long time - sometimes hours. I'd recommend calling right when they open (usually 8am) for the best chance of getting through. Also, have your termination paperwork ready and any documentation of job search activities you did during those 3 weeks, even if it's just a rough list of companies you applied to. The agent will likely ask for specific details about why you waited to file, so think through your explanation beforehand. Being overwhelmed and focusing on job searching isn't always considered "good cause" by TWC standards, but it's worth trying. Good luck!

Good question @Lily Young! Contract/1099 applications definitely count toward your work search activities - TWC considers any legitimate job search effort valid, whether it's W-2 or 1099 positions. What matters is that you're actively seeking work that matches your skills and experience. Just make sure to keep detailed records of each application including the company name, position, date applied, and method (online, in person, etc.). You can also count networking events, job fairs, career counseling sessions, and even creating/updating professional profiles on sites like LinkedIn as work search activities. The key is showing consistent effort to find employment. Since you're in banking, I'd suggest mixing both traditional employment applications with contract opportunities since the financial sector often uses both types of positions.

I went through something very similar earlier this year! Filed for TWC after being laid off from my corporate job, then did a week of freelance work that ended up not working out. The key things that helped me: 1) File your claim immediately - don't wait, as your benefit year starts from when you apply 2) Be completely honest about the 1099 work when you do your weekly payment request for that week 3) Keep any text/email communication about why the contractor work ended (even if it's just "project scope changed") 4) Remember that your eligibility is based on your main W-2 job from the banking position, not the short contractor work. The 1099 earnings will just reduce that one week's benefit slightly, but won't affect your overall claim. TWC actually handles these mixed work situations pretty routinely - you're not the first person to take temporary work while job hunting! Just document everything and you should be fine.