Just to update you on what to expect - the refund process has three main phases: 1. Reversal Processing (5-10 business days): The system has to fully process the appeal decision and remove the overpayment from your account. 2. Refund Authorization (3-5 business days): Once the overpayment is cleared, a separate department has to authorize the refund payment. 3. Payment Processing (3-7 business days): The actual refund gets processed by the Treasury department. So all in all, you're looking at about 2-4 weeks total. Electronic payments are usually faster than mailed checks. And definitely keep checking your account online - sometimes the refund shows up there before you get any notification.

Don't trust the timeline people are giving you. I won my appeal in January and I'm STILL fighting to get my $470 back from TWC. The system is completely broken. I've called at least 30 times and keep getting different answers. One rep tells me it's "processing" and another says they have "no record" of a refund request. Then another says it's "approved but pending". If I were you, I'd start calling immediately and document EVERYTHING - get names, ID numbers of who you speak with, confirmation numbers, etc. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people!

did you have ur hearing over the phone or in person? when i had mine they told me right there that I won but that it could take 10-14 days to process payment. ended up being about 12 days for me. but ya their system is slow AF

Quick update request: Has your payment status changed yet? It might help others to know your timeline once this gets resolved.

my situation was opposite. got the letter saying approved but no payment for almost a month! TWC is just completely random with how they handle things these days

Just to add an important note: Make sure you continue completing your payment requests on schedule regardless of whether you've received the determination letter. Missing a payment request period can create significant complications with your claim. The fact that you've already received a payment is a good sign, but the determination letter is still important because it contains your official benefit information and appeal rights. If you don't receive it within the next 2 weeks, I recommend contacting TWC to ensure they have your correct mailing address on file.

Has she filed her payment requests every two weeks even though she was denied? That's SUPER important!! Even while appealing, you MUST keep filing your payment requests or you lose those weeks forever!!! When my claim had issues last year, I almost missed out on 6 weeks of backpay because I stopped requesting payments during my appeal process!!

Based on your latest comment, this actually makes perfect sense. Your friend isn't permanently denied - she's just having her benefits delayed during the severance period (March 16 to May 11). This is standard TWC procedure. The real question is why aren't the others experiencing the same delay? Possibilities: 1. They didn't report their severance correctly 2. The employer reported inconsistently 3. Different TWC claim examiners made inconsistent decisions Your friend should continue filing payment requests every two weeks. After May 11, she should start receiving benefits if she continues to qualify. If the others weren't properly reporting their severance, they might eventually face an overpayment situation.

my cousin works at twc (not a claims person just admin) and she says they're SUPER backed up right now with all these disaster claims from that storm last month. might be part of why ur stuff is messed up, they're entering things manually and making mistakes

Just to clarify for everyone - under current TWC rules, you cannot receive both regular unemployment and disaster unemployment benefits simultaneously. When a disaster declaration affects your area, the system may automatically create a disaster claim, but a determination should be made about which program is appropriate for your situation. I'd recommend doing the following: 1. Continue requesting payment on whichever claim type you can access (if any) 2. Document all communications with TWC 3. Keep records of all work search activities 4. Contact a claims specialist who can review both claims 5. Ask them specifically which claim type you should be on and have them close the other one 6. Get them to remove any redundant ID verification requirements This needs to be fixed properly to avoid future overpayment issues.

my cousin had 2 pay back $5000 after losing her appeal it RUINED her credit be careful what u say in that hearing

Based on everything you've shared, I think you have a good case as long as you present it clearly. Remember that you're defending against their appeal - they have to PROVE misconduct, which is a higher standard than just showing performance issues. One more tip: during the hearing, the officer will likely ask if you have any questions for your employer. This is your chance to ask questions that highlight your case. For example, you might ask: "Did I receive any disciplinary actions for misconduct before my termination?" or "Can you point to any company policies that I intentionally violated?" Stay focused, stick to the facts, and emphasize that while you may not have met new performance expectations, you were making good faith efforts to do so. That's the key distinction between performance and misconduct.

If your company doesnt do FMLA bc its too small have you thought about maybe quiting and finding a better job with maternity benefits after baby comes? Thats what my sister did and she actually found a better paying job too

To summarize what everyone's saying: 1. Regular TWC unemployment won't cover voluntary maternity leave 2. You need to be able and available for work to qualify for unemployment 3. FMLA doesn't apply to companies with fewer than 50 employees 4. You might qualify for unemployment AFTER recovery if your job doesn't take you back 5. TANF and hospital payment programs are worth looking into I'd recommend getting everything in writing from your employer about their plans for your position during/after leave. That documentation could be crucial if you need to file for unemployment later if they don't rehire you.

my cousin had this same problem!!! she had to wait for appeal but they did pay her all the back money once they fixed it. took like a month tho

One more important thing - when you have your appeal hearing, if the TWC representative asks when you realized you made a mistake, be honest about the exact date. If you say you knew immediately but waited several days to try to fix it, that could hurt your case. Also, keep a log of all your work search activities during this time and be prepared to show you've been actively looking for work. This proves you really are available for full-time work despite the button error. Good luck with everything!

OK so update on my situation since it might help you. After my benefits ran out, I did eventually reach someone at TWC (after literally 46 calls!!!) and they confirmed there are NO extensions unless you have a pending wage investigation that could increase your benefit amount. BUT what they did tell me is that if you find part-time work, you can actually make your benefits last longer because you'll only use a portion of your weekly benefit amount each week. Might be too late for you now but something to know.

Following up on my earlier comment - since you mentioned struggling with rent specifically, you should immediately apply for the Texas Rent Relief program if it's open for applications, or check with your county's Community Action Agency. Many counties still have rental assistance funds available even after the federal programs ended. Also, if you're receiving SNAP benefits, make sure TWC knows this as it can sometimes help qualify you for priority service in some of their workforce development programs. Did you have any luck reaching a TWC representative to discuss your specific situation?

Update: The form came in the mail today! It's asking for details about the hospital stay and whether he's now able to work (he is). We're gathering the discharge paperwork from the hospital and will send it back ASAP. Thanks everyone for your help and advice - this community has been so supportive!

Thanks for the tip! We'll definitely send it certified mail. On average, how long after they receive the documentation did most of you see the payment get released?