I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation - the combination of overpayment deductions and financial uncertainty is really tough to handle. But I have great news that should ease your worries: your 401K withdrawal will NOT affect your TWC unemployment benefits at all! I went through something very similar last year when I had overpayment deductions and needed to access my retirement savings. TWC has a clear policy that only "earned income" from actual work counts against your benefits. Your 401K withdrawal is classified as a retirement distribution, which is completely different and doesn't impact your unemployment payments. Here's what you can count on: - Your current $349 weekly payments will continue unchanged - You don't need to report the withdrawal on your payment request forms - The overpayment deduction timeline stays exactly the same - This won't trigger any new issues with your claim I'd recommend calling TWC to get a written statement of your remaining overpayment balance - it really helps with planning and peace of mind to know exactly when those deductions will end. When you call, feel free to mention your withdrawal casually. The representatives actually appreciate transparency and will confirm it doesn't affect your benefits. The one thing to prepare for is the tax impact next year - definitely set aside about 30% of that $8,000 for income taxes and the 10% early withdrawal penalty. But that's a future issue to handle, not something that affects your current benefits. You're making smart decisions to get through a difficult time. This is exactly what retirement accounts are designed for during genuine financial emergencies. Focus on the fact that your unemployment benefits are secure while you work through this temporary rough patch!

I'm so glad you found this community and got such detailed, helpful responses! I went through a nearly identical situation about 4 months ago - TWC overpayment deductions from a 2020 reporting error plus having to withdraw $6,500 from my 401K to cover urgent expenses while my benefits were reduced. The stress you're feeling is completely understandable, but everyone here has given you accurate information: your 401K withdrawal will NOT affect your unemployment benefits at all. TWC only considers earned income from actual work - retirement distributions are treated entirely separately. A few additional thoughts that might help: - Consider this withdrawal an investment in your financial stability during a temporary crisis - The written overpayment balance statement from TWC is gold - it transformed my anxiety into a concrete timeline I could plan around - Setting up automatic transfers of that 30% tax money to a separate account helps avoid the temptation to spend it What struck me most about your situation is how responsible you're being - you're using your own retirement savings as a last resort while dealing with reduced benefits through no fault of your own. That's exactly what these accounts are designed for, even with the tax penalties. The combination of knowing your $349 weekly payments are secure plus having a buffer from the withdrawal should give you breathing room to get through this tough period. You've got this, and this community is proof that people successfully navigate these exact challenges all the time!

I'm so glad to see you've decided to move forward with your appeal! Your case honestly sounds very winnable based on what you've shared. The fact that you have text messages proving you properly notified your supervisor for legitimate sick days is exactly the kind of documentation that TWC hearing officers look for. I went through a similar appeal about 18 months ago (also a call center job where they tried to twist legitimate absences into "misconduct") and won after a 20-minute hearing. The key was staying organized and factual - which it sounds like you're already doing great at. One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you're gathering your evidence, also try to find any written communication about your relocation approval. If your employer initially approved your move but then the relationship with your supervisor deteriorated afterward, that timeline could be relevant context if they try to paint a broader picture of "performance issues." But as others have said, keep the main focus on proving you followed proper call-out procedures. The hearing officers deal with employers trying to deny benefits unfairly all the time. They know what real misconduct looks like versus what you're dealing with. You've got strong documentation and you followed the rules - that's really all you need. Don't let the corporate intimidation factor psych you out!

Reading through all these success stories is giving me so much hope for my own situation! I'm dealing with a similar TWC appeal - got terminated from a warehouse job and they're claiming "misconduct" for what were actually approved time-off requests that I had submitted weeks in advance through their online system. Like Connor, I was feeling really intimidated about going up against a big company in a hearing, but seeing how many people here have won their appeals with proper documentation is incredibly encouraging. I have screenshots of my approved time-off requests and email confirmations, so it sounds like I'm in a similar position. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who won their appeals, did the hearing officers seem receptive to digital evidence like screenshots and email printouts? I want to make sure I'm presenting my documentation in the most effective way possible. Connor, your case sounds rock solid! The fact that they're claiming "call avoidance" for days you weren't even at work honestly makes their whole argument fall apart. It sounds like they're either confused or deliberately misrepresenting things, and your text message proof should clear that up immediately. You've definitely made the right choice to fight this!

Are you 100% sure you're using the right email address for your ID.me account? I thought I was using the right one but turned out I had created my account with my old work email that I rarely check anymore. Might be worth considering if you have multiple email addresses. Also, ID.me has a recovery option using your phone number if you've previously linked one to your account. Look for the "more options" link on the login screen. Sometimes that's easier than dealing with emails.

Just checking in - were you able to get this resolved? I'm curious which solution ended up working for you.

I went through this exact same frustration when I first started collecting unemployment! The Work in Texas website is honestly pretty outdated and doesn't have great job listings for most fields. Here's what I learned after talking to a TWC representative: you can absolutely use job applications from LinkedIn, Indeed, company websites, and anywhere else for your work search log. TWC doesn't require you to only use Work in Texas - that's just one tool they provide. For documentation, I keep a simple spreadsheet with: - Date of application - Company name - Job title - Where I applied (LinkedIn, Indeed, company website, etc.) - Any confirmation emails or reference numbers I've been doing this for several months now and have never had any issues with my benefit payments being approved. The key is just keeping detailed records in case they ever ask for verification. Also, remember that your 3 weekly work search activities don't all have to be job applications! You can also count things like updating your resume, attending networking events (virtual ones count too!), registering with staffing agencies, or even taking online skills courses related to your field. Don't stress about this too much - you're definitely not doing anything wrong by looking beyond Work in Texas. Most people I know use other job sites for the majority of their applications because the job quality is just so much better elsewhere!

I'm so glad you posted this question because I was literally having the same panic about Work in Texas last week! I'm 26 and was getting so discouraged seeing jobs that wanted 8+ years of experience for "entry-level" positions paying $30k. After reading through TWC's actual guidelines and talking to other people on unemployment, I learned that Work in Texas is just ONE option, not a requirement. I've been using LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter for about 6 weeks now and my benefits have been approved every time without any questions. My advice: start a simple tracking system immediately. I use a Google Doc with columns for date, company, position, application method, and any confirmation numbers. Takes 2 minutes per application and gives you solid documentation if TWC ever asks. Also don't forget that work search activities can include more than just applications! I've counted things like: - Updating my LinkedIn profile - Attending virtual industry meetups - Registering with new recruiters - Taking relevant online courses The 3 weekly activities become way more manageable when you realize how many different things qualify. You're definitely on the right track by asking these questions now rather than stressing about it for months like I did!

I'm currently in the exact same boat - submitted my waiting week request yesterday and my regular request day is also Monday! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. It sounds like the consensus is pretty clear that waiting week payments process on their own 3-5 business day timeline, completely separate from our regular request schedules. I'm feeling much more optimistic now knowing I don't have to wait until next Monday. I'll be checking my TWC portal religiously over the next few days based on all the advice here about watching for it to appear in payment history first. The 50% amount is disappointing but expected after reading all these comments. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - it really takes the guesswork out of budgeting when you have realistic expectations!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just submitted my waiting week request today and my regular request day is also Monday. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel so much better about the timeline. It sounds like the waiting week payment processes completely independently from our regular biweekly schedule, so I won't have to wait until next Monday after all. Based on what everyone's shared, I should see it appear in my TWC portal payment history within 3-5 business days, then hit my bank account 1-2 days after that. The 50% benefit amount is what I expected after reading all these comments. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about checking the portal twice daily to catch the update as soon as it appears. Thanks to everyone who shared such detailed timelines - it really helps ease the stress of not knowing when to expect this payment, especially when you're trying to budget for upcoming bills!