Quick update - I just checked my calendar and on weeks with holidays, my deposit has sometimes been delayed until Monday. Just FYI since Memorial Day is coming up soon (not affecting you this week though).

my roommate requests on wednesday too and always gets it friday except one time they skipped a week and he had to call and turns out he answered something wrong on the payment request form so just double check ur answers

Update: I followed the advice and requested payment for the two weeks I worked, but reported my full earnings. The system showed $0 payment for those weeks as expected. Now my payment request schedule is back on track! I was also able to find more info in my TWC correspondence - looks like brief employment periods (under 30 days) are considered temporary work and don't typically require a new work separation review when you're laid off, as long as you're returning to an existing claim. Thanks everyone for the help! The TWC website really should make this clearer for people in our situation.

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! You did everything correctly. For future reference (for anyone reading this thread): 1. Always report earnings for ALL weeks, even if you're not requesting payment 2. If you work full-time or earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive $0 for that week 3. Your claim stays open for the full benefit year regardless of brief work periods 4. You only serve one waiting week per benefit year 5. Keep requesting payment on your regular schedule, even after employment periods This is one of the most common points of confusion with TWC claims, so you're definitely not alone in finding it confusing.

One important thing to remember: even after your benefits exhaust, continue to request payment every two weeks as scheduled until your benefit year ends. Sometimes TWC releases additional funds or makes retroactive adjustments, and you won't receive those if you've stopped requesting payment. Also, triple-check that you've provided ALL employment from your base period. Sometimes people forget about a part-time job or short-term position that could add to their total benefit amount. If you left anything out, contact TWC immediately to have your monetary determination recalculated. Lastly, make sure you're documenting all your work search activities correctly. If TWC finds additional wages or determines you were eligible for more than initially calculated, you'll want to ensure you've met all requirements to receive those funds.

Yes, absolutely continue requesting payment until your benefit year expires (usually 12 months from when you first filed). The system will show you have $0 remaining, but still complete the process. One other thing to check - log into your TWC account and make sure your previous employer didn't contest your unemployment claim. Sometimes they do this at the last minute, and if TWC sides with you, they might add additional weeks to your claim. Also verify that your work search activities are all being properly recorded - sometimes a technical glitch can cause benefits to stop prematurely. I'd also recommend updating your resume on WorkInTexas.com weekly - this makes it appear at the top of employer searches and counts as a work search activity. The holiday season actually has decent hiring for temporary positions that sometimes convert to permanent.

i had this same question and kept getting differnt answers from people! the twc website is absolutely useless on this topic lol. glad u asked here bc now i know for my own situation too

Wait I just remembered something else - don't forget to apply for SNAP if you're about to run out of unemployment! They're pretty quick with approvals these days and you might qualify for the maximum amount if you have no income. Texas Health and Human Services has an online application.

I want to add something important about those payment plans - if your financial situation changes (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request a modification to your payment plan. Don't just stop paying if you can't afford it, as that can lead to more penalties. Also, regarding the Open Records Request - there's a specific form for appealing a denied or ignored request. It's called a Petition for Review of Denial of Access to Public Information, which you file with the Attorney General's office. The fact that they held your appeal hearing without providing the requested information is problematic and could potentially be grounds for reopening your appeal. Lastly, even though your attorney said litigation would be expensive, you might want to check with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid or Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas - they sometimes take cases like this pro bono if there's a clear procedural error by a government agency.

Thank you all SO MUCH for these responses! I feel like I have actual options now instead of just panicking. Here's my plan based on your advice: 1. Call the Collections department tomorrow to discuss a lower monthly payment 2. Apply for the hardship waiver using my detailed call notes as evidence 3. Contact my state representative's office 4. File a complaint about the ignored Open Records Request with the AG's office 5. Reach out to the legal aid organizations for possible free help I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your experiences and knowledge. This community has been more helpful than the actual TWC! I'll update once I've made some progress.

When I was on unemployment last month I missed submitting my work search log for one week and nothing happened! I think as long as you're honest about your job search activities you'll be fine. They're not checking everyone's records, only random audits.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to set up a spreadsheet tonight to track everything properly. Just to confirm what I've learned: 1. I need 3 work search activities each week (will double-check my county's requirement) 2. Applying to jobs online counts (keeping confirmation emails/screenshots) 3. I don't upload proof when requesting payment, but need to keep records 4. I must register on WorkInTexas.com (counts as 1 activity for first week only) 5. Virtual workshops count too This community is amazing - you've all saved me so much stress!

mine just hit my account check yours

Just checked with a friend who also requested on Sunday. Her payment is showing as deposited today (12/24), but it won't be available until the 26th because of the holiday. So TWC processed it quickly, but the banking system slows things down with holidays.

You might want to check if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit when you file taxes next year. It's not immediate help but could give you a decent refund to help catch up later. Single parents with 2+ kids can get a pretty significant amount if your income is around $13/hr.

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure you continue filing your payment requests until TWC officially tells you to stop, even after starting your new job. This ensures the system processes everything correctly. Report your hours accurately, and the system will determine if you're eligible for any partial benefits. And definitely make sure any weeks you were fully unemployed before starting this job get processed. Sometimes there are delays in the system, but you're entitled to those benefits for weeks you had no income. Best of luck with the new position!

This happened to my brother-in-law and the worst part was that the IRS tried to make him pay taxes on "benefits" he never received or applied for! Fight this aggressively and document EVERYTHING. The burden of proof somehow falls on the victim which is completely backwards. The system is broken.

Final update: I've reported the fraud to West Virginia, filed an FTC report, put freezes on my credit, and my bank is helping return the money. West Virginia said they're seeing a lot of these cases and promised to send me something in writing confirming this was fraud for my tax records. Thanks everyone for your help! This community has been amazing with advice during a stressful situation.

I forgot to mention something important - when TWC looks at your case, they're going to compare your current weekly earnings to your previous earnings. Make sure you have documentation showing what you made BEFORE the change (pay stubs, etc) and what you're making now. The bigger the difference, the stronger your case. Also, if your employer tries to argue that you're just "not selling enough" now, be ready to counter with proof that the change in advertising strategy has directly impacted lead volume. This strengthens your argument that it's a structural change in the job, not performance-related.

One more thing to consider: your base period wages for unemployment will be based on your salary, not your new commission structure. This is actually good news for you, as your benefit amount will be calculated on your higher, previous earnings. When you file, you'll need to continue reporting any commission income you receive each payment period. If you earn over a certain threshold in a week, your benefits might be reduced or eliminated for that week, but you would still remain eligible for future weeks when your commission is lower. Just don't wait too long to file! The sooner you get your claim started, the better.