I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! TWC took my $1,850 refund through TOP even though I've been making payments on my overpayment since December. It's so frustrating because I specifically set up the payment plan to avoid this exact scenario. The lack of communication between their systems is ridiculous - you'd think they'd flag accounts that already have active payment arrangements before sending debts to TOP. I'm going to try calling that Collections number someone mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess!

This is such a common and frustrating issue! I went through the exact same thing last year - had been faithfully making my $200 monthly payments for 4 months when BAM, they grabbed my entire $3,100 refund through TOP. What made it worse was that I had specifically asked TWC when I set up the payment plan if this would prevent the tax offset, and they told me it would "help my case" but never clearly said it wouldn't stop TOP. Here's what worked for me: I gathered ALL my documentation first - payment plan agreement, bank statements showing every payment I'd made, the TOP notice, and calculated exactly how much they'd overcollected. Then I called that Collections number at 512-936-3338 (thanks to whoever shared that gem!) and got through on my third try. The key phrase is asking for an "excess offset refund review" - don't just say you want your money back. It took about 3 weeks total, but I did get a check for $1,400 back from the Comptroller's office. The whole experience taught me that TWC's left hand truly doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Hang in there and keep pushing - you ARE entitled to get the excess back!

I went through this same panic last year! Filed my claim and then completely spaced on the WorkInTexas registration for almost 2 weeks. Here's what I learned: **Good news:** You're only 6 days out, which is way better than the 2+ weeks some of us have delayed. Since your first payment request probably isn't due yet, you should be totally fine if you register today. **About your 2023 registration:** Unfortunately, it's definitely expired by now. WorkInTexas registrations become inactive after about 90 days of no activity, so even though you were in the system before, you'll need to go through the full registration process again. **Pro tips from my experience:** - Use a computer, not your phone - the mobile site is a nightmare - Set aside a solid hour to complete everything in one sitting - Fill out EVERY section completely, including uploading a resume - Take screenshots of your completion confirmation The TWC website is super confusing about this requirement, but it's absolutely mandatory. Don't stress too much though - as long as you get registered before your first payment request, you should avoid any payment delays. Just get it done today and you'll have peace of mind!

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago - filed my claim and then completely forgot about WorkInTexas registration for over a week! The anxiety was real, but here's what I learned: **You're actually in good shape at only 6 days out.** Most people don't submit their first payment request until 2-3 weeks after filing, so you have time to get this sorted before it becomes a real problem. **Your 2023 registration is definitely expired.** I had the same false hope, but those registrations go inactive after 90 days of no activity. You'll need to start completely fresh. **Here's exactly what to do:** 1. Register on WorkInTexas TODAY using a desktop computer (seriously, the mobile site will make you want to throw your phone) 2. Complete EVERY section - work history, resume upload/creation, job preferences, make profile searchable 3. Screenshot your completion confirmation and save it somewhere safe 4. Don't panic about calling TWC unless you run into actual technical issues The good news is that TWC checks your registration status when they process your payment request, not when you initially file. As long as you're registered before you submit that first payment request, you should be golden. I know the 2-hour hold times are brutal, but honestly, just getting registered is more productive than sitting on hold right now. You've got this! 💪

I had a very similar experience about 8 months ago! TWC incorrectly flagged me for an overpayment due to their system glitch, and I paid back $180 before my successful appeal. The good news is that TWC did automatically refund my money - it took about 22 business days from receiving my reversal letter. Since you paid online with a debit card like I did, the refund should go back to the same card without you having to do anything. Just keep monitoring your bank statements for a transaction labeled something like "TWC REFUND" or "TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION." One thing I learned is that TWC's refund system works pretty reliably once the appeal is finalized - it's just not very fast. The 2-4 week timeframe others mentioned seems accurate based on my experience. I'd only start calling if you don't see anything after 4 weeks, since their phone lines are so backed up. Keep that determination letter handy just in case, but you should be all set! Congrats on getting the overpayment reversed - employer mix-ups are such a headache but at least TWC does eventually make it right.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! My employer mixed up my records with someone else's and TWC hit me with a $450 overpayment. Like you, I panicked and paid back $125 before filing my appeal. The great news is that TWC automatically refunded my money after my appeal was successful! It took exactly 19 business days from when I received my determination letter. Since you paid online with a debit card, the refund should go back to the same card - that's what happened in my case. You won't get any notification when it happens, so just keep checking your bank statements daily for a transaction labeled "TWC REFUND" or something similar. Based on all the experiences shared here, you're looking at about 2-4 weeks for the refund to appear. I wouldn't bother calling yet - give it the full month before dealing with their phone system. The refund process seems to work pretty reliably once the appeal is finalized, it's just slow. Congrats on winning your appeal and hang in there!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! TWC flagged me for a $4,200 overpayment from early 2023 because I missed their ID verification request. Like you, I had already found a new job and wasn't checking my TWC account anymore. I just completed the ID.me verification last week and filed my appeal. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope - it sounds like most people who were legitimately eligible get their overpayments reversed as long as they can prove they met all the requirements during their claim period. I have my hearing scheduled for next month and I'm gathering all my documentation now. Thanks for posting about this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who went through this! Please keep us updated on how your hearing goes on May 16th. Fingers crossed for both of us!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! TWC hit me with a $6,100 overpayment notice last month for benefits I received in early 2023. Just like you, I had found a new job and completely stopped monitoring my TWC account, so I missed their ID verification request. I was panicking when I first saw the overpayment amount, but after reading all these responses, I'm feeling much more optimistic. I completed the ID.me verification as soon as I discovered the issue and filed my appeal right away. My hearing is scheduled for early June. It's so reassuring to see how many people have had successful outcomes with similar cases - it really seems like as long as you were legitimately eligible during your claim period and can prove it, the appeal board understands that people naturally stop checking TWC correspondence after returning to work. Thanks for starting this thread, it's been incredibly helpful! Definitely keep us posted on how your May 16th hearing goes.

I'm going through this right now too! Won my appeal 5 days ago and still no movement on the website - everything still shows disqualified. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 7-14 business days is pretty typical, but the variability is so stressful when you're waiting on money you desperately need. I'm planning to start calling tomorrow (day 6) based on what others have shared about the 8am strategy and asking for expedited processing due to financial hardship. Has anyone had luck getting through to the appeals department directly instead of general customer service? I'm wondering if they might have more specific info about timeline since they handle the reversals. Fingers crossed for both of us @Liam Brown - this waiting game is brutal!

Hey there! I just went through this exact situation about 2 months ago and totally understand the anxiety you're feeling right now. The good news is that you WILL get your money - TWC just moves at a glacial pace sometimes. In my case, it took exactly 9 business days for my account to flip from "disqualified" to "eligible" after winning my appeal, then another 2 days for the payment to actually process and hit my bank account. What really helped me was calling on day 6 and specifically asking the agent to check if there were any "processing holds" on my account that might be delaying the automatic update. Turns out there was a minor flag that needed manual clearance, which she was able to do right there on the phone. After that, everything moved much faster. Since your rent is due next week, I'd definitely recommend calling tomorrow or Thursday if you don't see any movement by then. When you call, mention that you have urgent bills due and ask about expedited processing for financial hardship cases - some agents can really help speed things up if you explain the situation. Also make sure to have your appeal decision letter handy with the date and case number. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that backpay, but hang in there! Your $4,200 is coming. Keep us posted on how it goes!