TWC is SO INCONSISTENT with this stuff. My friend helped at her old job after a fire (unpaid) and had zero issues. Meanwhile, I know someone else who did basically the same thing and TWC put a fraud alert on his account! The difference? Documentation. Get EVERYTHING in writing. And when you talk to TWC, ask them to note EVERYTHING in your file. The person who got the fraud alert couldn't prove he wasn't being paid because it was all verbal agreements. Don't make that mistake!

I went through something very similar last year after helping my neighbor's small business clean up after a storm. The key is being very specific about the nature of your help when you talk to TWC. Don't just say you were "helping out" - explain that you were doing unpaid volunteer disaster recovery work with no employment relationship. I had to submit a letter from the business owner stating: 1) I was not an employee during this period, 2) I received no compensation of any kind, 3) The work was voluntary disaster cleanup assistance, and 4) There was no expectation of future employment based on this help. Also, keep records of exactly when you helped and what you did. TWC eventually cleared it up, but it took about 2 weeks and temporarily froze one payment. The investigator told me that if I had reported it upfront as volunteer disaster work, there wouldn't have been any issue at all. Live and learn!

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!

I totally get the stress you're going through! I was in a similar spot last year - got a job that barely covered my basic expenses while still drowning in past due bills. One thing that really helped me was contacting local churches and nonprofits. Even if you're not religious, many churches have emergency assistance funds for things like utility bills and rent. The United Way in most Texas cities also has a hardship fund you can apply for online. Also, if you have kids in school, definitely reach out to the school counselor about back-to-school supplies. Most districts have programs where they can help with backpacks, clothes, shoes, etc. Some even have food pantries for families. It's frustrating that the system doesn't account for cost of living when you're working full-time at low wages, but you're doing the right thing by working and looking for additional resources. Hang in there - it does get better once you get a few steady paychecks and can start climbing out of the hole!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was a nightmare, but I did get my unemployment benefits approved. Here's what I learned: First, file your TWC claim immediately - don't wait for them to maybe pay you. Choose "reduction in hours or wages" as your reason and explain the non-payment in detail. Second, send a formal email to your supervisor/HR TODAY asking for written confirmation of when you'll be paid - this creates the paper trail TWC needs to see that you tried to resolve it. Third, keep showing up to work until you get a response about your claim or find another job - abandoning your position without notice could hurt your case. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, and I had to do a phone interview where I explained everything. The key is having documentation that shows you made reasonable efforts to get paid before filing. Also definitely file that wage claim like others mentioned - I got my back pay through that process even though it took months.

You're definitely in a tough spot but you have options! In Texas, failure to pay wages is considered "constructive discharge" which means you can file for unemployment even while technically still employed. Here's what I'd recommend: 1) File your TWC claim ASAP - select "reduction in wages" and explain the non-payment situation in detail. 2) Document everything - take screenshots of your work schedule, any communications about missed pay, and send your supervisor an email TODAY asking for written confirmation about when you'll be paid. 3) Continue showing up to work while your claim is processed (unless it becomes unsafe or they tell you not to come in) - this shows you're not abandoning your job. 4) File a separate wage claim through TWC's Payday Law division to try to recover your missed wages. The unemployment process typically takes 2-3 weeks and you'll likely need to do a phone interview to explain your situation. Don't wait for your employer to "figure it out" - protect yourself now. Good luck!

I just went through this exact same process with Chase about 3 weeks ago! My first TWC payment had a process date on a Wednesday, and I was checking my account obsessively every few hours. It ended up hitting my Chase account Thursday morning around 8 AM - so exactly one business day later. What really helped my anxiety was setting up the Chase mobile app notifications for deposits like others mentioned. Also, I learned to check the "pending transactions" section in addition to my main balance, because sometimes it shows up there first before being fully available. The consistency has been great since then - every payment request I've made has followed the same next-business-day pattern. One tip: if your process date falls on a Friday, don't panic if you don't see it Saturday - remember weekends don't count as business days, so Monday is when you'd expect to see it. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're dealing with bills, but Chase seems to be really reliable for TWC deposits!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My process date was today (Friday) and I'm also with Chase. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to worry when I didn't see anything by this evening, but now I understand it's because weekends don't count as business days. So I should expect to see it Monday or Tuesday at the latest. I've already set up the mobile notifications that everyone recommended and I'm going to stop obsessively checking my balance every hour! It's amazing how much stress this waiting period adds when you're already dealing with unemployment. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - this thread should honestly be pinned for newcomers like me who have no idea what to expect with their first payment.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I submitted my appeal today and uploaded all my evidence. I'm going to reach out to my coworker tonight about being a witness. Feeling a bit more confident now about the process, even though the waiting is going to be tough. I'll update this thread after my hearing to let everyone know how it went!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me during my appeal - if you have any email correspondence with HR or your supervisor about your termination, include those too. Even if they seem minor, they can help establish a timeline and show the employer's mindset. Also, during the hearing, speak slowly and clearly. The hearing officer is taking notes and sometimes asks you to repeat things. I was so nervous during mine that I talked way too fast at first. And don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you don't understand a question - it's better to ask than to give a confusing answer. One last tip: if your employer brings up past issues or tries to make it seem like this was part of a pattern, stick to the facts about this specific incident. They might try to muddy the waters by bringing up unrelated stuff from months ago. Your termination was about calling in sick with doctor's notes - that's your story and you should stick to it. You've got this! Having documentation is huge in these cases.