UPDATE: I finally got through to my local Workforce Solutions office this morning. My RESA event IS virtual! They apologized for the confusion and sent me the Teams link. Thanks everyone for your help and advice - I'll be attending in about an hour. For anyone else facing this issue, definitely call your local office directly rather than waiting for an email that might never come!

So glad you got it figured out in time! This is exactly why I always recommend calling directly - the email communication between WorkInTexas and local offices seems to have gaps. Hope the RESA session goes well for you! Usually they're pretty informative and you might learn about some job search resources you didn't know about before. Good luck with your job search!

I'm a newcomer here but dealing with almost the exact same situation - my employer claimed I quit when I was actually terminated for "performance issues" (which were never documented or discussed with me beforehand). The whole system feels designed to favor employers from the start. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about requesting expedited processing for financial hardship or that state representatives could potentially help speed things up. I'm definitely going to try calling TWC right when they open at 7am like someone suggested - I've been trying to get through for over a week with no luck. One question for those who have been through the appeal process: How detailed should the written statement be when filing the appeal? Should I include every single detail about what led up to the termination, or just focus on the key facts that prove I was fired rather than quit? Also, for anyone who used witness statements - did your witnesses have to appear at the hearing, or were written statements enough? I have coworkers willing to help, but I'm worried about putting them in an awkward position with our former employer. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here. It helps knowing I'm not alone in dealing with this frustrating situation, even though it sucks that so many of us are going through it.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this exact situation. My employer also claimed I "voluntarily quit" when I was actually terminated for questioning unsafe working conditions. It's infuriating how common this seems to be! Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly valuable. I wanted to add one thing I discovered during my research: when you file your appeal, make sure to use very specific language. Instead of saying "I didn't quit," state it positively: "I was terminated by [manager name] on [date]." The hearing officers apparently respond better to clear, factual statements rather than denials. Also, for anyone struggling with the 14-day appeal deadline like I was - it's 14 calendar days from the DATE on the determination letter, not from when you received it in the mail. I almost missed my deadline because I was counting from when I got the letter, which was 5 days after it was dated. One more tip: if you have any email communication with your employer after the termination (like asking for clarification about final pay, benefits, etc.), save those too. They can serve as additional evidence that you understood you were fired, not that you quit. Stay strong everyone - it sounds like people who were genuinely terminated usually win their appeals when they have good documentation and witness statements. The waiting is brutal, but there's light at the end of this tunnel!

I had the exact same problem a few weeks ago! What ended up working for me was using an incognito/private browsing window. Something about the regular browser session was causing conflicts. Also, I noticed the system works better if you fill out one section at a time and save your progress instead of trying to complete everything in one go. Don't lose hope - I know it's incredibly stressful when you need those benefits! The system is definitely buggy but most people do get through eventually.

I've been dealing with the same issue for almost a week now! What's really frustrating is that the error messages are so vague - they just say "system error" without any details about what's actually wrong. I tried most of the suggestions here (clearing cache, different browsers, etc.) and finally got through by doing a combination of things: used incognito mode on Firefox, disabled all browser extensions, and filed at like 2am when the site was probably less busy. Also had to manually type everything instead of copy/pasting. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to apply for benefits we're entitled to, but don't give up! The system is definitely broken but it IS possible to get through eventually.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Started my application yesterday and got hit with the same error at the very end. It's so demoralizing to spend all that time filling everything out perfectly just to get kicked back to square one. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful though - sounds like calling first thing in the morning is the way to go. I'm planning to set my alarm for 7:55 AM tomorrow and call right when they open. At least now I know it's not just me and that the phone reps are aware of the issue. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and tips! 🙏

This is such a common issue unfortunately! I went through the exact same thing about a month ago - spent almost 2 hours carefully filling out every single field, double-checking everything, only to get slapped with that error message at the very end. It felt like a cruel joke! 😤 When I finally called (took me 3 tries over different days to get through), the rep explained that their online system has been having issues where it can't properly sync with their main database at the final submission step. She said it's been happening to hundreds of people weekly. The frustrating part is that all your info is actually saved in their system, they just can't process the final submission online. The phone call itself was actually pretty smooth once I got connected - about 25 minutes total. The rep just had to manually push through what I'd already entered online. Make sure you have your confirmation number from the failed online attempt if you got one, as that can speed things up. Pro tip: Try calling around 7:58 AM - not exactly at 8:00 when everyone else is calling. Sometimes those couple minutes make a difference! Good luck, and don't let this broken system get you down. You'll get through it! 💪

Hang in there! I know the waiting is incredibly stressful when you're running low on funds. Based on what others have shared, 4 weeks is still within the normal timeframe, though I totally understand your frustration. Since you mentioned you got the acknowledgment letter, that's good - you're definitely in the system. The key things to focus on now are: 1) Keep requesting payments every two weeks (even though you're not getting paid yet), 2) Document your work search activities thoroughly, and 3) gather any evidence that supports your case about the layoff vs. misconduct. The fact that your employer is claiming misconduct when you were actually laid off due to restructuring should work in your favor. Do you have any emails, documents, or witnesses that can back up your version of events? Having that ready will be important when your hearing gets scheduled. Stay strong - appeals do take time but many people win when they have the facts on their side like you seem to!

I just went through this same situation in January! Filed my appeal on January 15th after being denied for "misconduct" (I was actually terminated during a company downsizing), and my hearing was scheduled exactly 7 weeks later. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're watching your savings disappear. A few things that helped me: First, like others said, DEFINITELY keep requesting payments every two weeks - I almost made that mistake too but caught it just in time. Second, start organizing your evidence now while you wait. I created a simple folder with my termination letter, any emails about the company changes, and contact info for potential witnesses. The good news is that employers often don't show up to hearings or don't prepare well. In my case, my former employer's HR rep couldn't provide any specific examples of the "misconduct" they claimed, while I had clear documentation of the department closure. The hearing was only about 45 minutes and I won. One tip: when your hearing gets scheduled, they usually give you the option of phone or video. I chose phone because I was less nervous that way, but either works. The judges are actually pretty fair and will ask you direct questions about what happened. Hang in there - 4 weeks feels like forever but you're still in the normal timeframe. Keep documenting everything and stay hopeful!