I'm so sorry you're going through this too! I just received my overpayment notice yesterday for $3,900 from 2020-2021, and I'm honestly terrified. Like you said, it was absolutely impossible to get through to anyone back then - I have call logs showing dozens of attempts that either resulted in busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting for hours. The worst part is that I genuinely tried to report everything correctly, but the online system was so confusing and kept changing. I remember there were different instructions for PUA vs regular UI, and I had both at different times. I even saved screenshots of some of the confusing error messages I got when trying to report my part-time work. Reading through these comments is giving me some hope though - it sounds like if we can show we made good faith efforts and were consistent in our reporting (even if wrong), the hearing officers are being more understanding. I'm definitely going to request a phone hearing and start gathering every piece of documentation I can find from that period. Has anyone had success with the waiver process, or is the hearing really the best route? I'm a single parent and there's just no way I can afford to pay back almost $4,000 right now.

I'm dealing with this exact situation too! Got my notice three weeks ago for $5,100 from 2020-2021. What really gets me is that I have email records showing I tried to contact TWC multiple times through their online portal asking for clarification on how to report my freelance income alongside my part-time W2 job, but never got responses back then. I've been reading through all these comments and taking notes - it's both terrifying and reassuring to know so many of us are going through this. I'm definitely requesting a phone hearing based on what everyone's saying here. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I found some old bank statements that show exactly when I received payments from my freelance clients, which I'm hoping will help prove I was trying to report the income correctly, just maybe in the wrong weeks due to confusion about when to report it. The stress of potentially owing this much money is keeping me up at night, but reading about @a7bb1ddb2dc9 getting a 60% reduction and @d1310504bfbb's info about the updated guidelines gives me some hope. We all did our best during an impossible situation when the state's own systems were completely overwhelmed.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's unfortunately way too common for employers to lie about the circumstances of termination to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. The good news is that you have witnesses who saw you get fired, which is huge for your case. A few things that might help while you're waiting for your appeal: 1. **Document the exact words used**: Write down everything your manager said when firing you, especially "pack your stuff and go" - that's clear termination language, not resignation language. 2. **Get witness statements NOW**: Reach out to those three coworkers who witnessed your firing. Ask them to write brief statements including the date, what they heard your manager say, and their contact info. The sooner you get these, the better. 3. **Keep all employment documentation**: Save any emails about the commission policy change you questioned, your final paystub showing termination date, and any performance reviews showing you were in good standing. 4. **Consider contacting your state representative**: They can sometimes help expedite TWC cases, especially when you're facing financial hardship. The initial determination process is heavily skewed toward employers, but appeal hearings are much more fair when you have solid evidence. You've got witnesses and a clear termination scenario - that puts you in a strong position to win. Hang in there, and make sure to keep requesting benefits every two weeks even though you're being denied. You'll get backpay for all those weeks when you win your appeal.

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 went through something very similar last year and it's infuriating how employers try to manipulate the system like this! The fact that HR confirmed you were terminated but TWC still denied your claim shows they're only getting one side of the story from your employer. Here's what worked for me: I gathered every piece of evidence I could find - my original notice email with the date, any texts or emails from when I was fired, and most importantly, I got HR to send me an official letter stating I was terminated before my notice period ended. During my appeal hearing, I made it super clear that I never actually quit - my employer made the decision to end my employment early. The hearing officer asked my former employer why they would terminate someone for safety violations if that person had already quit, and they couldn't give a coherent answer. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed log of everything - dates, conversations, who said what. TWC hearing officers deal with these cases all the time and they can usually spot when an employer is being dishonest about the circumstances. You're absolutely doing the right thing by appealing. Don't let them get away with this manipulation - you were fired, plain and simple, and you deserve your unemployment benefits!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer also terminated me after I gave notice and then tried to claim I quit voluntarily. Reading everyone's experiences gives me so much hope. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - when I was gathering documentation, I found out that my company's employee handbook actually states that giving two weeks notice doesn't guarantee you'll be allowed to work those two weeks. It says management reserves the right to make termination "effective immediately" for business reasons. I'm including this in my appeal because it shows their own policy treats immediate termination after notice as a firing, not a resignation. Has anyone else found their employee handbook useful as evidence? It seems like when companies put these policies in writing, it actually works against their unemployment claims because it proves they view it as termination rather than voluntary separation. Also wanted to say thank you to everyone sharing their success stories - it really helps when you're feeling overwhelmed by the whole process!

Update: I used Claimyr this morning and finally got through to TWC after trying for days on my own! The agent confirmed that there aren't any extensions available right now, but she did have some helpful suggestions: 1. She's sending me info about their Short-Term Training program that could help me add some certifications while I'm job hunting 2. She noted that since I won my appeal, I should make sure all my backpay is processed correctly before my benefits exhaust 3. She suggested connecting with the Workforce Solutions office specifically for their medical industry connections Not the miracle solution I was hoping for, but at least I have some direction now. Going to focus on ramping up my applications and looking at adjacent fields where my skills might transfer. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Great update @Nia Davis! I'm glad Claimyr worked for you and you finally got some real answers from TWC. That Short-Term Training program sounds like a solid option - especially if they can fast-track you through medical coding certification. One thing I'd add is to check if your local community college has any quick certification programs too. Sometimes they partner with TWC for funding. Also, since you mentioned the medical billing market is saturated, have you considered looking at related fields like insurance claims processing or healthcare administration? Your billing background would be a huge asset there and those roles often pay similar or better. Keep us posted on how that second interview goes next week - fingers crossed for you!

I feel ya, OP. The unemployment system is a total mess rn. I missed a call too and it took me WEEKS to get through to someone again. My advice? Start calling first thing in the morning when they open. Keep hitting redial like your life depends on it (cuz let's be real, it kinda does 😅).

Hey Omar, I feel your panic! Same thing happened to me last month and I was absolutely losing it. Here's what worked for me: I called back immediately and kept trying every 15-30 minutes. It took about 2 days of persistent calling, but I finally got through. When I explained I had missed their call, the rep was actually pretty understanding and said it happens all the time. The key is to be polite and explain your situation clearly when you do get someone on the line. Also, make sure to check if they left a voicemail with any specific instructions or reference numbers. You've got this! Don't give up - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these systems. 🤞