I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - got hit with a $3,400 Covid overpayment notice from TWC about two weeks ago. Like you, it was from reporting confusion when I went back to part-time work in 2021. The whole system was such a mess back then and I genuinely thought I was reporting everything correctly. After reading through all these responses, I called TWC yesterday using that Claimyr service and actually got through to someone. The rep told me that since mine is classified as non-fraud overpayment, I have several options including appealing, requesting a hardship waiver, or setting up a payment plan. She also mentioned something important - if you can show that the overpayment was due to TWC's own unclear instructions or system issues during Covid (which honestly, their reporting system was confusing as hell), that can help with appeals or waiver requests. I'm planning to file for both an appeal and a hardship waiver just to cover all my bases. The worst they can say is no, right? But definitely don't wait - I was stressed about this for weeks before finally taking action, and I wish I had called sooner. You're not alone in this! Seems like thousands of people are dealing with these Covid overpayment notices. The system failed us during the pandemic and now we're all paying for it.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - DO NOT ignore this! I learned the hard way with a $4,200 Covid overpayment that ignoring it only makes things worse. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. Call TWC immediately and ask specifically about hardship waivers for Covid-era overpayments. They've been more flexible with these than regular UI overpayments. 2. If your letter doesn't say "fraud" anywhere, you're in a much better position. Non-fraud overpayments have way more options. 3. Document EVERYTHING about your financial situation - rent, utilities, groceries, car payment, etc. The more you can show genuine hardship, the better. 4. Don't be afraid to mention how confusing their reporting system was during Covid. I kept records showing contradictory guidance from their website and phone reps, and it helped during my appeal. I ended up getting my overpayment reduced by about 30% through the appeal process and then got approved for a payment plan of just $45/month. It took about 4 months to resolve everything, but staying proactive made all the difference. The stress is awful, I know, but you have options if you act fast. Rooting for you!

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 so glad I found this thread! I was starting to panic about my own situation but seeing all these success stories is giving me hope. I'm in almost the exact same boat - denied for insufficient wages after doing freelance social media work and pet sitting between claims. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is keeping copies of your business licenses or permits if you had any during your self-employment period. I had a basic business license for my freelance work that might help show the legitimacy of my income. Also, for anyone dealing with payment apps like Venmo - make sure you export the full transaction history as a PDF or CSV file rather than just screenshots. The detailed export shows more information and looks more professional for the hearing. Anita, your case sounds really solid since you properly filed your Schedule C returns. That's going to be your strongest piece of evidence. I'm rooting for you and everyone else going through this stressful process! Has anyone had experience with virtual hearings vs. in-person? I'm wondering if one format tends to be more successful than the other.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was also denied for insufficient wages after doing freelance writing and dog walking between my claims from 2023-2025. Reading everyone's success stories is giving me so much hope. I did file Schedule C for both years and made well over the required amount, but it looks like TWC's system just doesn't automatically pick up self-employment income even when it's properly reported. One thing I wanted to add that might help - I found out that you can also include a cover letter with your appeal explaining your situation in plain language. Sometimes the hearing officers appreciate having a clear narrative to go along with all the documentation. I'm planning to write a brief summary explaining that I chose gig work to maintain income while actively job searching, and that all income was properly reported and taxes were paid. Also, for anyone worried about the wait times - I know it's frustrating, but use that time to get super organized with your documentation. Create that spreadsheet everyone mentioned, get your payment app exports, and maybe even practice explaining your situation out loud so you're confident during the hearing. Anita, your case sounds incredibly strong with the Schedule C filings and the amount you earned. You've got this! Please keep us updated on how everything goes - I think we're all rooting for each other here.

@OP - did you ever get through? I'm curious if any of these suggestions worked for you.

Glad to hear you finally got through! That 7am timing trick seems to be the real deal. For anyone else still struggling with this, I'd also suggest having all your documents ready before calling - claim number, SSN, ID info, etc. That way when you do get through after waiting forever, you can handle everything in one call instead of having to go through this nightmare again.

I've been managing this exact situation for about 6 months now and wanted to share what's worked for me. The anxiety about overpayments is totally understandable, but you're already on the right track by reporting your hours accurately. Here's what I've learned: TWC's system does a quarterly wage match, usually 3-4 months after the quarter ends. So there's definitely a delay, but that actually works in your favor if you're reporting correctly - it gives you time to build a solid documentation trail. My weekly routine is super simple: - Sunday night: Calculate gross pay for the previous week (Sun-Sat) - Write it down in a notebook with the dates - When doing payment requests: screenshot the confirmation page - File pay stubs in chronological order The biggest thing that helped my peace of mind was realizing that TWC's cross-check is looking for discrepancies between what YOU reported and what your EMPLOYER reported for the same time periods. If those numbers match, you're good. The system isn't trying to trick you - it's designed to catch people who don't report at all or report incorrectly. I had one minor question come up about 4 months in, but because I had all my documentation organized, it took one quick call to clear up. No stress, no overpayment. Just keep doing what you're doing and document everything - you'll be fine!

I completely understand your anxiety about this! I went through the same worry when I started part-time work while on unemployment. The good news is that as long as you're accurately reporting your hours and earnings on each payment request, you're doing everything right. From my experience, TWC's detection system works by comparing what you report with what your employer submits in their quarterly wage reports. This usually happens 3-4 months after the quarter ends, so there's definitely a delay. But that delay actually works in your favor - it gives you time to build solid documentation. Here's what saved me from stress: I started keeping a simple weekly log where I track my exact work hours each day and calculate my gross earnings for each TWC reporting period (Sunday-Saturday). I also screenshot every payment request confirmation and keep all my pay stubs organized chronologically. The key thing to remember is that you report earnings based on when you actually worked, not when you receive your paycheck. So if you work Monday-Wednesday in one TWC week, those earnings get reported for that specific week even if you don't get paid until the following week. I had one minor discrepancy show up about 5 months later, but because I had detailed records showing exactly what I reported and when, it was resolved with just one phone call - no overpayment or penalties. The horror stories usually involve people who didn't report at all or were careless with their calculations. Since you're already being diligent about reporting your hours, you should be absolutely fine. Just keep up the accurate reporting and start documenting everything now for peace of mind!