I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I went through almost the identical situation last year - claim approved but payments stuck in "pending" hell for over a month. What finally worked for me was a combination of the strategies people have mentioned here. First, I called that employer response unit number (512) 463-2222 at exactly 7:02am on a Wednesday (thanks to whoever shared that gem!). They found a "system flag" that had been triggered by my employer submitting some late paperwork that contradicted my original claim info. The crazy part is this flag was completely invisible in my online portal but was blocking all payments. Second tip: when you do get through to someone, ask them to read your "case notes" out loud to you. Sometimes there are cryptic codes or comments in there that explain the delay but aren't shown anywhere else. In my case, there was a note about needing "manual wage verification" that required a supervisor to review. The whole ordeal took about 5 weeks total, but once they cleared the flag, I got all my back payments within 48 hours. Keep submitting your payment requests on time even while this is happening - don't let them use missed requests as another excuse to delay you. Hang in there - I know how terrifying it is when rent is due and you're counting on money that should already be there!

I'm going through the EXACT same nightmare right now! My claim was approved 4 weeks ago and I haven't seen a single payment despite submitting all my requests on time. Just that useless "pending" status driving me crazy while bills pile up. The advice in this thread has been absolutely invaluable though - I had no idea about that employer response unit number (512) 463-2222 that @ed15ee67065b shared. The fact that there can be invisible flags and employer responses blocking payments even after approval is mind-blowing but explains so much. @469cf7521cca your tip about asking them to read case notes out loud is brilliant - I never would have thought of that! Tomorrow I'm calling that employer response unit at 7am sharp and asking about any system flags, pending employer issues, AND requesting they read my full case notes. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become unemployment detectives and hunt down secret phone numbers just to access benefits we were already approved for. Thank you all for sharing real solutions instead of the useless "keep trying" advice. This community is literally keeping me sane right now! Will definitely update with results - we've got to help each other navigate this deliberately broken system!

I went through this exact same situation last month and wanted to share what happened with my waiting week payment. I started a new job while I still had one more payment request to make, and I was super worried I'd lose out on the waiting week money. Here's what actually happened: I did my final payment request like normal, reported all my new job hours and earnings (even though it meant I got $0 for that final week), and then about 3 weeks later the waiting week payment just appeared in my account as a separate deposit. It was for the full amount too - not reduced by my new job earnings since the waiting week was from before I started working. The most important thing is just being completely honest when you report your work hours on Monday. Don't try to hide anything or game the system. TWC's computers are pretty good at figuring out what you're owed once you've met all the requirements, which it sounds like you definitely have. Also make sure your direct deposit info stays active even after you stop claiming - that's how they'll send the waiting week payment when it processes. Good luck with the new job and don't stress too much about this - it should work out fine!

Just wanted to add a quick tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation - after you submit your payment request on Monday, take a screenshot of your "Payment Request Summary" page if TWC shows one. This gives you a record of exactly what you reported for work hours and earnings, which can be helpful if you need to reference it later when tracking your waiting week payment. Also, don't be surprised if your TWC account shows some confusing messages or status updates after you submit that final request - the system sometimes displays weird notifications when you transition from active claiming to employed status. As long as you've been honest about everything, just ignore any odd system messages and focus on watching for that waiting week deposit in the coming weeks. You've got this! Sounds like you've handled everything perfectly so far.

Pro tip: if you can't get thru on the main line, try calling your local workforce center. They sometimes have direct lines to TWC and can help with basic account stuff.

I went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago! For the email update, I had to mail in a signed form with my ID copy to their Austin office. It took about 10 days to process, but they did update it. For the PIN, I kept calling the automated line (not the main customer service) and eventually got through to reset it. The key is calling the PIN reset line specifically - it's less busy than the main number. Hang in there, it's frustrating but you'll get it sorted!

Smart approach. Document, report, and try to hold out for termination if possible. Don't forget to save copies of positive performance reviews or feedback from before the issues started - showing the contrast can be powerful evidence. Wishing you luck with this tough situation!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also keep records of any changes to your job duties or responsibilities that coincide with the hostile treatment. If they're suddenly giving you tasks outside your job description or removing responsibilities you previously had, that can help establish a pattern of retaliation or constructive dismissal. Also, if you have any witnesses to the hostile behavior (coworkers who've seen the demeaning comments, etc.), try to get written statements from them while the incidents are fresh in their memory. Their testimony could be crucial if you end up needing to appeal a TWC denial.

Anyone else think its weird that we can order a pizza with our fingerprint but cant reset a government PIN online? 🤔

Same thing happened to me a few months ago! The online PIN reset was completely broken. I ended up having to visit a local workforce center in person - took about 30 minutes and they reset it right there. Way faster than trying to get through on the phone. Check the TWC website for locations near you. Bring your ID and SSN just in case!