Don't forget about taxes!!!! They don't take them out automatic like a job does, u have to ask for it or else you'll owe next year!!

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. Work search activities: Applying for jobs definitely counts, but so do creating a profile on WorkInTexas.com, attending job fairs (virtual counts), having job interviews, creating/updating a LinkedIn profile, and meeting with career counselors. Just make sure to document dates and details. 2. Taxes: Yes, during your payment requests, there's an option to have 10% withheld for federal taxes. I recommend doing this to avoid a surprise tax bill later. 3. Payment timing: After you request payment (which happens every two weeks), funds typically appear on your debit card or direct deposit within 2-3 business days if your claim is in good standing. Don't stress too much about the "call us" message - it's standard procedure for many first-time claims, especially with layoffs. They just need to verify details that weren't clear from your online application.

Regarding your question about filing for unemployment - yes, you can pursue both a wage claim and unemployment benefits simultaneously as they're separate issues. For unemployment, you would need to demonstrate that you had "good cause" to quit, which excessive mandatory overtime could potentially qualify for, especially if it created an unreasonable burden or unsafe conditions. However, be prepared that your employer will likely contest your unemployment claim since you quit. You would need documentation showing you attempted to resolve the issue before quitting (emails requesting schedule adjustments, etc). For your wage claim, if you have any text messages or emails about your hours worked during that final period, definitely include those with your submission. Timesheets, witness statements from coworkers, or even your own detailed log of hours worked can help support your case.

Quick update on the evidence question - yes, you should provide whatever documentation you have. For my wage claim, I included: 1. A copy of my time card for the final week 2. Text messages with my manager about my last day 3. A calculation of exactly what I was owed (hours × rate) 4. Evidence that I attempted to collect my check (texts asking about it) TWC actually resolved my case pretty quickly (about 6 weeks total). The online submission is definitely faster than mail. The form will ask for very specific information about your employment, so have your start date, end date, job title, manager's name, etc. ready before you begin.

what about those fake write-ups you mentioned?? can you prove they were fake?? that seems like a big deal

The fake write-up situation is complicated. They claimed during the hearing that I was never written up, but I have an email where my manager forwarded me a write-up and explicitly said \

I've been helping several clients with TWC appeals this year, and misconduct appeals are definitely taking the longest right now. For what it's worth, medical-related separation issues often end favorably for the claimant if you have proper documentation. Make sure you have:\n\n1. Medical records showing your condition during the relevant time period\n2. Any communication with your employer about your medical situation\n3. Attendance records if you have access to them\n4. Any workplace accommodation requests you made\n\nFor the actual hearing (when you finally get it), prepare a clear timeline of events and practice explaining your situation concisely. The hearing officers typically allocate 30-45 minutes and appreciate organized presentations.

This is spot on. My appeal was for something similar and having all my doctor's notes and emails to my boss about my medical situation made a huge difference. The hearing officer actually commented on how organized my documentation was.

One more important thing that hasn't been mentioned yet: If your contract job didn't withhold taxes, you should know that unemployment benefits ARE taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your benefits (10% federal) or pay them next tax season. Just something to budget for so you're not surprised later.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. I'll definitely get that separation letter specifying budget cuts as the reason, apply right after my last day, and make sure to request payments on schedule even while waiting for approval. I'll also register with WorkInTexas.com right away. One last question - once approved, how long does it typically take to receive the first payment?

also make sure ur doing ur 3 work search activities every week even for the weeks u worked a few days. TWC can audit that stuff and if u dont have proof u did them they can make u pay back benefits

I've been keeping detailed records of all my work search activities, so I should be good there. Thanks for the reminder though!

Just wanted to follow up - have you seen any changes to your status yet? If you're still showing as ineligible and it's been more than 7 business days since your ID.me verification, I'd definitely recommend trying to contact TWC directly. Based on my experience, sometimes a simple call can get the process moving if something is stuck in their system.

Still no change! I'm calling tomorrow for sure. It's so frustrating that there's no way to check the status of the verification process online. Thank you all for the advice and support, I'll update once I know more.

one time my payment said processed but didnt come for a week cuz there was a holiday

UPDATE: My payment just hit my Chime account! It was exactly 2 business days after it showed as processed. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance. Such a relief to finally have some funds.

My brother files at like 2am every other Sunday and swears it makes his payment come faster lol. Probably just coincidence but who knows with these government systems 🤷‍♀️

Just to follow up on the holiday question - yes, federal holidays will delay processing by one business day. The upcoming holiday will only affect you if your payment would normally fall on that day. Also, seeing 'payment processed' status is a great sign! That typically means the payment has been approved and is in the queue for deposit. You should definitely see it within the next 2-3 business days.

just wanted to say that TWC is the WORST. i've been on unemployment 3 times in the last 6 years and EVERY SINGLE TIME there's some new technical problem to deal with. first it was the password reset system never sending emails, then the work search validation errors, now this id.me garbage. why can't they just hire competent IT people????

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who helped! I was able to get in through the backdoor link that @profile1 shared and submit my payment request on time. I also managed to get through to TWC this morning by calling right when they opened (7:00 AM exactly). The agent confirmed there was an issue with how my ID.me account was linked in their system. She said something about "mismatched identity tokens" and had to manually update something on their end. She also mentioned this is happening to a lot of people right now and they're working on a fix. For anyone else having this problem, definitely call TWC directly to get it permanently fixed, but try that backdoor link as a temporary solution if your payment request deadline is approaching!