One more thing - when you have your phone interview (and you WILL have one since this is a termination), don't get emotional or badmouth your employer. Stick to facts only! I made that mistake and it hurt my case initially. Just calmly explain the misunderstanding and that you had no intention of violating policy.

Update on your question about documentation: Even without written documentation, you can still make a strong case. Focus on: 1. The recency of the procedure change 2. How the training was conducted 3. Whether others also misunderstood the new procedure 4. Your overall performance history before this incident During your interview, clearly articulate that you were making a good-faith effort to follow procedures but misunderstood some aspect of the new process. The fact that you made the same specific mistake consistently actually helps your case - it shows a genuine misunderstanding rather than negligence. Regarding the phone interview timeline: Currently TWC is scheduling these about 2-3 weeks after initial claims are filed for separation issues. Continue requesting payment every two weeks even while waiting for the determination.

I had to call over 50 times in one day last year to get through. Started at 7am and just kept redialing whenever it disconnected me. Finally got through around 2pm. The system is DESIGNED to make you give up. Once I finally got a person, they fixed my issue in literally 5 minutes. It was a simple data entry error that had my claim stuck for weeks! Keep trying and document EVERYTHING - dates, times, how long you waited before disconnection. You might need it if you end up filing a complaint.

Update on your situation? Were you able to get through using any of these methods? I'm curious which one worked because I might be facing the same issue soon with my claim renewal.

It did work for me, but maybe they've changed their system recently. My successful calls were back in November. Things might be different now with the higher call volumes after the holidays.

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

THE ENTIRE TWC SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been fighting identity theft issues with them since DECEMBER! Multiple forms submitted, hours wasted on calls, still not resolved. They keep saying "2-3 weeks" but it's been MONTHS. Don't hold your breath waiting for them to help you. The fraud department is understaffed and overwhelmed. I finally had to get a lawyer involved. This is absolutely RIDICULOUS!!

Update: I was finally able to get through to TWC this morning after using Claimyr! The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful and said they've expedited my case because I had all the documentation ready (police report, FTC report). She said it would still take 7-10 business days to complete their investigation, but at least now I have a case number and a direct extension to call back if needed. Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Will update again when it's resolved.

One thing to note about contacting your state representative - make sure you're reaching out to your STATE representative, not your federal Congressional representative. Many people make this mistake. State reps handle TWC issues since unemployment is administered at the state level. Also, when you call their office, ask specifically for the staff member who handles constituent services or TWC matters. This person will know exactly who to contact at TWC to escalate your case. One more point - if you're 45 days behind on your mortgage, you should immediately contact your mortgage servicer and ask about hardship options. Many have programs that can pause foreclosure proceedings while you're actively working to resolve government benefits issues. The key is to contact them BEFORE they file formal foreclosure paperwork.

Something important that no one has mentioned yet - ID.me verification issues are usually categorized as "identity verification issues" in the TWC system, which means your claim is probably on hold with an identity verification flag. When you speak with your state representative's office, make sure you specifically mention that you need help with an "identity verification hold" on your unemployment claim. This precise terminology will help them route your case to the correct department at TWC. Additionally, if you've been locked out completely, you might also have a separate "account access" issue that needs to be addressed simultaneously. These are handled by different teams at TWC, so being specific about both problems will speed up resolution. Lastly, document every attempt you've made to resolve this (dates of ID.me attempts, TWC calls, etc.) as this documentation will be helpful if you end up needing to file an appeal for backdated benefits once your identity is verified.

did u try checking ur payment status on the website? sometimes it shows when the deposit will hit

Quick update for anyone finding this thread later - I just checked my TWC account and my payment from Monday (Veterans Day) has a processing date of Wednesday with expected deposit of Friday. So that confirms what others have said about the two-day delay. Hope this helps with planning!

When I filed after my contract job ended they asked me a bunch of questions about why I didn't find another job before this one ended. Kinda felt like they were trying to trick me into saying I didn't look hard enough! Be careful how you answer everything. They made me list all the jobs I applied for in the last month of my contract.

As a follow-up to my earlier comment, I want to address what others have mentioned about potential complications: 1. Yes, TWC will contact your employer to verify separation details 2. Your employer has 14 days to respond to TWC's notice 3. If they don't contest it and your documentation shows it was a temporary position ending as scheduled, approval is generally straightforward 4. The "temporary job" question is important - answer honestly that it was a temporary contract position The confusion some people experience comes from TWC distinguishing between: - A true temporary position with a predetermined end date (generally eligible) - Quitting a permanent job because you knew it might end someday (not eligible) As long as you have documentation showing it was explicitly a 6-month contract position, you should be fine. The key is proper documentation and accurate explanation of your situation.

Just curious - did they actually pay you the higher rate ($16.25 instead of $14.75)? If so, did you report the higher amount to TWC? That could be part of the issue too.

Update us after your hearing! I think you'll win this appeal based on what you've described. The temporary/seasonal nature of the position plus the fact that there was a predetermined break with no work available is the key to your case. Good luck!

My sister had this EXACT same issue last year! Her employer used a maternity code but her restrictions were actually from a prior back injury that got worse during pregnancy. She appealed the initial denial and won. Make sure you're super clear about your ability to work with accommodations!

UPDATE: TWC made their determination today and I was APPROVED! The adjudicator called and said that while pregnancy itself isn't eligible for UI, being put on unpaid leave because my employer couldn't accommodate my medical restriction IS eligible, regardless of what caused the restriction. They also told me that using the "maternity" code was my employer's choice, not mine, so it didn't affect my eligibility. Thank you all for your advice! For anyone else in this situation: be clear about your ability to work with accommodations, keep all your documentation, and don't give up on getting through to TWC to explain your situation clearly.

Im confused on something - if they approved your appeal in 2021 and u certified for 4-5 weeks like u said, why didnt u get THOSE payments before u went to prison?? Did u check that your direct deposit info was correct?? Maybe the payments went to a closed account or something?

If your direct deposit failed, TWC would typically default to sending a paper check to your address on file. If you were incarcerated, those checks may have been returned to TWC or simply expired after 180 days. When you use the Claimyr service that someone mentioned to speak with a TWC rep, ask specifically about: 1) whether payments were attempted for those 4-5 weeks you certified for, 2) if those payments failed or were returned, and 3) if there's any way to reissue payment for just those specific weeks you properly certified for before incarceration. Focus on those initial weeks rather than the entire claim period, as you might have a better case for those.