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Just to clarify for everyone: The Combined Wage Claim (CWC) is specifically for combining wages from multiple states. If your Amazon job was in Texas, you don't need a CWC - you just need to appeal and explain that TWC is missing one of your Texas employers. If the Amazon job was in Michigan before you moved, then yes, you need to request a CWC. Either way, filing the appeal within the deadline is crucial to protect your rights while you sort this out.
That makes more sense now. My Amazon job was actually in Michigan right before I moved to Texas, so it sounds like I definitely need the Combined Wage Claim. I'm going to file the appeal online tonight just to make the deadline and then try to call about the CWC tomorrow. Thank you for explaining this so clearly!
Good luck Omar! You're getting great advice here. One more tip - when you file your appeal online, make sure to be very detailed about both jobs in your written statement. Include dates of employment, wage amounts, and specifically state that you believe TWC failed to include wages from your Michigan Amazon employment in your base period calculation. Also, if you have any documentation showing you reported both jobs when you initially filed (like confirmation emails or screenshots), include those too. The more documentation you provide upfront, the stronger your case will be. Keep us updated on how it goes!
I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My appeal was reversed on August 30th and my portal still shows disqualified with $0 benefits. It's so nerve-wracking waiting for the system to catch up when you're depending on those payments. Reading through all these responses is really reassuring though - sounds like 2-4 weeks is pretty normal for the system to update after a reversed appeal. I've been keeping up with my payment requests every two weeks just like everyone recommends. The waiting is brutal but at least we know the hard part (winning the appeal) is done! Hopefully both our sons will see their portals update soon and get those backpayments flowing.
It's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this exact timeline! August 30th is even more recent than my son's decision, so hopefully we'll both see updates around the same time. The waiting really is brutal, especially when you're watching every day hoping the portal will finally show something different. I'm glad you're staying on top of those payment requests too - it seems like that's the most important thing we can do right now. Fingers crossed for both of us that the systems update soon and we can finally breathe a little easier! Thanks for sharing your experience - it definitely helps to know we're in this together.
I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment issues, and I wanted to add some additional context that might be helpful. The delay you're experiencing is unfortunately very common with reversed appeals, especially for pandemic-era claims. Here's what I typically tell clients in your situation: The good news is that a reversed decision in your favor is essentially a guarantee of payment - it's just a matter of when the system catches up. TWC's backend systems require manual intervention for appeals, which is why it takes so much longer than regular claims. A few practical tips while you wait: - Keep a written log of all payment request dates and confirmation numbers - Screenshot the decision letter and save it in multiple places - If possible, try calling again in about 10 days to get an updated timeline The longest I've seen a reversed appeal take to process was about 6 weeks, but that was during peak pandemic claims. Your son's case should be much faster. Once it does update, the backpay typically comes within 3-5 business days, and you'll get separate payments for each eligible week. Stay patient and keep doing those payment requests - you're on the right track!
That's awesome news Omar! So glad you finally got through to someone who could give you real answers. It's crazy how the online status can be so misleading - I went through something similar a few months ago where my claim showed "pending" for weeks but was actually already approved internally. Definitely keep checking your bank account because when those back payments hit, it's usually all at once. You've been so patient through this whole mess!
I've been dealing with unemployment claims for years and wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you do end up going the phone route, try calling right at 8:00 AM when the lines open. The system tends to be less overwhelmed first thing in the morning. Also, if you have any direct deposit information ready, wage statements from your last employer, and your social security number handy, it'll speed up the process once you get through. The out-of-state work history that others mentioned is definitely a common cause of the EM22 error. Good luck getting it sorted out!
That's really helpful advice about calling right at 8 AM! I'll set an alarm and have all my documents ready to go. It's reassuring to hear from someone with experience that the out-of-state work history is likely the culprit. I'm feeling much more optimistic about getting this resolved now. Thanks for taking the time to share those tips!
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The EM22 error drove me crazy for almost a week. What finally worked for me was a combination approach - I tried the mobile site on my phone during off-peak hours (around 11 PM) AND made sure to have a completely clean browser with no saved data. One thing I learned from the TWC staff when I eventually got through: if you've had ANY previous unemployment claims in Texas (even from years ago), sometimes the system gets confused trying to link your old and new claims. They told me this is another common cause of EM22 errors that requires manual intervention. Also, pro tip for anyone reading this - if you do manage to submit your claim but aren't sure it went through completely, DON'T keep trying to resubmit. That can create duplicate applications which makes everything more complicated. Wait at least 24 hours to see if you get a confirmation email before trying again. Hope you get it sorted soon! The financial stress of waiting for benefits is real.
Sophia Bennett
I went through this exact same nightmare last year and want to share what actually worked for me. First, definitely contact your state representative - they have dedicated staff for constituent services and TWC issues specifically. When you email them, include your full claim number, the date you filed, your address, and a timeline of what's happened so far. But here's what really made the difference for me: I also filed a complaint with the Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO) online. They track systemic issues with state agencies and will forward your complaint to TWC's management. It took about a week, but I got a call from a TWC supervisor who apologized and had my payments released within 48 hours. The SAO complaint form is at sao.texas.gov - look for "Report Fraud, Waste & Abuse" and select "State Agency Service Issues." Make sure to mention how long you've been waiting and that regular customer service hasn't been able to help. Good luck - don't give up!
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Luca Romano
•This is incredibly helpful advice! I had no idea about the State Auditor's Office complaint option - that sounds like it could be really effective since it goes through a different channel than the usual TWC bureaucracy. I'm definitely going to try both the state rep contact and filing an SAO complaint. It's encouraging to hear that you got results in just a week after months of getting nowhere through normal channels. Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed steps!
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Bethany Groves
•@Sophia Bennett This is exactly the kind of comprehensive advice that can make a real difference! I ve'been struggling with my claim for over a month now and getting frustrated with the runaround from regular customer service. The State Auditor s'Office route is brilliant - I never would have thought to approach it from that angle. Having multiple avenues of escalation state (rep + SAO complaint seems) like the best strategy to ensure someone actually pays attention to the issue. I m'going to gather all my documentation tonight and submit both requests tomorrow. Really appreciate you sharing what worked for you!
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Molly Hansen
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my claim has been "under review" for 6 weeks with no clear explanation from TWC. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope that there are actually ways to escalate beyond the regular customer service maze. I'm definitely going to try the state rep route first since multiple people have had success there, and that State Auditor's Office complaint option sounds really promising too. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but at least there seem to be ways to get actual results. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this struggle and that there are people who've actually gotten their issues resolved.
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Diego Fernández
•@Molly Hansen I totally feel your frustration - 6 weeks under "review is" absolutely ridiculous! The fact that we have to become amateur investigators just to figure out how to get our own benefits is insane. But you re'right that it s'reassuring to see so many people sharing actual solutions that worked for them. I m'in a similar boat and planning to hit both the state rep and SAO complaint routes this week. Maybe we should check back in a few days and see how our escalation attempts go? It would be helpful to compare notes on what works best. Hang in there - it sounds like persistence really does pay off even though it shouldn t'have to come to this!
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