Has anyone else noticed how TWC's guidance on this is completely unclear on their website? I had to figure this out through trial and error too.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! Based on the consensus, I'm going to wait until my final payment processes (probably by Friday) and then request the waiting week. It's a relief to know I have 30 days to request it after exhaustion. I was worried there was some tight deadline I might miss. I'm still job hunting but have two promising interviews next week, so hopefully I won't need to worry about benefits extension or anything like that. This community has been so helpful during this stressful time!

I had the exact same thing happen only it was a different type of check that i failed. company told me that was why but then told TWC i was habitually late. totally false! what i learned in my appeal is that u need to focus on proving what they told u directly not why u failed the check. the twc judge person asked me specifically what my manager said the day i was fired. word for word. my manager didnt show up to the hearing and i won by default

To answer your question about employer payments - employers don't directly pay back benefits to TWC after losing an appeal. They pay unemployment taxes, and their tax rate can increase based on benefits charged to their account. This is likely why some employers contest claims or misrepresent termination reasons. For your appeal, focus on these key points: 1. You were meeting performance standards (bring performance reviews if available) 2. The EQIP check was beyond your control 3. Your termination was solely due to the background check, not performance 4. You have documentation proving the real reason Remember to maintain a professional tone during the hearing, even if your former employer makes false statements.

Here's a specific tip: When you finally do reach someone, ask them to transfer you to the Identity Verification department directly. Regular agents often can't help much with ID issues, but they CAN transfer you internally to the right department. I learned this after wasting my first call with a general agent who couldn't do anything for me. Also, check your correspondence inbox twice daily. Sometimes they send requests for additional verification documents with very short deadlines (like 48 hours) and if you miss that window, you have to start the process over again.

Just a quick update on recent TWC procedures: As of May 2025, they've implemented a new Identity Verification Queue that's separate from regular processing. If you call and get through to an agent, specifically ask them to check if your documents are in the "ID Verification Special Processing Queue" and request they add an expedite flag to your claim. This new queue was created to address the backlog of verifications, but many agents don't mention it unless specifically asked. It can reduce your wait time from 2-3 weeks down to 2-3 days if they place your documents in this queue.

Update: I got my issue resolved today after using Claimyr. The TWC agent told me there was a flag on my account because my last employer contested my claim (which they didn't tell me about!). She removed the hold and said my payment should process in 2-3 business days. Worth every penny not to spend another week trying to get through.

I work with unemployment claims professionally, and the truth is that TWC has been dealing with staffing shortages since the pandemic. They never fully recovered from the overwhelming volume of claims, and their phone systems are outdated. Besides the tips others have shared, I'd recommend also trying these options: 1. Contact your state representative's office. They often have direct channels to TWC and can help escalate your case. 2. Use the chat feature on the TWC website instead of calling. It's often faster to get a response, though it's only available during certain hours. 3. Email ui.ombudsmen@twc.texas.gov with your name, last 4 of SSN, and a brief description of your issue. They typically respond within 3-5 business days. If your payment has been pending for 2 weeks, there's likely a specific issue with your claim that needs resolution - could be work search documentation, an employer protest, or identity verification.

One more thing to keep in mind - if your appeal involves unsafe working conditions, the hearing officer might take a little longer to review any evidence you submitted. Did you provide any documentation like emails, witness statements, or reports about the safety issues? Those cases sometimes take an extra few days because they have to review everything thoroughly.

Hey just wanted to check in - any update? Did you get your decision yet?? I'm invested in your situation now! 😂

Hey I know this is a little off topic but does anyone know if I need to do work searches while my appeal is pending? I'm still requesting payment every 2 weeks but not sure if I need to be applying to jobs during this time?

One more important tip - when you're preparing for your hearing, organize your thoughts by timeline. Write down: 1. Your hire date 2. Any positive reviews or feedback (with dates) 3. The exact date and details of termination 4. Who was present and what was said Also, during the hearing, let your employer speak first. This gives you the advantage of hearing their claims before you present your side. Take notes during their testimony so you can address any false statements. And while waiting for your appeal, make sure you're still requesting payment every two weeks and completing at least 3 work search activities per week. Document these carefully, as you'll receive back payments for these weeks if you win your appeal.

I remember when Hurricane Harvey hit us, my brother went through THREE denials for DUA before finally getting approved. The key was getting his employer to write a specific letter stating that his unemployment was 100% caused by the disaster. Maybe try getting more documentation? It's annoying but sometimes you just have to overwhelm them with proof.

UPDATE: Just got an email saying my claim status has changed! Logged in and now it shows ELIGIBLE! The ticket must have worked! Still no payment yet, but at least now I know I'm approved. For anyone facing similar issues, definitely try submitting a ticket through the portal in addition to filing an appeal.

One more important thing to remember - when you file your new claim, TWC will contact your current employer to verify the reason for separation. Make sure that what you tell TWC matches what your employer will say. If they classify your separation as a layoff due to lack of work or reduction in hours, make sure that's exactly what you select. Any discrepancy could lead to delays while they investigate.

My sis works for twc and says you should be fine to file a new claim after aug 10 based on what u described. The out of state thing isn't a big deal except you'll need to register with their workforce commission too and do work searches in that state. Most states require fewer work searches than texas (we require 3 per week which is high).

My cousin got DUA payment last week. took like 5 weeks total. said they dont tell u when somethings wrong they just let it sit there until u call

UPDATE: I finally got through to TWC this morning using the Claimyr service that someone suggested above. The agent found the problem right away - there was a flag on my account because my employer had responded saying they were only closed for 2 weeks (not 3 like I claimed). Once I explained that we were called back for cleanup before actually reopening for business, she removed the flag. My claim is now approved and payment should arrive within 72 hours for all 4 weeks! Such a relief!

i had this problem to. you gotta report earnings for the week you WORKED not the week you got paid!! that messed me up at first

One last thing to keep in mind: if you consistently earn more than your weekly benefit amount for several weeks in a row, TWC may review your claim since you appear to be fully employed. In that case, you might need to explain that your work is temporary or part-time only. But as long as you're honestly reporting your earnings and continuing to look for full-time work (and documenting your work search activities), you should be fine.