Just wanted to chime in with some additional encouragement - I work as a claims specialist (not for TWC but similar work) and what you're describing is totally normal and handled regularly. The key thing to remember is that unemployment benefits are designed to replace wages during periods of unemployment, so you're absolutely entitled to benefits for those 6 weeks you were out of work regardless of your current employment status. When you report your new job on your payment request, the system will simply stop future payments - it won't affect your appeal for past weeks. Make sure to attend your hearing with all your delivery protocol documentation and be upfront about finding work. Hearing officers appreciate honesty and it shows you're following the system correctly. Your warehouse job starting before the hearing date is actually perfect timing since you can focus on the appeal without worrying about current income. Good luck!

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was terminated from my restaurant job 5 weeks ago (they claimed I violated food safety protocols but I have timestamped photos proving I followed everything correctly), filed for unemployment, got denied, and started the appeal process. Just got offered a part-time retail position that starts next week, but my appeal hearing isn't until June 3rd. Reading everyone's experiences here has really put my mind at ease about continuing with the appeal while starting the new job. The consensus seems clear: be transparent about the new employment, keep all documentation organized, and remember that the appeal covers the specific weeks you were unemployed. It's such a relief to know that finding work during appeals is actually viewed positively by hearing officers! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's amazing how much stress this community can help alleviate when dealing with TWC's confusing system.

I just wanted to jump in and say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm not currently dealing with an unemployment appeal myself, but I'm bookmarking this for future reference because the level of detailed, practical advice here is amazing. A few things that really stood out to me from everyone's experiences: 1. The consistent theme that employers often can't back up "misconduct" claims with actual documentation - this seems to be their biggest weakness in these cases. 2. The importance of filing the appeal quickly rather than waiting - several people mentioned filing within 2-3 days rather than using the full 14-day window. 3. How valuable that Claimyr service seems to be for actually getting through to TWC when you need to speak with someone urgently. 4. The fact that "misconduct" has a very specific legal definition in Texas that requires willful wrongdoing, not just poor performance. For anyone else reading this thread in the future - it looks like the key factors for winning these appeals are: lack of progressive discipline/warnings from the employer, recent positive feedback that contradicts their claims, and being able to present your case factually and chronologically during the hearing. @Jessica Suarez @Emma Wilson - wishing you both the best with your appeals! Based on everything shared here, you both have really strong cases. Please update us with your results!

As someone who works in HR (at a different company), I wanted to add some perspective from the employer side that might help with your appeal strategy. What I'm seeing in your case - and many others shared here - is a classic example of employers conflating "at-will termination" with "termination for cause." Many companies don't realize that just because they CAN fire someone without warning (at-will employment) doesn't mean they can successfully claim "misconduct" for unemployment purposes. In my experience, here's what typically happens: A manager decides they want to let someone go for performance reasons, HR processes it as a standard termination, and then when the unemployment claim comes in, someone in payroll or benefits (who wasn't involved in the actual termination) checks a box for "misconduct" without understanding the legal implications. The fact that you received positive feedback just a week before termination is a huge red flag that this was likely an impulsive management decision rather than a documented performance issue. Most legitimate misconduct cases have extensive paper trails - written warnings, performance improvement plans, documented policy violations, etc. For your hearing, emphasize these points: - Ask them to specify exactly what policy you violated - Request they provide documentation of progressive discipline - Point out the timeline inconsistency between positive feedback and sudden "performance issues" Based on the patterns I see, employers who can't produce this documentation usually lose these appeals. Your case sounds very strong. Good luck!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - got hit with a $3,400 Covid overpayment notice from TWC about two weeks ago. Like you, it was from reporting confusion when I went back to part-time work in 2021. The whole system was such a mess back then and I genuinely thought I was reporting everything correctly. After reading through all these responses, I called TWC yesterday using that Claimyr service and actually got through to someone. The rep told me that since mine is classified as non-fraud overpayment, I have several options including appealing, requesting a hardship waiver, or setting up a payment plan. She also mentioned something important - if you can show that the overpayment was due to TWC's own unclear instructions or system issues during Covid (which honestly, their reporting system was confusing as hell), that can help with appeals or waiver requests. I'm planning to file for both an appeal and a hardship waiver just to cover all my bases. The worst they can say is no, right? But definitely don't wait - I was stressed about this for weeks before finally taking action, and I wish I had called sooner. You're not alone in this! Seems like thousands of people are dealing with these Covid overpayment notices. The system failed us during the pandemic and now we're all paying for it.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - DO NOT ignore this! I learned the hard way with a $4,200 Covid overpayment that ignoring it only makes things worse. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. Call TWC immediately and ask specifically about hardship waivers for Covid-era overpayments. They've been more flexible with these than regular UI overpayments. 2. If your letter doesn't say "fraud" anywhere, you're in a much better position. Non-fraud overpayments have way more options. 3. Document EVERYTHING about your financial situation - rent, utilities, groceries, car payment, etc. The more you can show genuine hardship, the better. 4. Don't be afraid to mention how confusing their reporting system was during Covid. I kept records showing contradictory guidance from their website and phone reps, and it helped during my appeal. I ended up getting my overpayment reduced by about 30% through the appeal process and then got approved for a payment plan of just $45/month. It took about 4 months to resolve everything, but staying proactive made all the difference. The stress is awful, I know, but you have options if you act fast. Rooting for you!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was starting to panic about my own situation but seeing all these success stories is giving me hope. I'm in almost the exact same boat - denied for insufficient wages after doing freelance social media work and pet sitting between claims. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is keeping copies of your business licenses or permits if you had any during your self-employment period. I had a basic business license for my freelance work that might help show the legitimacy of my income. Also, for anyone dealing with payment apps like Venmo - make sure you export the full transaction history as a PDF or CSV file rather than just screenshots. The detailed export shows more information and looks more professional for the hearing. Anita, your case sounds really solid since you properly filed your Schedule C returns. That's going to be your strongest piece of evidence. I'm rooting for you and everyone else going through this stressful process! Has anyone had experience with virtual hearings vs. in-person? I'm wondering if one format tends to be more successful than the other.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was also denied for insufficient wages after doing freelance writing and dog walking between my claims from 2023-2025. Reading everyone's success stories is giving me so much hope. I did file Schedule C for both years and made well over the required amount, but it looks like TWC's system just doesn't automatically pick up self-employment income even when it's properly reported. One thing I wanted to add that might help - I found out that you can also include a cover letter with your appeal explaining your situation in plain language. Sometimes the hearing officers appreciate having a clear narrative to go along with all the documentation. I'm planning to write a brief summary explaining that I chose gig work to maintain income while actively job searching, and that all income was properly reported and taxes were paid. Also, for anyone worried about the wait times - I know it's frustrating, but use that time to get super organized with your documentation. Create that spreadsheet everyone mentioned, get your payment app exports, and maybe even practice explaining your situation out loud so you're confident during the hearing. Anita, your case sounds incredibly strong with the Schedule C filings and the amount you earned. You've got this! Please keep us updated on how everything goes - I think we're all rooting for each other here.

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

Glad to hear you finally got through! That 7am timing trick seems to be the real deal. For anyone else still struggling with this, I'd also suggest having all your documents ready before calling - claim number, SSN, ID info, etc. That way when you do get through after waiting forever, you can handle everything in one call instead of having to go through this nightmare again.