Glad to see everyone's payments are finally coming through! This kind of delay seems to happen pretty regularly with TWC unfortunately. For future reference, I've found that checking their Twitter account (@TXWorkforce) sometimes has more timely updates about system issues than their main website. They don't always post about delays right away, but when they do acknowledge problems, that's usually where you'll see it first. Hope this helps avoid some of the panic next time there's a processing delay!

I'm new to this community but experienced something similar this week! My payment request was submitted Tuesday and I was getting really anxious when it didn't arrive by today (Friday). After reading through everyone's comments here, I checked the TWC Twitter account that @Mateo Warren mentioned and sure enough, they had a brief post yesterday about "intermittent delays in payment processing." It's so frustrating that this information isn't prominently displayed on their main website where people are actually checking their claim status. At least now I know this is a system-wide issue and not something wrong with my specific claim. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with these delays!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're in a union or have an employment contract, check those documents too before signing anything. Some collective bargaining agreements have specific language about layoffs and unemployment benefits that could affect your situation. Also, Texas is an at-will state, but that doesn't mean employers can just make false statements to TWC about why you were terminated. Document everything, including that HR meeting where they said they'd "fight" claims - if possible, get that in writing or see if any coworkers would be willing to confirm what was said. Their intimidation tactics are probably illegal and TWC doesn't look kindly on employers who try to interfere with legitimate unemployment claims.

I work as a paralegal and see unemployment cases regularly. Your employer's HR is absolutely bluffing - they're hoping to reduce their unemployment insurance costs by scaring people out of filing legitimate claims. In Texas, accepting severance from a layoff does NOT disqualify you from unemployment benefits after the severance period ends. The TWC specifically states that severance pay is considered wages for work already performed, not a disqualifier for future benefits. What matters is the reason for separation (layoff = eligible), not whether you received severance. Take the money, document everything, and file your claim. If they do contest it, you'll likely win on appeal since you have a legitimate layoff situation. Don't let them intimidate you out of benefits you've earned!

Glad to hear your payment came through! That's exactly the timeline most people experience. For anyone else still waiting, just remember that 3-5 business days is pretty standard for TWC, especially for first payments. The system works, it's just not always as fast as we'd like when we're stressed about bills. Thanks for updating us with the good news!

Welcome to the community @Giovanni Mancini! You're absolutely right that this thread is super helpful for understanding the timeline. Since your claim was processed on 2/20 (which was a Monday), you should expect to see your payment by Thursday or Friday at the latest, assuming no issues. The fact that you're reading through experiences like this shows you're being proactive, which is smart. Just keep an eye on your TWC account for any correspondence messages, and if it goes beyond 5 business days, that's when you'd want to call. Fingers crossed it shows up soon!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - employer claimed "performance issues" but it was really system problems that weren't my fault. Here's what worked for me: 1. File your appeal IMMEDIATELY - don't wait. You can add evidence later but missing that 14-day deadline kills your case completely. 2. In your appeal, specifically request subpoenas for: - All emails between you and supervisors about the recording issues - Call system error logs for the time period in question - Any IT tickets or work orders about recording system problems 3. Get a lawyer if you can afford it. I know it seems expensive, but when you're looking at paying back $8,200, even spending $800-1000 on legal help is worth it. They know exactly what to request and how to present it. 4. Start gathering ANY evidence you might have - text messages, personal emails, screenshots, anything that shows you reported these technical issues. The good news is that second-level appeals are much more thorough. The Commission actually reviews everything instead of just rushing through like the phone hearings. You have a real shot at winning this if you can prove the technical issues were legitimate and that you tried to address them properly. Don't give up - the system isn't fair but it's not impossible to beat with the right preparation!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation when you know you're in the right but can't prove it. I've been following similar cases in our community and wanted to add a few thoughts based on what I've seen work: 1. Document EVERYTHING you remember about those technical issues - dates, times, who you spoke with, what the problems were. Even if you can't prove it all right now, having a detailed written record will help your lawyer or help you present a coherent case. 2. Check if your company had an IT helpdesk system where you might have submitted tickets about the recording problems. Sometimes these systems keep records even after employees leave, and they could be subpoenaed. 3. Consider reaching out to your state representative's office - they sometimes have staff who can help navigate TWC issues and ensure you're getting fair treatment in the appeals process. 4. If you do hire a lawyer, make sure they specialize in unemployment law specifically. General employment lawyers might not know all the TWC-specific procedures and deadlines. The fact that you were initially approved shows that TWC found your case had merit. Don't let your employer's documentation intimidate you - companies often create paper trails after the fact to justify their decisions. Stay strong and fight this!

UPDATE: My account just got unlocked! It took exactly 3 business days from when I did the ID.me verification. I received an email saying my account access had been restored. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Congrats on getting your account unlocked! For anyone else dealing with this, I just want to add that if you're still having trouble after a week, you can also visit a local TWC office in person. I had to do this once when the phone lines were completely jammed and they were able to manually review my ID.me verification and unlock my account on the spot. It's not ideal having to go in person, but sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold for hours or dealing with system delays.