I just went through this exact situation a few months ago - employer claimed I had "excessive absences" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The key thing that helped me win was having EVERYTHING documented and organized chronologically. Since you have those time punch records, make sure you also grab any emails between you and your supervisor about work schedules, any company communications about remote work policies, and especially any emails from around the time you were terminated that mention "restructuring" or layoffs. One thing I learned during my appeal - the hearing officer really appreciated when I could point to specific company policies that contradicted what my employer claimed. If your company had an official remote work policy or attendance policy, get a copy of that too. Also, don't be surprised if your employer tries to change their story during the hearing. Mine suddenly claimed I was "insubordinate" when their original claim to TWC was about attendance. Just stick to your evidence and stay calm. The appeals process is stressful but you clearly have a strong case with those time records. Document everything, stay organized, and don't let them intimidate you!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now - my employer told TWC I was terminated for "poor performance" when I was actually laid off in a restructuring. It's infuriating how companies think they can just rewrite history to avoid paying unemployment! From what I've learned so far, having those time punch records puts you in a really strong position. Make sure to also save any emails or messages from your manager about the restructuring/layoffs, and definitely get a copy of your company's attendance policy if possible. One thing I discovered is that you can request a copy of your personnel file from your former employer - they're required to provide it within a reasonable time frame in Texas. This might contain additional evidence that contradicts their claims about your attendance. Also, when you get your hearing notice, write down the appeals officer's direct phone number and extension. I've found it much easier to reach them directly rather than going through the main TWC line. Don't let them gaslight you - you know the truth about your work performance and attendance. With solid documentation like yours, these appeals are very winnable. Keep fighting!

Wait wait wait I'm confused about something... do we have to request payment BEFORE being approved? What if we get denied? I'm in a similar situation (fired last week, phone interview scheduled for next Tuesday) and I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing while waiting for the decision??

Just want to add my experience to help ease your mind - I was terminated via email (not even a phone call!) about 6 months ago for "restructuring" that turned out to be performance-related according to their TWC response. Never got any formal warnings either, just vague feedback in meetings that I thought was normal coaching. My determination took about 8 days and I was approved. The key thing the TWC agent told me during my appeal hearing (my employer initially contested) was that Texas follows "at-will" employment but unemployment benefits have different standards. They look for willful misconduct or deliberate violations, not just performance issues. Since you mentioned no written warnings, you're likely in good shape. Also echoing what others said about payment requests - definitely keep doing those every two weeks even while waiting. I almost missed my first one because I thought I had to wait for approval. Hang in there!

That's great news that your payment went through! Thanks for updating everyone - it really helps to know the outcome. This is exactly what most people experience with these routine ID verifications. The system is designed to keep payments flowing while they do their security checks in the background. Hopefully your verification clears soon and you won't have to deal with this again!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Got my first payment two weeks ago, then boom - another ID verification request in the mail. It's so stressful when you're already struggling financially and then they throw these curveballs at you. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring though. I uploaded my documents yesterday and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my payment request goes through this week like Sean's did. Has anyone noticed if there are certain things that seem to trigger these double checks? I'm wondering if it's totally random or if there are patterns we should be aware of.

I keep seeing mentions of a Correspondence Inbox. I don’t see this when I log into my TWC account. Am I missing something? My benefits were approved some weeks ago, then I received a notice saying that I don’t qualify because I didn’t verify my identity. The ID.me site doesn’t allow for a seamless integration with TWC without having the access code, which has not been mailed to me at present. Apologies if the above was already addressed, but I’ve spent the entire day trying to find workarounds. Thanks.

@Miss Aminata - The Correspondence Inbox should be in your TWC account under the "Inbox" or "Messages" section when you log in. If you're not seeing it, try looking for tabs like "Correspondence," "Messages," or "Notifications" on your main dashboard. For your ID.me verification issue - this sounds exactly like what others in this thread experienced. Since you haven't received the access code by mail and can't complete verification, I'd strongly recommend using Claimyr (mentioned earlier in the thread) to get through to a TWC agent quickly. They can: 1. Confirm your verification request is legitimate 2. Manually send you a new access code or provide an alternative verification method 3. Help you locate your correspondence inbox in the system Don't wait too long on this - verification requests are usually time-sensitive and could affect your benefits. The agent can walk you through the whole process once you get connected. Hope this helps!

I went through something similar in 2022 - TWC hit me with an overpayment from 2016 that I had no clue about. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely call that overpayment department number someone posted (512-936-3338) but call RIGHT when they open at 8am - that's your best shot at getting through. When you talk to them, use the exact phrase "financial hardship" multiple times and ask for the lowest possible recoupment percentage. Second, I discovered that TWC has an "Overpayment Collections Manual" that outlines their policies - you can request a copy under the Texas Public Information Act. It helped me understand what arguments actually work with them. Third, if you do file an appeal, include a sworn affidavit stating you never received proper notice at your current address. The burden is on them to prove they properly notified you, and "we sent it to your 2011 address" isn't proper notice if you moved and they had no forwarding info. One more thing - document EVERYTHING with dates and names. I kept a log of every call, every person I spoke with, and what they told me. It saved me when different agents gave me conflicting information. Hang in there - it's a frustrating process but you do have options!

This is absolutely outrageous! I can't believe TWC can just blindside people like this after over a decade. The fact that they admitted it wasn't even your fault but are still taking 100% of your benefits is just cruel, especially when you're already struggling with unemployment. I've been following Texas unemployment issues for a while and this seems to be happening more frequently - people getting hit with ancient overpayments when they file new claims. It's like they're using current claims as leverage to collect old debts they couldn't recover before. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you end up having to go the legal route, you might want to look into whether there are any consumer protection laws that apply here. The lack of proper notice for 14 years while interest kept accumulating seems potentially problematic from a due process standpoint. Also, when you do get through to someone, ask them to put any agreements or payment arrangements in writing and sent to your current address. Don't rely on verbal promises - get everything documented so they can't change the terms on you later. Really hoping you can get this sorted out quickly. Nobody should have to deal with this kind of surprise when they're already going through a tough time financially.