Anyone actually gotten through TWC phone lines? Tried 30+ times today

Ugh welcome to TWC hell. I spent 3 weeks trying to get through about my determination letter. It's impossible!! Their phone system is completely broken. I tried morning (7:59am), lunch, afternoon... nothing works. The trick is you need to call EXACTLY at 8:00am when they open but even then it's like winning the lottery.

same problem here!! called like 50 times last week got NOWHERE and now my benefits are on hold for mystery reasons

The TWC phone system is definitely overwhelmed right now. Your best strategy is to try calling at 7:58am and keep redialing until exactly 8:00am when their lines open. That gives you a slightly better chance of getting into the queue. Also make sure you're selecting the correct options in the phone tree - sometimes choosing Spanish then switching to English can get you to a different queue with shorter wait times. For your "pending - issues" status, this typically means there's an eligibility question that needs to be resolved. Common issues include incomplete work search activities, questions about your separation from employment, or identity verification problems. Have you checked your Correspondence Inbox on the TWC portal? They often send notices there explaining what information they need.

I had a similar issue last month and was going crazy trying to get through. After 4 days of constant calling, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it actually worked. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when a TWC agent is available. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh When I finally got through, turned out there was a discrepancy between my reported wages and what my employer reported. Agent fixed it in like 5 minutes once I actually got to talk to someone.

The real problem is that TWC DELIBERATELY makes their phone system impossible to get through!! They don't want to pay benefits so they make it IMPOSSIBLE to resolve issues!!! I had to contact my STATE REPRESENTATIVE to get anyone to help me after 6 WEEKS of calling!! This is how they treat hardworking Texans who just need their benefits!!! If you want action, email your state rep's office - google "Texas state representative finder" and put in your address. My rep's office had a TWC liaison call me back in 2 days.

i tried calling for 3 weeks straight couldnt get thru then i finally got in by calling the teleserv number 800-558-8321 instead of the main customer service one. dont press any options just wait silently and sometimes it transfers you to a person. worked for me twice

My cousin works at TWC (not in unemployment tho) and he says they're super understaffed right now. He said even the employees can't get through on the phones sometimes lol. The 8am thing does work better but like even then it's hard.

UPDATE: I finally got through!! I used that Claimyr service that someone mentioned above. Got a callback with a TWC agent in about 1.5 hours. Found out the issue was that my previous employer contested my reason for separation (claimed I quit when I was actually laid off). The agent helped me submit the right documentation and said my payments should process within 3-5 business days. Honestly worth it after wasting days trying to call myself. Wish the regular phone system wasn't such a disaster though!