First time TWC claimant - do I need to wait for something in the mail?

Congrats on getting approved! You don't need to wait for anything else in the mail. You need to start requesting payments according to the schedule they gave you in your approval letter. Usually, they assign you specific days to request payment (either every other week or twice a month depending on your situation). You MUST make these requests on time or you risk losing benefits. Also, don't forget you need to complete and log at least 3 work search activities each week. Did you create your WorkInTexas.com account yet? That's required too.

Welcome to the wonderful world of TWC lol. They never make anything clear enough.

I just went through this in January. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Log into your TWC account and look for your payment request schedule date. It should tell you the exact date when you need to request payment. 2. Create a WorkInTexas.com account NOW. This is separate from your TWC account and you must have this to record your work search activities. 3. Starting immediately, complete at least 3 work search activities EVERY week (applying for jobs, attending workshops, etc). 4. On your designated payment request date, go to the TWC website or call the Tele-Serv system (866-274-1722) to request payment. You'll need to answer questions about any work and income during the period, and confirm you completed your work search activities. 5. Keep detailed records of all your work search activities in case you're audited. Also, set a calendar reminder for your payment request dates. Missing even one can cause major headaches.

when i got unemployment they sent me a payment request schedule in the mail teling me what days to request payment. check ur mailbox maybe it came separate from approval letter

If you're having trouble reaching TWC to ask questions (which is VERY common), I'd recommend using Claimyr. I was in the same boat as you last month - totally confused about the process and couldn't get through to TWC on the phone for days. A friend recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours getting busy signals. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Believe me, being able to talk to an actual person at TWC makes everything so much clearer. They walked me through exactly what I needed to do for my first payment request.

This is why the system sucks! They approve you but don't clearly explain what to do next. I missed my first payment request date because I didn't know I had to request it and lost a whole week of benefits. So frustrating!!!

You need to be SUPER careful about the work search requirements!!! I got audited last month and almost lost my benefits because I was only doing 2 job applications a week instead of 3. They are NOT joking about this requirement. Make sure you document EVERYTHING - job you applied for, date, contact info, everything. I use a spreadsheet to track mine.

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. Yes, you need to do 3 work search activities EVERY week starting immediately, even before your first payment request. 2. You don't need to upload proof with each request, but you need to keep records in case you're audited. TWC randomly checks people's work search activities. 3. WorkInTexas.com is separate from your TWC account. It's Texas's job matching system - you need to register there as part of your unemployment requirements. 4. And yes, job fairs definitely count as work search activities! Just make sure to get some kind of proof you attended (take a photo, get a flyer, etc).

Glad you're getting on track! One more thing - when you do your first payment request, have your bank account information ready for direct deposit setup if you haven't done that already. It's much faster than waiting for a debit card or paper check.