Got TWC to open DUA claim after regular benefits exhausted - approved in 2 days!

Wait that's amazing! I exhausted my benefits 3 weeks ago and was told I couldn't apply for DUA because the deadline passed like 2 months ago. Did they tell you why they made an exception?? What number did you call? I keep getting a busy signal every single time I try. My landlord is getting REALLY impatient with me.

congrats but i dont think this will work for everyone. i tried last month and thy told me absolutely not, DUA deadline was firm and i missed it. maybe u got lucky with which agent answered?

This is incredible timing! I'm in almost the exact same situation - my benefits ran out July 25th and I've been panicking ever since. TWC website is so confusing about whether I qualify for anything else. Did you have to provide any special documentation for the DUA claim? And did they explain why they could backdate it so far? I thought there were strict rules about that.

Everyone's experiences with TWC are so different! I tried to get DUA after my regular benefits ended and got a flat NO, even after speaking to three different people. The whole system is so inconsistent it's INFURIATING. But I'm glad it worked out for you! What day/time did you call? Sometimes that makes a difference with which agents you get.

This is actually a policy most people don't know about. TWC can approve DUA claims past the deadline if you can demonstrate "good cause" for late filing. The most common good cause reasons are: 1) You weren't aware you qualified, 2) You were physically unable to file, or 3) You received incorrect information from TWC. Sounds like you qualified under the first reason. One thing to note for others reading this - you typically need to have been directly impacted by a declared disaster (hurricane, flooding, etc.) to qualify for DUA. Regular job loss usually doesn't qualify, so make sure you meet the eligibility criteria before trying this route. Also, everyone should know that if you're having trouble getting through to TWC on the phone, there's a service called Claimyr that can help. It holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. I used it last month after spending days trying to reach someone. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works.

I'm in a similar boat but haven't had any luck. Been calling every day for 2 weeks after my regular UI ran out. Do you think it matters which office location handles your claim? I'm in the Houston area and wondering if maybe our local office is stricter about these things. Also, did you have to provide any special documentation for the DUA claim that was different from your original UI claim?

U GOT SUPER LUCKY!!!! I waited on hold 4 HOURS last week and when I finally got thru the lady was so rude!! She said there was absolutely NO WAY to file for DUA after the deadline no matter what!!! Then she transferred me and I got disconnected!!! The whole system is RIGGED and just depends who answers ur call. Some agents actually want to help and others just want to get u off the phone as fast as possible!!!!!

did you have to keep doing work searches during the time between when your benefits exhausted and when you applied for DUA? or did they waive that requirement?

Has anyone tried calling the Telecenter instead of the main TWC number? I heard sometimes you can get through faster that way. Also, did your payment requests for the backdated weeks get approved right away or is there a waiting period? I'm just trying to figure out how quickly I might see money if I can get through.

I tried using the chat feature on the TWC website instead of calling, but it was completely useless. The automated system couldn't understand my question about DUA after benefits exhaustion, and I never got connected to a real person. Has anyone had success using the chat? Also wondering about the ID.me verification - was it straightforward or did you have issues? When I did mine for my original claim last year, it took 3 attempts because of camera problems.

Just to clarify for everyone - there's an important distinction between regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits exhaustion and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). When your regular UI benefits exhaust, you typically don't automatically qualify for DUA unless you're in an area affected by a federally declared disaster AND your continued unemployment is directly related to that disaster. The OP may have qualified because they were in an affected area and could demonstrate their continued unemployment was disaster-related. For most people whose benefits have exhausted, Extended Benefits or other UI extensions would be more appropriate than DUA (when available). If you need to contact TWC about your specific situation, persistence is key. If you're struggling to get through on the phone, consider scheduling an in-person appointment at your local Workforce Solutions office. They can sometimes help facilitate communication with TWC.