Missed TWC payment requests during appeal - what happens now?

Yes, you need to keep requesting payments the entire time during an appeal. That's how the system works. If you win your appeal, they can only pay you for weeks you actually requested payment for. It says this pretty clearly on the website.

Don't panic yet! I went through something very similar last year. Here's what you should do: 1. Start requesting payments immediately (for current periods) even while your appeal is still pending 2. Call TWC and explain the situation - they sometimes make exceptions for people who misunderstood the process 3. When you get to your appeal hearing, explain to the hearing officer that you didn't understand you needed to request payment during the appeal process If your appeal is successful, you might be able to get those missed weeks through a process called "backdating" your payment requests. But you need to talk to an actual TWC representative about your specific situation. Keep detailed notes of all your calls with TWC (dates, times, who you spoke with). This documentation will help if you need to make your case later.

Use Claimyr to get through to TWC!! I was in the EXACT same boat last month and couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. A friend told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they basically call TWC for you and then connect you when they get through to a real person. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh It worked for me and I was able to explain my situation about missed payment requests during my appeal. The agent helped me file for some of my missed weeks (not all of them, but better than nothing). Worth a try if you're desperate to talk to someone!

The real issue here is that TWC's instructions are DELIBERATELY CONFUSING. They deny people on purpose by making the process complicated, then hoping you'll mess up somewhere so they don't have to pay benefits. I've been through THREE appeals with them over the years and every single time they pull some technical gotcha like this. The payment request thing is their favorite trick. They KNOW most people assume they shouldn't request payments during the appeal, but they bury the instructions somewhere on page 37 of their handbook or whatever. And good luck getting through on the phone. I spent 6 WEEKS trying to reach someone last time. The whole system is designed to frustrate you into giving up.

hey just wanted to say I made the same mistake last year and still got my benefits eventually. keep your head up

Quick follow-up question: What is the status of your appeal right now? Have you received a notice for a telephone hearing date yet? Knowing where you are in the process will help determine the best approach for handling the missed payment requests.

That helps, thanks. Appeals are currently taking about 4-6 weeks to get scheduled from the time they acknowledge receipt. You're still early in the process, which is good news. Here's my recommendation: 1. Start requesting payments immediately for current periods 2. Try contacting TWC using whatever method works (regular calls, Claimyr, or visiting a Workforce Center in person if there's one near you) 3. Prepare a simple letter explaining your misunderstanding about payment requests during appeals. Have this ready to present during your appeal hearing Most hearing officers are reasonable if you explain that you misunderstood the process. Since your appeal is about the reason for separation (misconduct vs. position elimination) and not about a technicality, you have a good chance of getting a fair hearing. When you do get your hearing date, make absolutely sure you attend and have all your documentation ready about your job elimination. Missing the hearing automatically means you lose the appeal.

I had something similar happen with my claim last month. Question - did you receive ANY correspondence from TWC telling you to request payment? They usually send instructions after you file. I only got partial backpay because they said I should have known from their letters, even though I explained I was confused...

Make sure when you start requesting benefits you also do your work search activities each week (minimum 3 per week). Don't make another technical mistake that could hurt your claim if you win the appeal.

ok so Im gonna share what happened to my cousin who had literally THE SAME SITUATION!! he missed like 6 payment requests during his appeal cuz he didnt know better. when he finally won his appeal (took like 2 months btw) he called TWC right away and explained that he didnt request payments cuz he thought he couldn't while denied. they let him backdate THREE of the missed requests but said it was a "one-time courtesy" or whatever. so basically he got half of what he shouldve gotten. better than nothing but still super frustrating. good luck!!