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!!

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I'm a former TWC claims examiner (worked there for 3 years until 2023). The payment request requirement during appeals is definitely confusing and trips up a lot of people. Here's what I can tell you from the inside: 1. The "backdating" process @Luca Ferrari mentioned is real, but it's not automatic. You'll need to specifically request it and provide a good reason why you didn't request payments initially. 2. When you call, ask to speak with a "claims specialist" rather than just general customer service. They have more authority to make adjustments to your account. 3. Document EVERYTHING - dates you tried calling, who you spoke with, reference numbers from calls, etc. This creates a paper trail that can help your case. 4. The hearing officer for your appeal actually has some discretion here too. If you explain the situation during your hearing and show you've been actively trying to resolve it, many will make a note in their decision that could help with backdating. The system is frustrating, but don't give up. I've seen plenty of cases where people in your exact situation got at least partial relief. The key is being persistent and documenting your efforts to fix the mistake once you realized it.

I just went through this exact same situation 6 months ago and want to give you some hope! I missed 4 weeks of payment requests during my appeal because I thought I couldn't request while denied (totally logical assumption, right?). Here's what worked for me: 1. I started requesting payments immediately once I realized my mistake 2. I visited my local Workforce Solutions office in person - way more effective than calling 3. The staff there helped me fill out a "Request for Backdating" form for the missed weeks 4. When my appeal hearing happened, I explained the confusion to the hearing officer Result: I won my appeal AND got 3 out of 4 missed weeks backdated. The hearing officer actually said in her decision that the payment request instructions "could be clearer" and noted my good faith effort to fix the mistake. Don't panic - this is fixable! The in-person visit was key for me. Find your nearest Workforce Solutions center and go there with all your documentation. They see this situation ALL the time and know how to help. You've got this! The fact that you caught the mistake now (rather than after losing your appeal) puts you in a much better position.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I missed 3 weeks of payment requests during my appeal because I assumed I couldn't request while my claim was denied. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - especially hearing from people who actually got some of their weeks backdated. I'm planning to visit my local Workforce Solutions office this week based on @Giovanni Mancini's advice about the in-person approach being more effective. It's such a relief to know this is a common mistake and not something that automatically ruins your chances. @Sean Murphy - definitely start requesting payments right away for current weeks. Even if you can't get all the missed weeks back, you don't want to lose any more going forward. The fact that your appeal is about job elimination vs misconduct (not a technicality) should work in your favor during the hearing. Keep us updated on how it goes! This thread is going to help so many people who make this same understandable mistake.

Just wanted to add my experience since I see so many people going through the same thing! I made this EXACT mistake during my appeal last year - didn't request payments for 5 weeks because I thought "why bother if I'm denied?" Here's what saved me: I found out that TWC actually has a specific process for this situation called "Continued Claims During Appeal" backdating. When I finally got through to someone (took forever), they told me that as long as you can show you were "available and able to work" during those missed weeks, they can often approve backdating. The key things they asked me for: - Proof I was job searching during those weeks (keep records!) - Confirmation that I would have been available for work if offered - A statement explaining why I didn't understand the payment request requirement I ended up getting 4 out of 5 weeks backdated. The one week I lost was because I had a doctor's appointment and couldn't prove I was "available" that specific week. Start requesting payments NOW and definitely try the in-person Workforce Solutions visit that others mentioned. The staff there actually have a checklist for this exact situation - they see it constantly. Don't give up! This mistake is way more common than you think, and TWC does have processes to help fix it if you're persistent.

I'm going through something very similar right now and this whole thread has been a lifesaver! I missed 4 weeks of payment requests during my appeal because nowhere in the denial letter did it clearly state I should keep requesting payments. It just felt counterintuitive to request money when they literally told me I was denied. Reading everyone's success stories here gives me so much hope. I'm especially grateful for the specific advice about visiting Workforce Solutions in person and asking for a "claims specialist" rather than general customer service. The fact that there's actually a formal "Continued Claims During Appeal" backdating process makes this feel much less hopeless. @Sean Murphy - you're definitely not alone in making this mistake! It sounds like the system is genuinely confusing and designed in a way that trips people up. The good news is that so many people in this thread have gotten at least partial relief, especially when they explained the situation during their appeal hearing. I'm going to follow the advice here: start requesting current payments immediately, visit my local office in person, and document everything moving forward. Hopefully we'll both have positive updates to share soon!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share that I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! I missed 3 weeks of payment requests during my appeal because the whole process seemed so confusing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea this was such a common mistake or that there were actual processes in place to help fix it. The advice about visiting Workforce Solutions in person seems to be the consistent recommendation from everyone who had success. I'm definitely going to try that approach this week. It's also really helpful to know about asking specifically for a "claims specialist" and the formal "Continued Claims During Appeal" backdating process that @Nalani Liu mentioned. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your experiences and specific advice. This thread should honestly be pinned somewhere as a resource for people navigating unemployment appeals - the level of detail and real-world guidance here is amazing!