TWC Commission Appeal taking months - still showing 'active' status since October

Yeah, the Commission appeals are CRAZY slow right now! I filed mine in June and still haven't heard anything either. My status has been stuck on "active" for 6+ months. When I called (after like 50 attempts), the rep basically told me the same thing - that they're insanely backlogged and there's nothing they can do to expedite. It's completely ridiculous! The whole system is broken.

Unfortunately, Commission appeals are taking much longer than usual right now. The normal processing time used to be 45-60 days, but since the post-pandemic claim volume increase, they've been significantly backlogged. A few things to note: 1. The "active" status just means it's still in queue - this is normal 2. Commission appeals are reviewed in order received with very few exceptions 3. Your daughter should continue requesting payment every two weeks even while waiting 4. If she's experiencing severe financial hardship, she can submit a hardship letter, but these rarely expedite cases The April timeline they mentioned is likely accurate based on what I've heard from other claimants.

my friedn waited 8 months for her commision appeal last year and eventualy got approved. keep checking the status online evry week, somtimes they dont send the notice right away when they finally decide

Commission appeals are taking forever because they have a three-person panel that reviews each case individually. Your daughter should prepare for potentially waiting until summer 2025 based on their current timeline. While waiting: 1. Make sure all her contact information is updated in the system 2. Continue doing work searches and payment requests every two weeks 3. Document any communication with TWC (dates, names, what was said) 4. If she finds new employment, she still needs to report this even while the appeal is pending I've helped several people navigate these appeals, and the backlog has been growing steadily since 2022. It's frustrating but persistence is key.

I tried calling TWC for 3 weeks straight about my appeal status and couldn't get through at all. Just busy signals and disconnects. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to a TWC agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my appeal was still in the queue but at least I got to talk to someone directly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Might be worth it just to get confirmation about your daughter's specific case and maybe find out if there's anything missing from her file that's causing additional delays.

The appeal to commission wait time is totaly broken right now!! I filed mine last feb and didnt hear ANYTHING til september!! 7 MONTHS of waiting while they had MY MONEY that I EARNED paying into the system!!! And guess what? they DENIED it anyway after all that time! Now im appealing to the civil courts which takes EVEN LONGER. the entire system is designed to make you give up!!!!!

To answer your follow-up question - if she's missed payment requests during the waiting period, that could potentially affect her ability to receive benefits for those weeks if her appeal is ultimately successful. She should immediately resume biweekly payment requests. For any missed weeks, she may need to request backdating, though this isn't guaranteed to be approved. Regarding legal representation - it's not required for Commission appeals, but having someone familiar with Texas unemployment law can be helpful. The decision to hire representation often depends on the complexity of her case and the amount of benefits at stake. Many legal aid organizations offer free consultations for unemployment cases.

i waited 5 month for my comision appeal and then like magic it got decided in 1 day lol the system makes no sense but hang in there

@casual_commenter Yes, Claimyr worked for me after I wasted hours trying to get through on my own. It's not free but it saved me literally days of frustration. They just connect you directly to a TWC agent - you still need to handle your own claim issues with the agent once connected.

One important clarification: While Commission appeals are indeed very backlogged, your daughter should receive a written acknowledgment that her appeal was received (usually within 2-3 weeks of filing). If she never received this acknowledgment, there's a small possibility her appeal wasn't properly filed or recorded in their system. This would be worth confirming with TWC. Additionally, if her financial situation is dire, she should look into: - Texas food banks - Utility assistance programs - Temporary rent assistance through local organizations - TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) if she has children These resources can help bridge the gap while waiting for the unemployment appeal decision.

This is unfortunately becoming the norm with TWC Commission appeals. I filed mine in September and I'm still waiting too. The system is completely overwhelmed and they don't seem to have any plans to hire additional staff to handle the backlog. One thing I learned from talking to other people in similar situations - make sure your daughter keeps detailed records of everything during this waiting period. Save all emails, document phone calls (even the failed attempts), and screenshot her online portal status regularly. If her appeal is eventually approved, having this documentation can be helpful for getting retroactive payments processed correctly. Also, if she hasn't already, she should sign up for direct deposit if possible. When the decision finally comes through, paper checks can add another 1-2 weeks to the process. Every little bit helps when you've been waiting this long. Hang in there - I know it's incredibly frustrating but from what I've seen, most people do eventually get their cases reviewed, it just takes way longer than it should.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now. Filed my Commission appeal in November and it's been showing "active" status ever since. It's absolutely maddening how broken this system is - people are waiting 6-9 months just to have their cases reviewed while struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. What really gets me is that TWC acts like this is normal and acceptable. A 9-month backlog for appeals should be a crisis that gets immediate attention and resources, not just a "sorry, that's how long it takes" response. Has your daughter considered reaching out to her state representatives? I've heard some people have had luck getting their offices to inquire about specific cases, though I'm not sure how effective it actually is. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some movement on mine. The whole system seems designed to make people give up and stop pursuing what they're rightfully owed. Stay strong and keep fighting for her!

I'm dealing with a similar nightmare right now - filed my Commission appeal in August and still waiting. The "active" status has become a cruel joke at this point. What's really infuriating is that TWC's own website still lists Commission appeal processing times as "45-60 days" when they know damn well it's taking 8-10 months minimum. A few things I've learned while trapped in this system: 1. Document EVERYTHING - I started keeping a spreadsheet with dates of all my payment requests, phone calls, emails, etc. 2. The hardship letter route is mostly useless - I tried it and got a form letter back basically saying "we understand your situation but can't expedite" 3. Keep doing those biweekly payment requests even though it feels pointless - if you win your appeal, missing weeks could cost you thousands The most maddening part is that they have our money that we EARNED and paid into this system, and they're holding it hostage while people lose their homes and go hungry. This isn't just bureaucratic inefficiency - it's causing real harm to real families. Has anyone tried filing complaints with the Texas Workforce Commission's oversight bodies or the state auditor? At some point this has to rise to the level of a public accountability issue.

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my Commission appeal in early September and it's been stuck on "active" status ever since. When I finally got through to someone at TWC last month (took literally 40+ call attempts), they confirmed what others have mentioned - they're working on appeals from March/April of last year. What's really helped me stay sane during this endless wait: 1. Set up automatic calendar reminders for the biweekly payment requests - I almost forgot a few times thinking "what's the point" but those weeks could be worth thousands if I eventually win 2. Started a simple log of every interaction with TWC including screenshots of my portal status 3. Applied for local emergency assistance programs - many don't require you to be unemployed, just show financial hardship The system is absolutely broken and it's causing real financial devastation for families. Your daughter isn't alone in this - there are thousands of us stuck in the same nightmare. The fact that they're so casually telling people about 9-month backlogs like it's no big deal shows how disconnected they are from the reality of what this delay means for people's lives. Stay strong and keep pushing - from what I've seen, persistence is really the only option we have right now.

I'm in the exact same boat - filed my Commission appeal in late September and still showing "active" with no movement. The worst part is feeling completely powerless while watching months tick by. What I've found helpful during this agonizing wait: 1. Joined a couple Facebook groups for Texas unemployment issues - seeing others share their experiences helps with the isolation 2. Started volunteering at a local food bank - keeps me busy and they often have resources/connections for people in tough financial spots 3. Reached out to 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they connected me with several local assistance programs I didn't know existed The most frustrating thing is that TWC's phone system and website act like everything is working normally when clearly the entire Commission appeal process has completely collapsed. Nine months to review an appeal is absolutely unacceptable for any government agency. Your daughter should definitely look into contacting her state rep's office - I've heard mixed results but some people have gotten at least acknowledgment that their case exists in the system. At minimum it creates a paper trail showing the systemic failure. Stay strong - we're all fighting the same broken system together.

I'm so sorry you and your daughter are going through this - the Commission appeal backlog has become absolutely ridiculous. I filed mine back in July and I'm still waiting too, so you're definitely not alone in this nightmare. A few things that might help while you're stuck in this endless wait: 1. Make sure she's documented everything related to her original claim and denial - if/when the Commission finally reviews her case, having all the paperwork organized will be crucial 2. Consider setting up a simple email alert or calendar reminder to check her portal status weekly - sometimes the decision gets posted before any notification is sent 3. If she qualifies, look into SNAP benefits and local utility assistance programs - these can help stretch finances while waiting The most infuriating part is that TWC knows their system is completely broken but they just keep telling people "that's how long it takes now" like it's acceptable. A 9-month backlog should trigger emergency staffing and resources, not just a shrug. I've also heard that some people have had luck reaching out to local news stations about the appeal delays - bad publicity sometimes motivates government agencies to actually address problems. Might be worth considering if things get desperate. Hang in there - from what I've seen, most appeals do eventually get processed, it just takes way longer than anyone should have to wait.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and it's absolutely infuriating! Filed my Commission appeal in early October and still stuck on "active" status. What really gets me is that TWC's customer service reps act like a 9-month backlog is totally normal when families are literally struggling to keep roofs over their heads. A few things I've learned during this nightmare: 1. Keep requesting payments every two weeks no matter how pointless it feels - I almost stopped doing it but realized I could lose thousands in back pay if I eventually win 2. Screenshot your portal status regularly - I've heard some people's cases got "lost" in the system and having documentation helped prove they filed 3. Look into local emergency rental assistance programs - many don't require you to be officially unemployed, just show financial hardship The most maddening part is that we all paid into this system in good faith, and now they're essentially holding our own money hostage while people lose their homes. This isn't just bureaucratic inefficiency - it's causing real harm to real families. Your daughter should definitely consider contacting her state representative's office. I haven't tried it yet but I'm about to - at this point we need to make noise about how broken this system has become. Stay strong and keep fighting!

I'm so frustrated reading all of these experiences because they mirror exactly what we're going through! It's clear this isn't just isolated cases but a complete systemic breakdown at TWC. The fact that so many people are waiting 6-9+ months for Commission appeals while struggling financially is absolutely unacceptable. What really strikes me from everyone's comments is how TWC representatives casually mention these massive backlogs like it's just a minor inconvenience, when in reality families are losing their homes and going hungry while waiting for their own contributed money to be released. This should be treated as an emergency requiring immediate resources and staffing solutions. I'm definitely going to take everyone's advice about: - Setting up those biweekly payment request reminders - Documenting everything with screenshots and logs - Looking into local emergency assistance programs - Contacting our state representative's office The suggestion about reaching out to local news outlets is really compelling too - this kind of widespread government failure affecting thousands of Texans definitely deserves media scrutiny. Maybe if enough people start making noise publicly, TWC will finally be forced to address this crisis properly instead of just accepting 9-month backlogs as "normal." Thank you all for sharing your experiences and practical advice. It helps to know we're not fighting this alone, even though it's infuriating that so many families are stuck in this broken system together.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation - filed my Commission appeal in September and it's been stuck on "active" status ever since. The 9-month backlog they mentioned is absolutely insane and completely unacceptable for any government agency. What's really helped me during this endless wait: 1. Set up automatic reminders for the biweekly payment requests - even though it feels pointless, those weeks could be worth thousands if the appeal is eventually approved 2. Started documenting everything in a simple spreadsheet - dates of calls, screenshots of portal status, any communication with TWC 3. Applied for local food assistance and utility help programs - many don't require you to be officially unemployed, just demonstrate financial hardship The most infuriating part is how TWC reps act like a 9-month delay is totally normal when families are struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. This isn't just slow bureaucracy - it's causing real financial devastation while they hold onto money we earned and paid into the system. Your daughter should definitely look into contacting her state representative's office. I haven't tried it yet but I'm planning to - at this point we need to make noise about how broken this system has become. This level of systemic failure should be getting emergency attention and resources, not just a casual "that's how long it takes now" response. Stay strong and keep fighting - you're definitely not alone in this nightmare!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening and frustrating to read - it's clear that TWC's Commission appeal process has completely collapsed, yet they continue operating like 9-month backlogs are acceptable. Reading everyone's experiences, I'm struck by how this isn't just bureaucratic slowness but actual harm being done to families who paid into this system in good faith. A few observations from all the shared experiences: 1. The consistent theme of TWC reps casually mentioning massive backlogs like it's no big deal shows how disconnected they are from the real-world impact 2. The advice about continuing biweekly payment requests even when it feels pointless seems crucial - missing those weeks could cost thousands in back pay 3. The documentation strategies (spreadsheets, screenshots, communication logs) appear essential given reports of cases getting "lost" 4. Multiple people mentioning state representative contact suggests this might actually be an effective escalation path What really stands out is how many practical resources people have shared - from 211 assistance to local food banks to emergency rental programs. It's heartening to see this community supporting each other through such a broken system. The suggestion about media contact is particularly compelling. A story about thousands of Texans waiting 9+ months for unemployment appeals while struggling to survive seems exactly like something local news would investigate. Maybe public pressure is what it takes to force TWC to treat this as the crisis it actually is. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. This thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with Commission appeals right now.