TWC appeal after termination - identity verification request AFTER hearing - good sign?

This actually might be a positive sign! Identity verification is typically something they require before they can process payments. So the fact they're asking for this now could mean the appeal examiner is leaning toward a favorable decision. In my experience, they wouldn't bother with ID verification if they were planning to deny you. Make sure you complete the ID.me verification ASAP - it can take 24-48 hours to process once you submit everything, and you don't want that delaying your payments if your appeal is approved. They'll need your driver's license or state ID, and you'll have to do a video selfie too.

i got fired for 'violating policy' too but my boss was just mad i took too many bathroom breaks (health condition). they denied me first but i won my appeal. took like 3 weeks to get the decision tho ughhh

I don't think the ID.me thing means anything about your appeal decision. They're just making everyone do it now. I had to do it twice because my first verification expired before they finished processing my claim. Such a pain.

The ID verification is standard procedure and doesn't necessarily indicate anything about your appeal status. However, if your manager was doing the same thing you were fired for, that's VERY relevant to your appeal! Did you mention this during your hearing? Did you have any evidence or witnesses who could confirm this? And don't worry too much about the timing - appeal decisions can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks after the hearing in my experience. The system is backlogged. If you haven't received a decision within 3 weeks of your hearing date, I'd recommend calling TWC to check on the status. Of course, getting through to them can be nearly impossible these days.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year. Fired for "policy violation" that was selectively enforced. What helped me win my appeal was proving that the policy wasn't clearly communicated and wasn't enforced consistently. Regarding the ID.me verification - it has nothing to do with your appeal decision, BUT you absolutely need to complete it as soon as possible. If your appeal is approved, they won't release any payments until your identity is verified. I learned this the hard way and lost almost 3 weeks of payments because my ID.me verification was delayed. By the way, if you're struggling to get through to TWC on the phone, I found a service called Claimyr that really helped. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of redial frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!! I got fired for some made up policy violation too and my appeal has been "pending" for THREE MONTHS!!! Every time I call TWC I get disconnected or they say "someone will call you back" AND THEY NEVER DO!!! The ID.me thing is just another hoop they make us jump through hoping we'll give up. DON'T TRUST ANYTHING THEY SAY!!!

Just wanted to follow up on something important - when you get your appeal decision (hopefully a positive one), make sure you continue submitting your payment requests every two weeks even while waiting for the ID.me verification to process. If you miss payment request weeks while waiting for ID verification, you won't be able to claim those weeks retroactively. The system requires you to request payment for each eligible week, regardless of whether the payment is on hold for verification.

just curious, what exactly was this policy they said you violated? sometimes the specific reason matters a lot for unemployment appeals

Based on what you've described, you have a strong case for your appeal, especially with evidence that your manager was doing the same thing. The key factors the hearing officer will consider are: 1. Was the policy clearly communicated to you? 2. Were you aware your actions violated company policy? 3. Was there selective enforcement of the policy? If your manager was actively doing or encouraging the same behavior, that significantly weakens the employer's misconduct claim. Regarding timeframes - TWC is required to issue appeal decisions within 60 days, but most come much sooner. The current average is about 21-28 days after the hearing. So you should receive something within the next 2-3 weeks. As for the ID.me verification - while it's not necessarily an indicator of your appeal status, it's actually good they're asking you to do it now rather than after the decision. This way, if your appeal is approved, there won't be additional delays before payments can start.

Hey Cassandra! I'm pretty new to this whole unemployment appeal process, but I wanted to chime in because your situation sounds really frustrating. I'm dealing with something similar - got let go for "performance issues" that were never documented or discussed with me before my termination. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you've got a really solid case with the evidence of your manager doing the same thing. That selective enforcement angle seems huge! I haven't had my hearing yet (still waiting to be scheduled), but I'm curious - how long did it take from when you filed your appeal to actually getting the hearing date? And did you have a lawyer or represent yourself? Also, thanks to everyone else for all the info about the ID.me stuff. I had no idea that was a thing I'd need to worry about. Definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service too - sounds like getting through to TWC is a nightmare for everyone. Hope you get good news soon! Keep us posted on how it turns out.

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago - got terminated for allegedly violating a "policy" that was never properly explained during onboarding. Like you, I had evidence that management was inconsistent with enforcement. The ID.me request after your hearing could actually be a positive indicator! In my case, I got the identity verification request about 10 days after my hearing, and my appeal was approved 4 days later. It seems like they don't bother with ID verification unless they're planning to process payments. One thing I wish someone had told me - even if your appeal is approved, there might be a brief delay while they calculate your back pay. In my case, it took an additional week after approval to see the actual payments hit my account. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you don't panic if there's a short gap between approval and payment. Your evidence about your manager doing the same thing sounds really strong. Selective enforcement is one of the key factors that can overturn a misconduct determination. Hang in there - it sounds like you presented a solid case!