TWC appeal from December still pending - 4 months with no response, is this delay normal?

My appeal took 14 weeks to get scheduled last year, so unfortunately this isn't completely unusual. The TWC appeals department is seriously backed up right now. Did you get a confirmation email when you submitted your appeal? You should have at least received that.

Yeah I got the confirmation email and letter in the mail saying they received it. But nothing since then. 14 weeks is like 3.5 months, and I'm past that now... ugh this is so frustrating!

While delays are common with TWC appeals, 4+ months is definitely on the longer side. A few important things to check:\n\n1) Make sure you've continued requesting payment every two weeks even while your appeal is pending\n2) Double-check your correspondence preferences (mail vs. email) - sometimes notices go to the wrong place\n3) Check your spam folder if you selected email communication\n4) Verify your mailing address is correct in the system\n\nAlso, the fact that you can't reach someone is concerning. You should be able to call the Appeals Department directly at 512-463-2800. They're usually easier to reach than the general TWC line.

Thanks for this info! I didn't know there was a separate appeals number - I've just been calling the main TWC number. I'll try the appeals dept directly tomorrow morning. And yes, I've been requesting payment every two weeks religiously, even though they all say $0.00. I double-checked my address and contact info and everything is correct.

OMG the SAME EXACT THING happened to me last year!!! I waited for like 5 months and turns out they scheduled my hearing but sent the notice to my old address even tho I updated it online!! So I missed the hearing and had to start all over. Check ur address in the system!!

Omg that's horrible! I just checked and my address is definitely correct in the system. But now I'm paranoid they'll pull something like that. Did you eventually get your benefits?

Ya but it took FOREVER. Like 7 months total. But I finally got backpay for everything. Just keep requesting payment every 2 weeks no matter what!!

Try using Claimyr to get through to TWC. I was in the same situation (waited 3 months on an appeal) and finally used their service to get connected to an agent right away. The agent told me my appeal was actually scheduled but the notice hadn't been sent yet. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh and their website is claimyr.com. Definitely worth it to avoid spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

I've never heard of this before. Does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point so I'll try anything.

Yeah it worked for me. They basically call TWC for you and when they get an agent, they connect you. Saved me literally days of calling and getting busy signals. The agent I spoke with pulled up my file and found the issue immediately.

Appeels take FOREVER in texas, system is totally broken. I waited 6 months last year and then they denied me anyway. Total waste of time.

I understand your frustration, but many appeals are successful. About 40% of TWC appeals end in the claimant's favor, especially in cases where there's documentation showing a layoff rather than quitting. It's important not to discourage others from pursuing their rightful benefits.

I work in HR and deal with TWC regularly. Current appeal wait times are approximately 16-20 weeks on average, so unfortunately your wait isn't unusual. However, you should have received some kind of update by now. \n\nHave you checked if your appeal hearing has actually been scheduled already? Sometimes they schedule it weeks in advance and the notice might take time to arrive. I strongly recommend calling the Appeals Tribunal directly (not the main TWC line) at 512-463-2800.\n\nAlso, be 100% sure you're checking both your TWC correspondence inbox AND your physical mail. They sometimes send certain notices only through mail, especially hearing notices.

This is really helpful, thank you. I didn't even know there was a TWC correspondence inbox - I've only been checking my email and physical mail. Where do I find this inbox? Is it on the main TWC unemployment website?

Yes, log into your TWC account, and look for

my friend just went threw this and it took 5 months for his apeall. TWC is super slow right now becaus of all the layoffs happening. just keep requesting payment and when you win they will backpay you for everything.

I wanted to follow up on my earlier suggestion. After you call the Appeals Tribunal, you should also consider contacting your state representative's office. They have constituent services specifically for helping with TWC issues. \n\nMany people don't realize this, but a simple inquiry from your representative's office can often get things moving much faster. I've seen appeals that were stuck for months suddenly get scheduled within days after a representative's office made an inquiry.\n\nFind your Texas state representative here: https://house.texas.gov/members/find-your-representative/

I never would have thought of this - thank you! I'll try the Appeals number first thing tomorrow and if that doesn't work, I'll contact my state rep. I appreciate everyone's help so much.

Just wanted to add one more thing - make sure you have all your evidence ready for when they do schedule your hearing. You'll need pay stubs, any emails or documentation about your layoff, and names/contact info of any witnesses who can verify you were laid off rather than quitting. The more documentation you have ready, the better your chances when the hearing finally happens.

Good point. I've been gathering everything for months - I have emails from my manager discussing the layoff, the official layoff notice, and even text messages where my supervisor acknowledged it was a layoff. I'm definitely ready for the hearing, I just wish they'd actually SCHEDULE it already!

I'm going through something similar right now - filed my appeal in January and still waiting. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline document with dates of all my interactions with TWC (when I filed, when I got confirmations, every time I called, etc.). It's been really useful for keeping track of everything and I plan to bring it to my hearing when it finally gets scheduled. Also, if you haven't already, try calling the Appeals line right when they open at 8 AM - I've had better luck getting through early in the morning. Hang in there, I know how stressful this waiting period is!

I'm in a very similar situation - filed my appeal in late January and still nothing after almost 3 months. The worst part is the financial stress while waiting. I've had to move back in with family and pick up gig work just to survive. What really gets me is that they can deny your claim in like 2 weeks, but then take 4-6 months to hear your appeal! The system is completely backwards. I'm definitely going to try calling that Appeals number at 8 AM like someone mentioned. Brooklyn, have you been able to find any temporary work while waiting, or are you just stuck in limbo like the rest of us?