TWC appeal stuck in Commission Review since July 2023 - Is this normal?

Unfortunately, Commission Review can take an extremely long time, but 18 months is excessive even by TWC standards. While there was a significant backlog after COVID, most of that should have cleared by now. A few things to try: 1. Contact your state representative's office. They can often inquire on your behalf and sometimes speed things up. 2. Submit a formal inquiry through the TWC portal specifically asking for a status update on your Commission Review. 3. If you haven't already, send a written request (certified mail) to the Commission Appeals office asking for an estimated timeframe. The good news is that if you've won at the first two levels, you have a strong case. The Commission rarely overturns two consistent lower decisions. And yes, all back benefits will be paid with interest if you ultimately prevail.

same thing happened to me but mine only took 7 months for commission review not 18!! thats crazy long. the system is totally broken. did u make sure ur sending the letters to austin office not ur local one? makes a difference

The TWC appeal system is DELIBERATELY designed to wear people down until they give up. I had a Commission Review that took 11 months in 2022-2023 and only got resolved because I filed a complaint with the Department of Labor and contacted my state senator. Magically, TWC found time to review my case two weeks after the senator's office got involved. It's not a coincidence!!! DON'T GIVE UP!!! They're counting on you to just walk away from that $18,500. If you've already won twice, you've got a strong case. The Commission almost never overturns two consistent lower decisions unless there's a clear legal error. One thing I learned: keep requesting your payment requests every two weeks EVEN WHILE WAITING for Commission Review. If you stop filing requests, they can use that against you later.

Wait are you sure its actually in Commission Review and not just waiting to be assigned? Those are different statuses in their system. When I called they told me mine was "waiting to be assigned to Commission Review" which is apparently a pre-review queue that can take months by itself.

I was in a similar situation last year, and after months of being unable to get through to TWC on the phone, I discovered Claimyr. It's a service that helps you bypass the TWC phone queues and actually get connected to an agent. I was skeptical at first, but it worked - got me connected in about 20 minutes after weeks of busy signals. The agent I spoke with was able to check the specific status of my Commission Review and give me details about why it was delayed and what to expect. They even flagged my case for review since it had been overlooked. You can check them out at claimyr.com and there's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Might be worth trying since you've been waiting so long and have so much money at stake.

my friend you are making one big mistake... you need to call the appeals department directly not the regular TWC number!! the main number people cant help with commission review status. the appeals office number is 512-463-8770. they answer more often and actually know whats happening with ur case

I just went through the Commission Review process and received my decision last month. Mine took about 9 months total, which was frustrating but nowhere near your 18 months! My attorney (yes, I ended up hiring one after month 6) told me that cases where the first two decisions agree (like yours) should actually be reviewed FASTER, not slower. One thing my attorney did was file a formal complaint citing the Texas Administrative Code which apparently states they should process appeals within a "reasonable time." While there's no specific deadline for Commission Reviews, 18 months is certainly pushing the boundaries of "reasonable" by any standard. If you can afford it, it might be worth consulting with an employment attorney who specializes in unemployment issues. Sometimes just having an attorney send a letter can light a fire under them.

btw have u checked ur correspondence inbox on the twc website lately? sometimes they send decisions there but dont mail them or call u. happened to my roommate lol

I just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment. I did some research, and according to TWC's own guidelines, the current average processing time for Commission Reviews is approximately 6-9 months. This was extended during COVID to 10-12 months, but should have returned to the standard timeframe by now. Your 18-month wait is definitely outside their normal processing window. I strongly recommend utilizing the TWC Ombudsman office - this is a resource many claimants don't know about. The Ombudsman serves as an independent, neutral party within TWC that can investigate delays and other issues. You can reach them at: ombudsman@twc.texas.gov Include your case number, the timeline of events, and specifically mention that your case has exceeded the standard Commission Review timeframe by more than 6 months. This often produces results when regular channels have failed.

UPDATE: I just called the Appeals Department number that someone mentioned (512-463-8770) and FINALLY got some real information. Apparently there was a "system flag" on my case because my employer submitted additional documentation in March 2024 that I was never notified about! The rep said they're supposed to share any new evidence with both parties, but somehow I was never sent the documents. So my case has been sitting there because of THEIR mistake. The rep apologized and said she would have someone call me back within 3 business days to resolve this issue. I'll update again when I hear more, but everyone should definitely try calling the Appeals Department directly instead of the main TWC number!

I'm dealing with a similar nightmare situation right now - my Commission Review has been pending for 14 months after winning at both lower levels. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the Appeals Department direct number and the Ombudsman office. What really caught my attention was @Amina Diop's update about the "system flag" and undisclosed employer documentation. This makes me wonder if there are other cases sitting in limbo due to similar administrative errors that claimants aren't being told about. @StarGazer101 - your situation is absolutely unacceptable and I hope calling the Appeals Department directly gives you the breakthrough you need. The fact that you've won twice already and they're still dragging this out is infuriating. Please keep us updated on what you find out when you call! Has anyone else discovered that their case was delayed due to TWC's internal mistakes rather than actual review processing time?

I'm a newer member here but have been lurking and reading posts like this for months while dealing with my own TWC nightmare. What strikes me about your situation @StarGazer101 is how similar it is to so many others - winning at multiple levels but then getting stuck in an endless Commission Review loop. I wanted to add something that might help: I recently learned from a legal aid organization that you can also file a complaint with the Texas State Auditor's office if you believe there's systemic delays or mismanagement. They investigate state agency operations and sometimes that external pressure can motivate TWC to act. The contact info is: StateAuditor@sao.texas.gov Also, document EVERYTHING - every call, every letter, every response (or lack thereof). If this ever goes to court or gets media attention, having a detailed timeline will be crucial. 18 months is beyond unacceptable and honestly feels like they're violating due process at this point. Don't give up! That $18,500 is rightfully yours and they're clearly hoping you'll just walk away. The fact that everyone here is sharing similar stories shows this is a systemic problem that needs more visibility.

This whole thread has been eye-opening! I'm in a similar boat - my Commission Review has been pending for 13 months after winning at both the hearing and Appeal Tribunal levels. Like many others here, I kept calling the main TWC number and getting nowhere. After reading through everyone's experiences, I immediately called the Appeals Department at 512-463-8770 and WOW - what a difference! The representative was able to see detailed case notes and told me my file had been assigned to a reviewer 4 months ago but there were no recent activity logs. She's escalating it to a supervisor. I'm also going to contact the Ombudsman office and my state representative based on the suggestions here. What really bothers me is how many of us are dealing with essentially the same issue - winning our cases but then getting lost in this Commission Review black hole for over a year. @StarGazer101 - thank you for posting this and sparking such a helpful discussion. Your 18-month wait is absolutely unacceptable, but at least now we all have multiple action items to pursue. I really hope the Appeals Department call gives you some answers and movement on your case! Has anyone considered starting a group complaint or getting local media involved? This seems like a widespread problem that deserves public attention.

This entire thread is both heartbreaking and infuriating. I'm currently at 16 months waiting for Commission Review after winning at both lower levels, and reading everyone's experiences makes me realize I've been way too passive in my approach. I've been calling the main TWC number monthly and getting the same runaround - "it's in process, be patient, there's a backlog." But seeing @Amina Diop's update about discovering a "system flag" and undisclosed employer documentation really opened my eyes. How many of us are sitting in limbo because of TWC's administrative errors that we're never told about? Tomorrow I'm calling the Appeals Department directly (512-463-8770), emailing the Ombudsman office, and contacting my state representative. I'm also going to reach out to the State Auditor's office as @CyberSamurai suggested. This is clearly a systemic problem affecting multiple people, not isolated delays. @StarGazer101 - your 18-month nightmare is absolutely unacceptable, but thank you for posting this. Your situation has mobilized all of us to take more aggressive action. The fact that you've won TWICE and they're still dragging this out is unconscionable. I think we should seriously consider coordinating a group complaint and reaching out to local media outlets together. When you have this many people experiencing identical delays (win twice, then disappear into Commission Review black hole for 12-18+ months), that's not normal processing - that's systematic negligence that deserves public scrutiny. Keep fighting everyone - they're counting on us giving up, but we won't!