TWC appeal timeline? Stuck waiting after filing appeal 3 weeks ago

Appeals are taking much longer in 2025 than they used to. My appeal took about 5-6 weeks before I got a letter scheduling my phone hearing, and that was considered 'fast' according to the rep I finally spoke with. The TWC website says 2-3 weeks but that's definitely not accurate anymore. Make sure your contact info is updated in the system because they'll send both mail and email notifications about your hearing date.

5-6 WEEKS?!? Omg I can't wait that long! Did you have to keep requesting payments while waiting for the appeal? I'm still doing the work search and payment requests every two weeks but it feels pointless.

my cousin just went through this last month. she said it took 4 weeks to get the hearing letter then another 3 weeks for the actual hearing. she won her appeal tho!

Not everyone wins their appeal though. I lost mine even with documentation because I didn't understand how to present my case properly during the hearing. Make sure you're VERY prepared.

You absolutely should keep requesting payments while waiting for your appeal! This is critically important. If you win your appeal, TWC can only pay you for weeks you properly requested payment, even if you were eligible. Miss those payment requests and you'll never get that money even if you win.\n\nRegarding the timeline - the official target is 21 days from appeal submission to hearing, but realistically it's taking 30-45 days right now. The appeals department is extremely backlogged.\n\nI recommend trying to reach a TWC agent to verify they've received all your documentation properly. Sometimes appeals get delayed because of missing information that was never communicated to the claimant.

Thank you! I'll definitely keep doing the payment requests then. Is there any way to check if my documentation was received correctly without calling? The TWC phone lines are always busy when I try.

I went through this EXACT situation in February. Company lied about laying me off too. The wait is awful but hang in there! I finally got my hearing letter after 5 weeks, and the actual hearing was scheduled for 2 weeks after that.\n\nOne suggestion - I had much better luck reaching TWC when I used Claimyr to get through to an agent. It basically puts you in the queue and calls you back when it's your turn so you don't have to keep redialing all day. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh\n\nWhen I finally got through, the agent was able to tell me my appeal was \

Thank you so much for this tip! I'll definitely check out that service. Did you end up winning your appeal? Any advice for the hearing when I finally get it?

Yes, I did win! My advice:\n\n1. Keep detailed notes about everything - dates, who said what, etc.\n2. Have your supervisor's name and any witnesses ready\n3. Be extremely professional during the hearing\n4. Practice explaining your situation clearly in under 2 minutes\n5. Have pay stubs or anything showing your work history ready\n6. Stay calm even if your employer says outrageous things\n\nThe hearing officer asked me very specific questions about the layoff and why I thought it wasn't misconduct. Having my timeline ready really helped.

This is SO helpful, thank you! I'm going to start organizing all my documentation tonight. Hopefully my hearing gets scheduled soon.

twc is a joke these days!! i filed an appeal in januaray and didnt here ANYTHING for 2 months!! kept calling and they just said \

That's unfortunately not uncommon in the current system. Did you at least win your appeal after all that waiting? The backlog has been getting worse each month this year from what I've seen in these forums.

yeah i won but it was such a hassle. almost got evicted waiting! and then when they finally approved it, it took another 2 weeks to actually get paid! ridiculous

That's what I'm worried about - even if I win, how long until I actually get paid? I'm already behind on bills :

To answer your original question with accurate information: The Texas Workforce Commission's appeals process has several stages, each with different timeframes:\n\n1. Initial processing: 7-10 business days for your appeal to be logged in the system\n2. Assignment to a hearing officer: Currently taking 3-5 weeks (official target is 21 days)\n3. Hearing notification: You'll receive notice 7-14 days before your scheduled hearing\n4. The hearing itself: Usually 30-45 minutes by phone\n5. Decision: Typically issued within 14 days after the hearing\n\nIf you win, payment processing usually takes 3-5 business days after the decision. \n\nWhile waiting, continue your work search activities (minimum 3 per week) and submit payment requests on your regular schedule. This preserves your claim and ensures you'll receive all eligible benefits if you win.

Thank you for breaking it down like this! It helps to know what to expect. I guess I need to be patient, keep doing my work search activities, and try to reach TWC to confirm they have all my documents.

My sister just went through an appeal last month and she said the worst part was not knowing what was happening. She called TWC literally 47 times before getting through. Once she finally talked to someone, they actually were really helpful and explained exactly where her appeal was in the process and what to expect next.

has anyone tried going to the TWC office in person? Sometimes thats faster than calling

The physical TWC offices can help with some issues, but appeals are handled by a separate department. In-person staff can verify if your appeal was received and basic status, but they can't influence the timeline or provide much detailed information beyond what you'd get from a phone agent.

Update: I finally got through to TWC using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. The agent confirmed they received all my documents and my appeal is

Great news! Glad you were able to confirm they have everything they need. Now you can at least have some peace of mind while waiting for the next step. Keep us posted on how your hearing goes!