TWC application confusion - Do I need to request payment before approval? Applied June 1st

YES! This is super important - you need to request payment even while your claim is still pending approval. TWC won't automatically pay you for those weeks unless you've requested them, even if your claim eventually gets approved. Make sure you're requesting payment on your assigned day (based on the last digit of your SSN) every two weeks. If you miss requesting payments, you could lose those weeks of benefits completely.

when i filed last year i didnt request payments until after approval and they let me do back requests. just called and explained i was waiting for approval first. dont panic

You absolutely need to be requesting payment every two weeks starting from when you first applied, regardless of whether your claim has been approved yet. This is one of the most common mistakes people make with TWC! If your claim gets approved, they will pay you for those weeks you requested (minus the waiting week). If you don't request payment for those weeks, you won't get paid for them, even if your claim is eventually approved. Since you mentioned you missed your payment request date, you should try to request payment ASAP. You usually have a 3-day grace period. If it's been longer, you might need to call TWC and explain the situation. They sometimes make exceptions for first-time claimants who didn't understand the process.

I had this exact same problem last month! Tried calling TWC for DAYS and couldn't get through. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to a TWC rep in about 20 minutes. I was skeptical but it seriously worked when nothing else did. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh The agent I spoke with was able to allow me to request my missed payment weeks since it was my first time filing and I didn't understand the process. Hope this helps!

They just asked why I missed it, and I honestly told them I was confused about the process and thought I needed to wait for approval first. The rep was understanding - said it happens all the time with first-time claimants. Just be honest and polite when you explain.

THIS IS WHY THE TWC SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! They expect you to follow all these specific rules without CLEARLY explaining them when you apply. I lost 3 weeks of benefits last year because of this exact issue and they refused to help me. The website should have GIANT RED LETTERS saying you need to request payment regardless of claim status!!! It's like they WANT people to mess up so they don't have to pay benefits. 😡

Something else to know - when your claim is approved, they'll mail you a Benefits Determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount. It should also tell you what day to request payment based on the last digit of your SSN. Make sure you're also doing the required 3 work search activities each week and documenting them. They can ask for proof of those at any time. I know this process is super confusing at first! I made so many mistakes with my claim last year. But once you get the hang of it, it becomes routine.

Yes, things like updating your resume on WorkInTexas, attending workforce center workshops, and creating job alerts can count as work search activities. Here's the full list TWC accepts: https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/work-search-requirements-unemployment-benefits Just make sure you're keeping track of all your activities with dates and details in case they audit you. A lot of people get caught off guard when TWC randomly asks for proof of their work search activities.

I finally got through to TWC this morning! The agent was able to help me request the missed payment weeks since I'm a first-time claimant. She said my claim is actually approved now - the determination letter was mailed on Friday but hasn't arrived yet. She verified my weekly benefit amount is $437 and explained the payment schedule. Thank you everyone for your help! Now I understand how important it is to keep requesting payments every two weeks regardless of claim status.