TWC approved my claim but no payment after 3 weeks - need phone number for real person

I've been there! The trick I used to FINALLY get through to an actual person was using Claimyr. You go to claimyr.com and they basically hold your place in line and call you back when they get a TWC agent on the phone. Saved me after 2 weeks of constant redial hell. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh. Totally worth it because I found out my payment was delayed because of an employer response issue that needed to be cleared up.

try calling right at 7am when they open thats how i got thru

There could be a few reasons for your payment delay. The most common are: 1. Your employer contested your claim (even after initial approval) 2. There was an issue with your work search activities 3. You may have answered something incorrectly on your payment request 4. There's a system flag on your account requiring manual review If you call, make sure you have your TWC Customer ID number handy (not just your SSN). Also, if you're getting the automated message saying call volumes are high, keep trying different options in the phone menu - sometimes option 3 then 2 works better than the direct payment issue option. Persistence is key.

that happened to me to lol the payment didnt come for FIVE WEEKS becuz they had my bank info wrong somehow even tho i put it in right. try to check if ur direct deposit info is correct on the portal

The whole system is DESIGNED to be impossible to reach anyone!!!! I spent TWO MONTHS trying to get my payments after approval. They are hoping people just give up. Call your state representative's office - that's what finally worked for me. Look up who represents your district and call their constituent services line. They have special contacts at TWC who can actually get things moving.

If this is your first payment request after approval, there's typically a waiting week where you won't receive benefits - it's standard for Texas. However, 3 weeks does seem excessive. When you log into your TWC account, check for any correspondence or determination letters that might explain the delay. Also, make sure your payment method is set correctly (direct deposit vs. debit card). As for reaching someone, try calling the TWC Tele-Serv number (800-558-8321) rather than the main unemployment line. Sometimes it's easier to get through there, and they can often help with payment issues or transfer you to someone who can. Best times to call are Tuesday-Thursday right at opening (7am) or just before closing (5pm).

Hang in there! My first payment took almost a month after being approved too. TWC is so backed up right now it's ridiculous!

UPDATE FOR ANYONE WITH THIS ISSUE: The waiting week is still in effect for regular unemployment claims in Texas (as of 2025). The waiting week waiver that existed during COVID has expired. During your waiting week, you must request payment as usual, but you won't receive benefits for that week unless you: 1. Return to full-time work, AND 2. Receive 6 x your weekly benefit amount in earnings, AND 3. File a new claim and are eligible for benefits again However, this doesn't explain a 3-week delay for subsequent payments. If you've requested payment after your waiting week and still haven't received anything, there's definitely an issue that needs to be addressed with a representative.

Did you get your determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount? Sometimes they approve your claim in general but are still calculating your benefit amount, which can cause delays. Also check if the status says "pending" or "under review" - those mean different things.

anyone else notice the TWC website always seems to crash right when ur trying to submit important stuff?? so annoying

After you speak with a representative, make sure to document everything - the date and time of your call, the name of the person you spoke with, and what they told you. This can be crucial if you need to follow up or if there are further delays. Also, if they tell you they're escalating your issue or sending it to a specific department, ask for a reference number for that case. This can help you track it if you need to call back. One more tip: After this gets resolved, continue filing your payment requests on time, even if there's an ongoing issue. Missing a payment request period can cause even more complications.

I had a similar issue last year - turned out there was a "flag" on my account because my previous employer submitted some paperwork late that contradicted my original claim info. Even though I was initially approved, it triggered a manual review that took forever. The frustrating part is they don't tell you this is happening! I only found out when I finally got through to someone after 4 weeks of calling. My advice: if you do get through, specifically ask if there are any "pending issues" or "flags" on your account that need to be resolved. Sometimes the reps can see things in their system that don't show up on your online portal. Also, if your employer is a large company, they might use a third-party service to handle unemployment claims which can cause weird delays. Good luck - I know how stressful this is when you're counting on that money!

I went through almost the exact same thing earlier this year! My claim was approved but payments were stuck in "pending" for over a month. What finally worked for me was calling the employer response unit directly at (512) 463-2222. I found out my employer had filed a late response that triggered a review, even though I was initially approved. The regular unemployment line couldn't see this info, but the employer response unit could access my full file and clear the hold immediately. My payments came through within 3 business days after that call. Try that number if you haven't already - they tend to be less busy than the main line and can often resolve these "invisible" issues that don't show up in your online account.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! My claim was approved 3 weeks ago and I've submitted two payment requests but haven't received anything. The online portal just shows "pending" with zero explanation. I've been calling the main TWC number constantly but can't get through - it's like they designed the system to be impossible to reach! Reading through these comments has been so helpful. I'm going to try calling right at 7am tomorrow and also that employer response unit number someone mentioned. It's so frustrating when you're counting on these benefits to pay bills. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! It's been 4 weeks since my claim was approved and I still haven't seen a penny. What's really frustrating is that the TWC website makes it look like everything is fine - my claim status shows "approved" and my payment requests show "submitted" but then nothing happens. I've been calling every single day, sometimes 20+ times, and either get a busy signal or sit on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected. Reading through everyone's advice here has been a lifesaver though. I had no idea about that employer response unit number or the early morning calling strategy. Going to try calling (512) 463-2222 at exactly 7am tomorrow and see if they can find any hidden flags or issues on my account. It's so messed up that there can be "invisible" problems that don't show up in our online portals but completely block our payments. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least now I know this isn't just me and that there are actual strategies that work. Will update if I make any progress!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My claim was approved 2.5 weeks ago and I've submitted my payment requests on time, but still haven't received anything. The payment status just shows "pending" with absolutely no explanation of what's causing the delay. It's so stressful when you're counting on these benefits to pay rent and basic expenses. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful though - I had no idea there were so many "invisible" issues that can block payments even after approval. The employer response unit number (512) 463-2222 that several people mentioned sounds like exactly what I need to try. It makes total sense that there could be flags or employer responses that don't show up in our online portals but are blocking payments behind the scenes. I'm going to call that number first thing tomorrow at 7am and specifically ask about any pending issues, flags, or employer responses on my account. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and actual phone numbers that work - this community is a lifesaver when the official system seems designed to keep us in the dark!

I'm going through this EXACT same situation right now and it's driving me absolutely insane! My claim was approved on September 15th, I've submitted 3 payment requests since then, and I haven't received a single dollar. Just that useless "pending" status with zero explanation while my savings account drains paying for groceries and utilities. What really gets me is that TWC's phone system seems intentionally designed to prevent you from reaching anyone. I've called hundreds of times over the past month - busy signals, 3-hour holds that end in disconnections, automated messages telling me to use the website (which shows NOTHING helpful). It's like they're banking on people just giving up. But reading through everyone's advice here has given me so much hope! I had no clue about the employer response unit at (512) 463-2222 - that sounds like exactly what I need since my former employer is a huge corporation that probably uses third-party services. Tomorrow I'm calling that number at 7:00 AM sharp and asking specifically about any hidden flags, pending employer responses, or system issues that aren't showing up in my online portal. Thank you all for sharing actual solutions instead of just the standard "keep calling" advice. This community is literally saving my sanity right now! Will definitely update with results.