TWC approved my claim but no payment after 3 weeks - need phone number for real person
So frustrated right now! My unemployment claim was approved on August 7th, and I submitted my first payment request on August 28th. It's been over 3 weeks, and I still haven't received a single penny. The payment status just says 'pending' with no explanation. I've tried calling the main TWC number like 50 times, but either get a busy signal or get disconnected after waiting for an hour. I'm starting to panic because rent is due next week and I've got less than $200 in my account. Does anyone know a special number or trick to actually reach a human being at TWC who can tell me what's going on with my payment? Is there a specific time of day that works better? At this point I'd drive to a TWC office if I could just talk to someone who could help!
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Dylan Mitchell
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.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Thanks, I'll check that out. Did they tell you how much longer you had to wait after talking to someone? I'm getting desperate.
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Sofia Morales
try calling right at 7am when they open thats how i got thru
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Dmitry Popov
•I second this. Early morning is WAY better than trying midday. I get through like 75% of the time if I call at 7:01 am.
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Ava Garcia
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.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Thank you for the detailed response. I definitely reported all my work search activities (4 applications that week). Maybe my employer is contesting, although they told me they wouldn't. I'll try those phone menu options.
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StarSailor}
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
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Oh god, I hope that's not it. I just double-checked and my bank info looks correct in the system. I wonder if there's some other weird technical glitch.
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Miguel Silva
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.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•I didn't even think about contacting my state rep. That's a good idea if I can't get through any other way.
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Zainab Ismail
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).
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•I thought the waiting week was waived if you're approved? At least that's what the determination letter seemed to say. Nothing shows up under correspondence except the original approval letter. I'll try that Tele-Serv number tomorrow morning, thanks!
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Dmitry Popov
Hang in there! My first payment took almost a month after being approved too. TWC is so backed up right now it's ridiculous!
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•That's somewhat reassuring to hear it's not just me. Did your payment eventually come through automatically or did you have to talk to someone?
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Dmitry Popov
•Mine eventually came through all at once (like 3 weeks worth) without me having to talk to anyone. But I was checking my account multiple times a day lol
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Zainab Ismail
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.
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Ava Garcia
•This is correct information. The waiting week often confuses people because the TWC website doesn't explain it clearly. If you're past your waiting week and still not receiving payment, it's usually due to an unresolved issue on your claim that requires review.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Thanks for explaining! This was my second payment request (first one after waiting week) so something else must be wrong. I'll keep trying to reach them.
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Dylan Mitchell
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.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Yes, I got a determination letter showing my weekly benefit as $521. The status just says "pending" with no other details. So frustrating!
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StarSailor}
anyone else notice the TWC website always seems to crash right when ur trying to submit important stuff?? so annoying
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Miguel Silva
•EVERY SINGLE TIME! I swear they do system maintenance during peak hours on purpose. Try using a different browser - Chrome worked better for me than Firefox.
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Ava Garcia
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.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Thank you for the detailed advice. I'll definitely document everything once I finally get through to someone. And I'll keep submitting my payment requests on schedule - my next one is due this Friday.
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