TWC claim stuck in 'review' status for 4 weeks - normal waiting time?

ya this is pretty normal tbh... my claim took almost 6 weeks to get approved last year. as long as u keep requesting payments on your assigned days youll get backpay for all those weeks once they approve u

The standard processing time is supposed to be 21 days, but TWC has been consistently running behind since 2025 began. A few things to consider: 1. Make sure you're completing your work search activities (minimum 3 per week) and documenting them carefully 2. Double-check that your ID.me verification is complete if they required it 3. Keep requesting payments on your designated days even while waiting If your employer is disputing your claim or if there were any issues with your employment separation, that can extend the review process significantly. Did you receive a determination letter yet?

OMG I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT SAME THING!!! My claim was stuck in review for FIVE WHOLE WEEKS and I was going CRAZY checking my account every single day. Then suddenly one day it just switched to approved!! No explanation for the delay or anything. The most frustrating part was not knowing if I was doing something wrong or if they needed more info from me. Have you tried calling them? That's what I did but couldn't even get through 😩

If it's been a full 4 weeks with no determination letter, I recommend trying to speak with a TWC representative. Your situation sounds like a standard claim that should have been processed by now, especially for a company-wide layoff. The backpay will come once approved, but you need clarity on whether there's an issue causing the delay. I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to TWC when my claim was stuck. Their system holds your place in line so you don't have to keep redialing. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works. Once I actually got through to a person, they identified an employer response issue that was holding things up.

My brother waited almost 7 weeks and then found out his former employer had contested the claim even though he was laid off too! TWC never notified him about it. He only found out when he finally got through to someone on the phone. They were able to fix it that same day and he had his benefits the following week. So sometimes there are problems they don't tell you about that are causing the delay.

Everybody thinks TWC process is like some kind of automatic computer system that just pays you but its NOT. I work in HR and I can tell you what happens is TWC sends forms to your former employer who has 14 DAYS to respond about why you left. So thats already 2 weeks right there. If employer doesn't respond or disputes it or if ANYTHING at all looks unusual about your case, it gets flagged for manual review by an actual person. That's where the big delays come in. They are understaffed but legally they must make determination within 6 weeks even though their website still says 21 days. Just keep requesting your payments and make sure your work search log is perfect.

One other thing to check - log into your TWC account and look for the Correspondence/Inbox section. Sometimes they send you requests for additional information there but don't email you about it. If there's anything there that you haven't responded to, that could be what's holding things up.

wait are we supposed to be documenting the work searches?? i thought we just had to do them but didnt need to write them down unless they audit you? now im worried

UPDATE: I finally got through to TWC today! Used that Claimyr service and it worked - got connected to an agent in about 35 minutes. Turns out my former employer didn't respond to TWC's request for information within the timeframe, which caused the delay. The agent pushed my claim through for processing, and said I should see a determination letter within 2-3 business days. She confirmed all my payment requests were properly recorded and I'll receive backpay for all weeks once approved. Such a relief to finally know what was happening!