TWC claim stuck 'pending' for 8+ weeks - no response from anyone!

You're not alone! My claim was stuck in pending for almost 10 weeks earlier this year. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual TWC agent. It's a service that basically holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first but I was desperate like you. The video demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh shows exactly how it works. I got through to a real person in about 40 minutes (after spending WEEKS trying on my own). Found out there was an employer response issue causing my delay. The agent fixed it while I was on the phone and I got all my backpay within a week.

mine was stuck for 11 weeks!! turned out my previous employer disputed my claim saying i quit when i was actually laid off. check your determination letter if you got one, it might explain whats going on

The most common reasons for claims being stuck in pending status for extended periods are: 1. Identity verification issues with ID.me (did you complete this step?) 2. Employer dispute about the reason for separation 3. Missing work search activities 4. Previous overpayment that hasn't been resolved 5. Wage verification problems In my experience helping others with TWC claims, you need to speak directly with a claims examiner, not just a general customer service representative. When you do reach someone, ask specifically for your claim to be escalated to a claims examiner or supervisor for review. Also, make sure you're continuing to request payments every two weeks even though you're not receiving benefits yet. If you stop requesting, it can create additional problems. Once your claim is approved, you'll receive back payments for all the weeks you properly requested payment.

Have you tried contacting your state representative's office? That's what finally worked for me after 9 weeks of waiting. I called my state rep, explained the situation, and they have staff who specifically handle TWC issues. They contacted TWC on my behalf and my claim was resolved within 5 business days. Google "Texas state representative lookup" to find yours based on your address. They can't perform miracles but they can definitely push things along when you're stuck in limbo!

i waited 13 weeks and then found out the whole time it was because i checked the wrong box about being able to work full time!!! make sure u filled everything out right cuz sometimes they never tell u whats wrong they just let it sit there forever

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!!!! They hope if they ignore you long enough you'll just stop trying. I had to call 73 TIMES before getting through. SEVENTY THREE CALLS. It's not a mistake or because they're busy, it's INTENTIONALLY BROKEN to deny people benefits they deserve. The state doesn't want to pay out, it's that simple.

If you're still stuck, here's a step-by-step plan that has worked for my clients: 1. First, verify your ID.me account is properly linked to your TWC account (this is a very common issue) 2. Make sure all your payment requests are up to date with the required 3 work search activities each week 3. Check if you received ANY correspondence by mail that might explain the issue 4. Contact your local Workforce Solutions office directly - they sometimes have direct lines to TWC 5. Request a callback through the TWC portal (different from leaving a message) 6. If all else fails, file a formal complaint through the TWC Ombudsman's office Most importantly, document every contact attempt you make with dates and times. If you eventually need to appeal or request backpay, this documentation will be crucial evidence that you were actively trying to resolve the issue.

After dealing with TWC for the past 6 years on and off, I've found that timing your calls is crucial. Try calling exactly at 7:00 AM when they first open or between 4:30-4:45 PM when call volume tends to drop. Avoid Mondays and Tuesdays altogether as those are their busiest days. Also, when you do get through, politely ask if they can place a 'priority flag' on your account due to financial hardship. Not all agents will do this, but some will, and it can move your claim up in their processing queue. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but persistence usually pays off eventually.

Update us when you get this resolved! Also, make sure you keep requesting payment every two weeks even though nothing is happening yet. I've seen people give up on requesting because nothing was being paid, but then when their claim finally processed, they only got paid from the most recent requests, not the full backpay they deserved.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of facing eviction while waiting for benefits that should rightfully be yours is absolutely terrible. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is checking if your employer submitted their response to TWC within the required timeframe. Sometimes claims get stuck because the employer was sent a notice but never responded, and TWC just lets it sit indefinitely waiting for that response. When you do finally get through to someone, ask specifically if they're waiting on employer documentation and what the deadline was for your employer to submit it. If the employer missed their deadline, the agent should be able to move your claim forward immediately. Also, I've heard some people have success messaging TWC through their Facebook page - it sounds weird but apparently they sometimes respond faster to social media inquiries than phone calls or portal messages. Worth a shot when you're this desperate!

I feel your frustration so much - I went through almost the exact same situation last year. My claim was stuck for 9 weeks and I was also facing eviction. What finally broke it loose was a combination of things: First, I called my state representative's office (like @Niko Ramsey suggested) and they assigned a caseworker to help. Then I also tried the Claimyr service that @Derek Olson mentioned - it really does work to get you through the phone queue. When I finally got through to TWC, it turned out my employer had disputed my claim but TWC never notified me. The whole time I thought it was just processing normally! The agent was able to resolve it immediately once we got on the phone. I got all my backpay within 5 business days. Don't give up - you're doing everything right by continuing to request payments and keeping documentation. The system is broken but there are people who will help you navigate it. Try calling your state rep first thing tomorrow morning, then use one of the call-back services if needed. You've got this!

I went through something very similar - my claim was stuck for 12 weeks with zero communication from TWC. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my state representative AND used a callback service to actually get through to TWC. Turns out there was an issue with my ID.me verification that never got flagged to me. The most important thing I learned is that "pending" doesn't mean they're actively working on it - it usually means there's a specific issue that needs to be resolved but they don't tell you what it is. When you do get through to someone, ask them to walk through your entire claim step by step to identify any flags or issues. Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your ID.me account is fully verified and properly linked to your TWC account - this is probably the #1 cause of extended pending status. Don't give up! The backpay will come once it's resolved, and you're doing the right thing by continuing to request payments. Document everything and keep pushing - the squeaky wheel really does get the grease with TWC.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed in early February, still stuck in pending 6 weeks later. The worst part is the complete radio silence - it's like your claim just disappears into a black hole. I've tried calling probably 40+ times and either get hung up on or told the wait is 3+ hours. Reading through all these responses is actually giving me hope though. I had no idea about contacting state representatives or that there are callback services that actually work. Going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow and also look up my state rep. The stress of not knowing what's wrong or when it might get resolved is almost worse than the financial hardship. At least knowing other people have gotten through this exact situation and eventually got their backpay helps me feel less alone. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - this community is literally a lifeline right now!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation and it's absolutely maddening! Filed in late January, now going on 9 weeks stuck in pending with zero communication. Like others have mentioned, I think the system is intentionally designed to make people give up. What's helped me stay sane is realizing from this thread that I'm not alone and that there ARE specific steps that work. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to: 1) Contact my state representative's office tomorrow (had no idea this was even an option!), 2) Verify my ID.me account is properly linked since that seems to be a common issue, 3) Try calling right at 7am when they open, and 4) Ask specifically about any employer disputes when I do get through. The most helpful thing I've learned from reading all these responses is that "pending" usually means there's a specific fixable issue, not that they're actively processing it. @Rachel Tao - please keep us updated on what works for you! I'll do the same. It's so reassuring to know that people are getting their full backpay once these issues get resolved, even after months of waiting.

I'm so sorry you're going through this Rachel - the combination of financial stress and complete lack of communication from TWC is just brutal. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening about how widespread this problem is. What strikes me most is how many people had their claims stuck for 8-12 weeks only to find out there was a simple fixable issue that TWC never bothered to communicate. Based on everything shared here, it sounds like the most effective approach is a multi-pronged strategy: contact your state representative (they apparently have direct lines to TWC), double-check your ID.me verification is complete and properly linked, try calling right at 7am when they open, and if all else fails, use one of those callback services like Claimyr to actually get through to a real person. The fact that so many people eventually got their full backpay after similar delays gives me hope for your situation. The system is clearly broken by design, but there are ways to work around it. Please keep us updated on your progress - this community support seems to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise terrible process!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with a very similar situation - filed in late January and still stuck in pending after 7 weeks. What's been most helpful from reading everyone's experiences is realizing there's usually a specific underlying issue causing the delay, even though TWC doesn't communicate what it is. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm planning to call my state representative's office tomorrow morning (I had no idea this was even an option before reading this thread!). I also just checked my ID.me account after seeing multiple people mention verification issues, and sure enough, there was a final step I'd missed that shows as incomplete. It's incredibly frustrating that the system is designed this way, but I'm grateful for this community sharing practical solutions. @Rachel Tao - your persistence in continuing to request payments every two weeks despite no response is exactly right, and I hope one of these strategies works for you soon. The fact that so many people here eventually got their full backpay after similar delays gives me hope that we'll all get through this eventually, even though the system is clearly broken by design.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation and this thread has been such a lifeline! Filed my claim 7 weeks ago after being laid off and it's been stuck in pending ever since. Like you, I've called dozens of times with no luck getting through to anyone. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me so much hope and actual actionable steps to try. I had no idea about contacting state representatives or that ID.me verification issues were so common - I'm going to check both of those things first thing tomorrow. What really stands out to me from all these success stories is that once people finally got through to the right person, their claims were often resolved very quickly, sometimes the same day. That tells me the issue isn't that they're overwhelmed with processing - it's that there are specific problems they just don't communicate to us. The fact that so many people eventually got their full backpay after 8-12 weeks of waiting is keeping me motivated to keep fighting. This system is absolutely designed to make people give up, but seeing this community support each other and share real solutions is amazing. Please keep us updated on your progress @Rachel Tao - I'll be trying the state rep route and early morning calling strategy based on everyone's advice here!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this Rachel - the stress of facing eviction while waiting for benefits you rightfully earned is absolutely heartbreaking. After reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how systematic this problem is and how many people have found success with the strategies shared here. What gives me the most hope for your situation is that almost everyone who eventually got through to a real person discovered their claim could be resolved immediately - it was never actually "processing," there was just some specific issue that TWC failed to communicate. Based on everything shared in this thread, I'd recommend trying multiple approaches simultaneously: call your state representative's office first thing tomorrow (they apparently have direct contacts at TWC and deal with these issues constantly), double-check your ID.me verification is completely finished and properly linked, try the 7am calling strategy, and if needed, consider using a callback service like Claimyr to actually get through the phone queue. The fact that so many people here got their full backpay after 8-12 weeks of similar delays shows that persistence really does pay off, even though the system seems designed to make us give up. You're doing everything right by continuing to request payments - that documentation will be crucial when your claim finally processes. Keep fighting, and please update us on what works! This community support is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise terrible process.

I'm so glad to hear you got through to your state representative's office and have a caseworker assigned! That's exactly the kind of breakthrough this thread has been pointing toward. The insight about the disconnect between what shows as "pending" on our end versus what's actually happening in their system is so validating - it confirms what everyone here suspected about the lack of communication being intentional rather than accidental. It's also really telling that you found the missing ID.me verification step, just like so many others in this thread. That seems to be one of the most common issues that TWC just never bothers to flag for people. The fact that your caseworker said most cases get resolved within a week once they intervene gives me hope for everyone else still stuck in this situation. Your experience is proving that the strategies shared in this community really work - contacting state reps, checking ID.me thoroughly, and having persistence with documentation. Please definitely keep us updated when you hear from the caseworker! Your success story could be the roadmap that helps others get unstuck. After 8+ weeks of this nightmare, you deserve to finally get your backpay and some peace of mind. Rooting for you!

Reading through everyone's experiences here is both heartbreaking and incredibly helpful. I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed my claim 6 weeks ago and it's been stuck in pending with absolutely no communication from TWC. What's really striking me from all these success stories is how often the issue turned out to be something simple that could be fixed immediately once someone actually looked at the claim - but TWC just never bothers to tell you what's wrong. The strategies shared here are gold: contacting state representatives (I had no idea this was even possible!), double-checking ID.me verification completion, calling right at 7am, and asking specifically about employer disputes or separation issues when you do get through. @Rachel Tao your persistence in continuing to request payments despite getting nothing is exactly right - that documentation will be crucial for your backpay. This thread has given me hope and an actual action plan instead of just randomly calling and hoping for a miracle. The system is clearly designed to make people give up, but seeing this community support each other with real solutions is amazing. Going to try the state rep route first thing tomorrow morning!