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

I filed my unemployment claim back in January after being laid off from my warehouse job. It's now mid-March and my claim is STILL showing as 'pending' with no movement at all! Every time I check my portal it just says the same thing. I've requested payment 7 times now and nothing has been deposited. I've called the TWC number at least 30 times (not exaggerating) and either get disconnected or told the wait time is over 2 hours. I've sent 3 messages through the portal system and left voicemails but nobody ever responds. I'm about to be evicted because I can't pay rent. Has anyone else had their claim stuck this long? What finally worked to get it moving? I'm desperate and don't know what else to do.

Derek Olson

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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.

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Rachel Tao

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Thanks for the suggestion. I'm at the point where I'd try anything. Did they tell you why it was taking so long in your case? Did you have to submit any additional documents? I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing that's causing the delay.

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Danielle Mays

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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

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Rachel Tao

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I never even received a determination letter! That's part of what's so frustrating. There's literally no communication from TWC at all. How did you eventually get it resolved?

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Roger Romero

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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.

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Anna Kerber

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I agree with everything here except #3. Missing work search activities wouldn't cause an 8-week pending status - they would just disqualify you for specific weeks but the claim itself would still process. My guess is ID.me or employer dispute.

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Niko Ramsey

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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!

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Rachel Tao

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That's a great idea! I didn't even think about going through a state rep. I'll look mine up right now. Did you just call their office directly?

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Seraphina Delan

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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

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Jabari-Jo

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This is unfortunately really common. The TWC system is not designed to proactively notify you about issues with your claim. I always tell people to double-check all their answers on the initial application. Even small inconsistencies can cause delays, and the burden is on the claimant to figure out what went wrong.

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Rachel Tao

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Wow, that's awful! 13 weeks because of a checkbox?? Did they give you backpay for all those weeks once it was resolved?

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Anna Kerber

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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.

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Danielle Mays

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100% this!!! my friend works for a contractor with the state and told me they purposely understaffed the phone lines during covid and never fixed it bc it saved them millions in benefits they didnt have to pay out

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Roger Romero

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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.

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Rachel Tao

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Thank you for this detailed plan! I didn't know about the Workforce Solutions office having direct lines - I'll try that tomorrow. And I've been keeping track of all my calls in a notebook, so hopefully that will help if I need to show I've been trying.

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Jabari-Jo

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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.

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Rachel Tao

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That's really helpful about the timing! I've been trying midday which sounds like the worst time. I'll set my alarm for 6:55am tomorrow and try right when they open. And I'll definitely ask about the priority flag - I am genuinely facing eviction so that's not even an exaggeration.

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Niko Ramsey

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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.

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Rachel Tao

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Will do! And yes, I've been religiously requesting payment every two weeks. The system lets me complete the requests, it just never results in any payment. At least I'm doing that part right!

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