TWC paid for only 1 week instead of 2 - will they automatically pay the other week?

Congrats on getting paid so quickly! That's definitely not the norm these days. For your first payment, it's actually normal to only get one week. This is because TWC has a "waiting week" - the first week you're eligible is essentially an unpaid week. You'll get paid for that week later (usually when your claim ends or you return to full-time work). For future payments, yes, you'll request every two weeks on your scheduled day, and then you'll receive payment for both weeks together, usually 2-3 business days after your request is processed.

Same thing happened 2 me when i got laid off in October!! first payment was just 1 week then after that it was always 2 weeks. Your good dont worry

YOU'RE LUCKY YOU GOT PAID AT ALL!!! I've been waiting 5 WEEKS since filing and still nothing but "under review" on my account. Called 47 times yesterday and couldn't get through to a single person. The system is BROKEN and TWC doesn't care about us!!

wait they only pay you for the weeks you've been unemployed up to the request date. when did you say you got laid off? if it was Dec 21 and you filed on the 27th, then your first week of unemployment was Dec 21-27, right? so that's why you only got 1 week

You actually got really lucky with the timing of your payment! I filed on November 9th and didn't get my first payment until December 20th. For your question though - yes, your next payment request on 1/25 should result in a payment for two weeks. Make sure you're completing your work search activities (minimum 3 per week) and documenting them carefully. TWC has been really strict about work search compliance lately.

congrats on gettin paid so fast!! i got laid off in november and still waiting lol. but ya the 1st payment is always weird. when i was on unemployment in 2023 the same thing happened. dont worry itll be normal 2 week payments after this

make sure ur claiming on the right day!! i missed my day once and had to wait a whole extra week

Just to add some clarity to what others have mentioned: 1) Your first payment is typically for one week due to the waiting week provision (first eligible week isn't paid immediately) 2) Future payments will be for two weeks if you request on your assigned date (1/25 in your case) 3) Payment typically arrives 2-3 business days after your request is processed 4) Make sure you're completing at least 3 qualified work search activities each week 5) Keep documentation of all work search activities for at least a year (TWC can audit you) 6) If your payment status ever shows "pending" for more than 5 business days, that's when you should call TWC to check for issues Hope this helps, and congrats on getting your first payment so quickly!

Hey there! I'm also pretty new to this whole unemployment thing, but I wanted to chime in since I just went through something similar. Filed my claim in early December and got my first payment about 3 weeks later - also just one week's worth like you. I was confused too but after reading through all these responses, it makes sense now about the waiting week thing. One thing I learned the hard way is to set up direct deposit if you haven't already. My first payment came as a debit card in the mail which took an extra few days. Also, definitely keep track of your work search activities in a spreadsheet or something - I've been doing 4-5 applications per week just to be safe, even though they only require 3. Good luck with that part-time job interview! Sounds like you're being really proactive about getting back to work.

Glad to see you got your first payment so quickly! That's definitely a positive sign. Just to echo what others have said - the one week payment for your first request is totally normal due to the waiting week policy. Going forward, you'll get two weeks' worth when you request on 1/25 and every two weeks after that. One tip I wish someone had told me when I started: download the TWC mobile app if you haven't already. It makes it way easier to do your biweekly requests and check your payment status on the go. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time on unemployment, make sure you're familiar with the different types of work search activities that count - job applications, networking events, job fairs, even career workshops all qualify toward your 3 weekly requirements. Best of luck with everything, and hopefully you'll be back to full-time work soon!

Hey CosmicCowboy! Just wanted to add my experience to help ease your mind. I got laid off in September and had the exact same thing happen - first payment was just one week, then every payment after that was for two weeks. The waiting week thing is confusing but totally normal. Since you mentioned you're new to this, here's something that really helped me: create a simple calendar reminder for your request dates so you never miss them. Missing even one can mess up your whole payment schedule. Also, when you do your work search activities, try to mix it up - I do 2 job applications and 1 career-related activity like updating my LinkedIn or attending a virtual job fair each week. Keeps it interesting and you're more likely to find opportunities. Sounds like you're handling everything well though, and getting paid that fast is honestly amazing. Most people are waiting months right now!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation - got laid off in mid-December and just filed my claim last week. Reading everyone's experiences here is giving me hope that maybe I won't have to wait the horror story timeframes I keep hearing about. Quick question for those who've been through this: should I be worried if my claim status still shows "pending" after filing? It's only been about 5 days but I'm getting anxious seeing all the stories about people waiting months. Also, for the work search requirements - I've been applying to jobs but should I start documenting those retroactively from when I first became unemployed, or only from when I filed the claim? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - it's honestly the most useful information I've found anywhere about the actual process!

This thread is gold! I'm also dealing with unemployment for the first time and was totally confused about the payment schedule. Filed my claim two weeks ago and still waiting, but seeing CosmicCowboy get paid so fast gives me hope. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from calling TWC (took me literally 73 attempts over 3 days to get through) - they told me that if you have ANY issues with your claim, even small ones, it can delay everything significantly. Things like address mismatches, previous employer disputes, or even technical glitches can put you in review limbo. The rep also mentioned that December/January is actually their busiest time due to seasonal layoffs, so anyone filing now should expect longer wait times than usual. But it sounds like some people are still getting lucky with quick processing! For work search activities, I've been using the WorkInTexas.com website which apparently integrates with TWC's system and can make reporting easier. Plus they have job fairs and workshops listed that count toward your requirements. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - way more helpful than the official TWC website!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been on unemployment twice before (once in 2019 and again in 2021), I can confirm that the first payment being just one week is completely standard due to the waiting week policy. What's really impressive is how quickly you got paid, CosmicCowboy! In my experience, filing right after the holidays usually means longer processing times because of the seasonal layoff surge and reduced TWC staffing. You definitely hit the lottery there. A few additional tips from someone who's navigated this system multiple times: 1) Always screenshot your payment request confirmations and keep them in a folder - if there's ever a dispute about whether you requested on time, you'll have proof 2) The TWC website sometimes glitches during peak hours (usually Monday mornings when everyone is making their requests), so try requesting payments in the afternoon or evening if possible 3) If you ever need to speak with TWC and can't get through on the main number, try calling different regional offices - sometimes their hold times are shorter Sounds like you're doing everything right though! Good luck with that part-time interview, and remember that even with part-time work, you can often still qualify for partial unemployment benefits.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in the same boat as CosmicCowboy - just filed my first unemployment claim ever after getting laid off in late December. Haven't received my first payment yet, but seeing that you got yours so quickly gives me hope! I had no idea about the waiting week thing until reading this thread. That's such an important detail that TWC doesn't really explain clearly when you're filing. It makes total sense now why the first payment would only be for one week. One question for those who've been through this - I've been documenting my job search activities in a Word document, but after seeing all the advice about spreadsheets and screenshots, I'm wondering if I should be more organized about it. Should I be saving actual proof of each application (like confirmation emails or screenshots of the submitted application pages) or is just keeping a detailed log with company names, positions, and dates sufficient for the regular payment requests? Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences here. This community is way more helpful than any official government resource I've found!

Hey there! I'm also pretty new to unemployment (filed my claim about 3 weeks ago after getting laid off in December) and had the exact same confusion about that first payment. Like everyone else has explained, the one-week payment is totally normal because of the waiting week policy - I had never heard of this before either! What really helped me was setting up text notifications through my TWC account so I get alerts about payment status and any correspondence. Also, since you mentioned the part-time job interview - I actually started working part-time about 2 weeks ago and you can definitely still collect partial benefits. Just make sure to report your exact hours and gross earnings when you do your biweekly request. TWC has a formula they use to calculate your partial benefit amount. One more tip that saved me a lot of stress: I created a simple Google Calendar with all my important TWC dates (payment request dates, work search activity deadlines, etc.) and set multiple reminders. Missing a payment request date can really mess things up, so having those automated reminders has been a lifesaver. Congrats on getting your first payment so quickly - that's honestly amazing timing given all the horror stories we've been hearing lately!

Hey CosmicCowboy! Congrats on getting your first payment so quickly - that's honestly incredible timing given what most people are experiencing right now. Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this about 6 months ago. The one-week first payment is definitely normal due to the waiting week policy that others have explained. Going forward, you'll get two weeks' worth when you request on 1/25 and every two weeks after that. One thing I learned that might help - when you do get that part-time job (fingers crossed!), you can still receive partial unemployment benefits as long as you're working less than full-time hours and earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. Also, since this is your first time navigating the system, I'd recommend joining some of the Texas unemployment Facebook groups if you're on social media. They're really helpful for getting quick answers to questions and staying updated on any policy changes or system issues. The community support there is amazing, and people share real-time updates about things like website outages or processing delays. Best of luck with everything, and great job staying on top of the work search requirements from the start!

Just wanted to chime in as another newcomer to this whole unemployment process! I filed my claim about 2 weeks ago after getting laid off right before New Year's, so reading about your quick first payment gives me so much hope that mine might come through soon too. The waiting week explanation makes perfect sense now - I was also confused about why everyone kept mentioning that first payments are "different" but nobody really explained why. It's frustrating that TWC doesn't make this clearer when you're filing, but at least now I know what to expect! One thing I've been doing while waiting is getting ahead on my work search activities. I've been treating it like a part-time job - spending about 4 hours a day on applications, networking, and skill-building activities. That way when my payments start, I'll already have a solid routine established and won't be scrambling to meet the requirements. Also wanted to say how awesome this community is! I've learned more practical information from this thread than from hours of reading the official TWC website. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's been incredibly helpful for all of us navigating this for the first time!