TWC phone lines jammed for a week straight - impossible to reach an agent!

I had the same issue last month! The TWC phone system is completely overwhelmed right now. What worked for me was trying their alternate number for payment issues: 800-558-8321. You still might get the busy signal, but I had better luck with this one. Also, TE-401B usually means they need additional information about your work separation - did you quit or were you laid off? The determination letter should have mentioned what specific info they need.

I discovered a service called Claimyr that really helped me get through to TWC when I was in the same situation. Their system basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when they get an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh It worked great when I needed to fix my ID.me verification issues last month. Way better than spending days trying to get through on my own.

@profile7 It's legit - they use an automated system that keeps calling TWC until it gets through. Then they connect you with the agent. I was skeptical too but it worked when nothing else did.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!! They deliberately make it impossible to reach anyone so people just give up on their claims. I've been fighting with TWC for 3 MONTHS trying to get my backpay for weeks they owe me. Every time I finally get through to someone, they transfer me to another department and I get disconnected. Then another week of calling begins. It's a JOKE!!!!!

try calling exactlty @ 7:58am thats wen i got thru last week but press options for spanish then 1-1-6-2 for english rep faster

This happened to me too and I found out my claim was flagged for identity verification issues even though I completed ID.me. When I finally got through to someone (after 2 weeks of calling), they said my drivers license upload was blurry and that's why everything was on hold. Maybe check if you have any notifications about identity verification in your correspondence inbox?

One thing that can help is making sure you've completed your work search activities properly. Sometimes your claim gets flagged if you miss reporting your 3 required work search activities per week. Log into WorkInTexas.com and verify all your job search info is there. Also, double check that your previous employer didn't contest your unemployment claim - that often causes the TE-401B code to appear while they investigate. If you can't reach them by phone, try emailing ui.ombudsmen@twc.texas.gov with your claim ID in the subject line. It's not as immediate as calling but they usually respond within 3-5 business days.

same here lol been trying to call for 2 weeks now... starting to think they shut down the whole department or something

Just wanted to update that if your claim shows 'under review' status, it usually means a TWC examiner has been assigned to your case but they might need additional information. Did you try checking the Claim and Payment Status section on the TWC website? Sometimes there's more detailed information there than in the correspondence inbox. Also, be sure to keep requesting payments on your regular schedule even while your claim is under review. If you miss payment requests, it can further delay everything.

I had success getting through to TWC last week by calling their tele-serv number (800-558-8321) first, selecting option 2 for claim information, entering my PIN, then pressing 0 repeatedly until it transferred me to a representative. It took about 20 minutes of waiting, but I finally got to speak with someone who helped resolve my claim issue. If your issue is specifically about work separation documentation, you might need to upload a more detailed explanation letter. Go to your TWC portal, select 'Submission of Information,' then 'General' as the document type, and upload a detailed letter explaining your layoff situation, including dates, supervisor name, and reason given for separation.