I've been on TWC unemployment for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying - Thursday requests almost always hit on Monday. The only time I've gotten Friday deposits is when I requested super early (like 6 AM) on a Tuesday or Wednesday. TWC's processing times are pretty consistent but not fast. Also make sure you screenshot your confirmation page after submitting your request - I've had a couple times where the system glitched and I needed proof that I submitted on time. Hope your first payment goes smoothly!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been dealing with TWC for about a year now. The timing really does depend on when you submit and what day of the week it is. I've noticed that if you request on Thursday, you're looking at Monday for sure. The system seems to batch process payments and weekends definitely don't count as business days. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you have all your work search activities documented BEFORE you request. I once had to go back and add missing activities and it delayed my payment by almost a week. Also, if this is your first payment, it might take a bit longer than usual since they sometimes do additional verification on initial claims. The oil field layoffs have been rough lately - sorry you're going through this. At least the TWC benefits help bridge the gap while you're job hunting. Good luck with your request tomorrow!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer is claiming I resigned when I was actually part of a company-wide layoff in January. I've been stuck in the dispute process for about 5 weeks now. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I found out that you can also submit witness statements if you have coworkers who can verify that layoffs occurred. I had a former colleague write a brief statement confirming that our entire department was eliminated, and I uploaded it along with my other documentation. Also, for anyone waiting for their fact-finding interview, I noticed that TWC posts updates to their processing times on their website under "Claim Status Updates." It's not super detailed but gives you a general idea of how backed up they are in your region. Really hoping to hear a positive update on your determination letter soon! The waiting is the worst part of this whole process.

I've been following this thread closely as I'm potentially facing a similar situation. My company just announced layoffs for next month and I'm worried my employer might try to claim I quit to avoid paying unemployment benefits. Based on all the great advice shared here, I'm already starting to document everything - saving emails about the layoff announcement, keeping records of any calls or meetings, and making sure I have contact info for witnesses. The tip about requesting your personnel file before filing is brilliant too. One question for those who've been through this - is it worth reaching out to a TWC office in person if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, or do they not handle these types of disputes at the local level? I know everyone's mentioned how hard it is to get through by phone, but I'm wondering if there are other ways to get help if needed. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. This community has been incredibly helpful for understanding the process!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in employment law - you're absolutely on the right track! The waiting week payment is one of those things that causes a lot of confusion, but Texas law is pretty clear about it. As long as you've received at least 3 benefit payments and you remain eligible for benefits during the week following your waiting week, you should receive it. The fact that you're now employed doesn't disqualify you from the waiting week payment, since that payment is for a week that occurred before you started your new job. When you file your final request on Monday, just report everything accurately and the system should process the waiting week automatically within 2-3 weeks. One thing to keep in mind: if there are any issues or delays beyond 4 weeks, you have the right to request a review of your claim. TWC is required to provide written notice if they deny your waiting week payment for any reason. But based on what you've described, everything sounds like it should process smoothly. Congratulations on the new position - sounds like you handled your unemployment claim exactly the right way!

I went through this exact same situation last month and wanted to share what happened with my waiting week payment. I started a new job while I still had one more payment request to make, and I was super worried I'd lose out on the waiting week money. Here's what actually happened: I did my final payment request like normal, reported all my new job hours and earnings (even though it meant I got $0 for that final week), and then about 3 weeks later the waiting week payment just appeared in my account as a separate deposit. It was for the full amount too - not reduced by my new job earnings since the waiting week was from before I started working. The most important thing is just being completely honest when you report your work hours on Monday. Don't try to hide anything or game the system. TWC's computers are pretty good at figuring out what you're owed once you've met all the requirements, which it sounds like you definitely have. Also make sure your direct deposit info stays active even after you stop claiming - that's how they'll send the waiting week payment when it processes. Good luck with the new job and don't stress too much about this - it should work out fine!

Remember too tht if u do the contract they'll stop your benefits for any week u report income over your weekly benefit amount plus $25. So if ur UI is like $500/week and u earn $526 in contract work that week u get ZERO benefits!! But at least ur claim stays open for when contract ends.

I'm in a similar boat right now - got laid off two weeks ago and my employer offered me freelance work to wrap up some projects. After reading through all these responses, I think the consensus is pretty clear: file for unemployment IMMEDIATELY after your last W-2 day, then take the contract if you want it. What really helped me understand this was realizing that TWC calculates your benefit amount based on your earnings history in specific quarters, not your most recent work. So if you file now, your benefits are calculated on your full-time salary quarters. If you wait and file later, you might end up with contract work affecting those calculations. The weekly reporting thing makes total sense too - you're basically trading some weeks of benefits for contract income, but keeping your claim alive so you don't have to start over. Way better than risking a lower benefit calculation later. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to save me from making a costly mistake!

wait i just realized something - r u talking about direct deposit to ur bank or loading on the actual twc debit card? cuz those r different. the debit card is always slower than direct deposit to ur regular bank

I've been dealing with the same confusion! What really helped me understand was tracking my payment requests more carefully. I started writing down the exact day/time I submitted and when it actually hit my card. Turns out mine is super consistent - always exactly 48 hours from when I submit, no matter what day of the week. The people claiming same-day deposits might be thinking about when TWC shows "payment issued" in their account vs when it actually appears on the card. There's definitely a difference between those two things! Or like others said, they might just be mixing up their dates when posting on social media. Your 2-day timeline sounds totally normal from everything I've experienced and heard from others. At least it's predictable so you can budget around it!