UPDATE: Finally got through to TWC this morning! Used the Claimyr service that someone recommended here and got connected in about 20 minutes. The rep immediately knew what the problem was when I mentioned "identity resolution conflict." They had to transfer me to a claims specialist who fixed it while I was on the phone. My correct claim is showing now and I was able to request payment for last week! They said the payment should process normally in 2-3 business days. What a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!

Wow, this exact same thing just happened to me yesterday! I completed my ID.me verification on Monday and when I went to request payment today, boom - suddenly showing my old expired claim from 2020. I was panicking thinking I'd somehow lost my current benefits. Reading through all these responses is such a relief - at least I know it's a known issue and fixable. Going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning with all my documents ready. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the tip about mentioning "identity resolution conflict" to get routed faster!

hey just wanted to update that i checked my account and my waiting week payment came exactly 4 days after my third regular payment hit. so you should be fine just keep an eye on your account

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I filed in early February and was in the exact same situation as you. Construction worker, laid off due to lack of work. Got my waiting week payment automatically 3 days after my third regular payment posted. One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything - payment request dates, when payments hit my account, work search activities, etc. Made it way easier to know exactly when to expect the waiting week payment and helped when I had questions for TWC. Your buddy might be thinking of some other state or maybe got confused with the federal pandemic programs that ended a while back. Texas still does the waiting week backpay - just keep doing your payment requests on schedule and it should come through automatically after that third payment.

One more important thing I forgot to mention - once you get your packet, you'll need to select your payment method. Direct deposit is faster than the debit card option. You can set this up in your TWC account online. Also, don't be surprised if you get a phone call from TWC with additional questions about your separation from employment. Answer honestly but concisely. If you were laid off due to lack of work, just state that clearly. If you're asked about any voluntary separation or misconduct, those answers could affect eligibility, so be truthful but focus on factual details rather than opinions or workplace conflicts.

Hey! I went through this same process about 6 months ago and was just as confused. Here's what helped me get organized: First, download the TWC mobile app - it's actually more reliable than the website sometimes and you can check your claim status on the go. Second, create a simple spreadsheet or use your phone's notes app to track your work search activities from day one. Include: date, company name, position applied for, method (online, in-person, etc.), and contact info. This saved me so much stress later when I had to provide documentation. The packet usually arrives within 3-5 business days (despite what they say about "tomorrow"). It'll have your weekly benefit amount, your payment request schedule, and a PIN for calling the automated system. One thing that surprised me - even after you're approved and start receiving payments, TWC can still audit your work searches months later. So definitely keep good records of everything! You're doing great by asking questions early. The process seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine it's much more manageable.

Welcome to the community @Ian Armstrong! This is exactly the kind of situation where having people share their experiences really makes a difference. TWC issues can be so overwhelming when you're dealing with them alone, but threads like this show that there are patterns to how these cases get resolved. The late employer response + documentation combo seems to be a winning strategy based on what everyone's shared here. @Liam Mendez - really hoping you get good news in those 5-7 days! And for anyone else following along, it's worth noting that Claimyr seems to be getting mentioned more and more as a reliable way to actually reach TWC agents when the regular lines are jammed. Knowledge is power with these situations!

Really glad to see this community coming together to help each other navigate these TWC challenges! As someone who went through a similar employer contest situation last year, I can confirm that the late response from your employer is a major factor in your favor @Liam Mendez. In my case, my former employer tried to claim I was fired for attendance issues (completely false) but they responded 18 days late. TWC ruled in my favor within a week once they reviewed the timeline. The key things that helped me were: 1) keeping detailed records of all communications, 2) uploading every piece of documentation to the portal, and 3) being persistent but patient with the process. For anyone else dealing with similar situations, don't let employers intimidate you with false claims - TWC has seen it all before and they're pretty good at spotting inconsistencies. The fact that you have the paystub clearly labeled as "bonus" is huge evidence in your favor!

I went through this same nightmare last year! Here's what finally worked for me after 3 weeks of trying: 1. Call TWC at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - set multiple alarms. The lines fill up FAST but you have the best chance in that first 10-15 minutes. 2. When you do get through (and you will eventually), immediately ask to speak with a "claims specialist" for a backdating request. Don't let them transfer you to general customer service. 3. Have everything ready: your termination letter, screenshots of website errors, dates of when you tried to file, and a clear timeline of why you couldn't file sooner. 4. Be prepared to explain that you had "good cause for late filing" due to technical issues with their website AND family medical emergency (helping your mom after surgery is legitimate good cause). The website glitches alone should qualify you for backdating, especially if you have screenshots. I got approved for 4 weeks of backdating and received the payments about 2 weeks later. Don't give up - you ARE entitled to those benefits from your layoff date if you can prove good cause!

I'm dealing with a similar backdating issue right now! Filed 3 weeks after my layoff due to childcare problems and website crashes. One thing that's helped me is documenting EVERYTHING - I started keeping a log of every call attempt with timestamps, screenshot every error message, and even took photos of busy signal screens on my phone. Also, try calling the Tele-Center at different numbers - sometimes one line is less busy than others. The main number (800-939-6631) is always slammed, but I've had better luck with the employer line (800-832-9394) and asking them to transfer me to claims. Another tip - if you get disconnected (which happens constantly), call back immediately. Sometimes you'll get lucky and slip into a queue that just opened up. I know it's frustrating but persistence really does pay off with TWC. Keep pushing for that backdating - 6 weeks of missing benefits is no joke, especially when you're facing losing your apartment.