So glad to hear your claim finally moved forward! I'm in a similar boat - been under review for 3 weeks now and getting more anxious each day. Did the rep give you any reference number or case number when she said she'd expedite it? I talked to someone yesterday who said they'd "look into it" but didn't give me any specifics, so I'm wondering if that's the same thing as an expedite request. Also, just wanted to mention for others reading this - I found out you can check your claim status online 24/7 instead of calling constantly. Sometimes the status updates before the reps even know about it. Really hoping mine follows the same path as yours did!

Wow, what a rollercoaster this thread has been! I've been following unemployment discussions for a while but this is my first time posting. @QuantumQuester, I'm so relieved to see your claim finally got processed! Your story really highlights how broken the TWC system can be - 5 weeks is just unacceptable when people are facing eviction and can't pay basic bills. For anyone else still waiting, I wanted to share that my local workforce office actually has a "claim specialist" who can sometimes help with stuck claims. Not all offices have this, but it's worth calling your nearest location and asking. They can't process claims directly, but they have better access to the TWC system than the regular phone reps and can sometimes spot issues that are causing delays. Also, I've heard good things about that Claimyr service @Mei Chen mentioned - my neighbor used it last month and said it was worth the fee just to avoid the endless busy signals. The stress of not being able to even talk to a human while your bills pile up is almost worse than the actual waiting sometimes. Thanks to everyone sharing resources like the state rep contact and 211 - this community really looks out for each other!

When my account was locked for suspected fraud, I discovered that it was because someone had attempted to access my account from an unrecognized device in another state. The fraud department needs to verify your identity before they can unlock your account. Here's what I recommend: 1. If you can't reach them by phone, try going to your local Workforce Solutions office in person with your identification documents (driver's license, social security card, etc.) 2. Even with your account locked, document the dates you would have requested payment - you'll need this information for backdating 3. Once your account is unlocked, you'll need to submit a Payment Request Revision through your online portal under the "Payment Request" section 4. You might also need to complete a new ID.me verification even after your account is unlocked Don't worry about missing Tuesday's deadline as long as you're actively trying to resolve this. TWC has procedures for these situations.

I went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago and it's incredibly stressful, but you will get through it! A few additional tips that helped me: - Try calling the fraud line at different times throughout the day, not just first thing in the morning. I actually got through around 2pm on a Wednesday when everyone else was probably calling early - Keep a log of every call you make (time, date, how long you waited) - this documentation helped when I finally spoke to someone - If you do miss Tuesday's deadline, don't panic. When you get your account unlocked, tell them immediately that you tried to file but couldn't due to the fraud lock. They have a process for this and I got all my missed payments - Make sure you're ready with ALL your documents when you do get through - ID, social security card, and any employment records they might ask for The whole thing took me about 10 days to resolve, but I did get every penny I was owed. The system is frustrating but they do make it right eventually. Hang in there!

I had no idea about contacting my state rep! That's a great backup plan if I can't get through this week. Thank you!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The ID.me verification process definitely causes temporary account lockouts - it's like their systems don't communicate properly. Here's what worked for me: 1. Wait at least 48-72 hours after completing ID.me verification before trying to log in again 2. Use an incognito/private browser window 3. Try logging in during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) For the waiting period - that first week is just gone, unfortunately. It's Texas policy and there's no way around it. But make sure you don't miss any future payment requests because of the login issues, or you'll lose those weeks too. If you're still locked out after 3-4 days, definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned or call your state rep's office. I ended up having to do both when TWC wouldn't fix my account manually. The whole system is designed to be frustrating, but don't give up - you'll get through this!

I'm still getting an error message when I try to log in. Anyone else still having problems or is it just me now? Getting so frustrated with this whole process!!!

Just want to add that if you're still having trouble after trying all these suggestions, you can also visit your local TWC office in person to submit your payment request. I know it's not ideal, but when I had similar issues a few months ago, the staff there were able to process everything for me on the spot. Most offices open at 8am and you'll want to bring your ID and any documentation from your claim. It's worth calling ahead to confirm hours since some locations have reduced schedules on certain days.

I went through something similar earlier this year! TWC will absolutely backpay you for those weeks you were legitimately unemployed, even though you're working now. The key is making sure you complete payment requests for ALL those weeks - don't skip any just because your claim was pending. A few tips from my experience: - Keep detailed records of your work search activities for each week (sounds like you already did this, which is great!) - When you do your payment requests, be completely accurate about your new job start date - If you missed any payment request weeks due to confusion, you can request backdated opportunities through TWC The whole process was frustrating for me too, but I eventually got every penny I was owed for the weeks I was unemployed. Don't give up - you earned those benefits during the time you were out of work and actively searching!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Filed my claim 5 weeks ago and it's still pending with no updates. Just got a job offer yesterday and wondering the same thing about backpay. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like the key is to keep doing payment requests for those unemployment weeks even after starting work, and being totally honest about start dates. Has anyone had success with the TWC online chat feature mentioned earlier, or is calling really the only way to get through? I'm dreading spending hours on hold but if that's what it takes to get those weeks sorted out... @Andre Dupont - congrats on the new job! Hope you get all your backpay sorted out soon.