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I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through a very similar situation. My employer also appealed after I had been receiving benefits for about 6 weeks due to a drastic schedule change that made my position untenable. The good news is that your benefits absolutely will continue during the appeal process - this is standard procedure when you were initially approved. The TWC won't cut you off just because your employer filed an appeal, as that would be fundamentally unfair to claimants who were legitimately approved. Your case sounds extremely strong based on what you've described. A reduction from 40 to 12 hours is a textbook example of constructive discharge - essentially being forced to quit due to unacceptable changes in working conditions. The fact that you have documentation showing both the old and new schedules, plus that text message confirming the reduction was permanent, gives you excellent evidence. A few tips that helped me prepare: - Calculate the exact dollar amount of your pay reduction to show the financial impossibility - Prepare a clear timeline of events leading up to your departure - Be ready to address any claims about "alternative shifts" by explaining why they weren't reasonable options - Stay calm and stick to facts during the hearing The hearing officer will have a very hard time justifying why anyone should be expected to survive on a 70% pay cut. You've got solid documentation and a legitimate case - try to stay confident! Please keep us updated on how your May 17th hearing goes.
@Joshua Wood Welcome to the community and thank you so much for sharing your experience! It s'incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who just went through a very similar situation with a drastic schedule change appeal. Your confirmation that benefits continue during the appeal process is such a relief - I was really worried about that aspect. And you re'absolutely right that cutting off benefits just because an employer files an appeal would be completely unfair to people who were legitimately approved initially. I really appreciate all your preparation tips! I m'definitely going to calculate that exact dollar amount of the pay reduction like you and several others have suggested. When you break it down to actual numbers, a 70% pay cut really does become impossible to defend as reasonable employment. Your point about being ready to address claims about alternative "shifts is" really important too. They did offer me one Sunday overnight shift that I couldn t'take due to childcare issues, but that single shift was nowhere close to replacing my lost 28 hours per week. The timeline preparation advice is spot on - I m'working on putting together a clear chronological account of everything that happened. Having that structure should help me stay organized and calm during the hearing. Thank you for the encouragement about my documentation being solid! This community has been such an amazing resource during this stressful time. I ll'definitely update everyone after my May 17th hearing - hopefully with good news that can help future members facing similar appeals.
I went through an employer appeal last year and wanted to share some encouragement - your case sounds really solid! A reduction from 40 to 12 hours is absolutely constructive discharge, and having that text message where your manager confirmed it was permanent is incredibly strong evidence. One thing that really helped me during my hearing was preparing a simple one-page summary with bullet points covering: the original hours vs. reduced hours, the financial impact (calculate the exact dollar difference!), why the single alternative shift wasn't reasonable, and the timeline of events. Having everything laid out clearly kept me focused during the hearing. The hearing officer in my case actually seemed surprised that my employer thought a 65% hour reduction was defensible. Your 70% reduction is even more dramatic. Just stay calm, stick to the facts, and let your documentation speak for itself. The burden is really on your employer to justify why such a massive cut should be considered "suitable employment" - which is basically impossible. Your benefits will definitely continue during the appeal, and honestly, with documentation like yours, I'd be shocked if the decision went against you. You were initially approved after a thorough 7-week review for good reason. Keep us posted after May 17th - I think you're going to have good news to share!
@Holly Lascelles Thank you so much for the encouragement and practical advice! Your one-page summary approach with bullet points sounds perfect - I ve'been collecting all this information but hadn t'thought about organizing it into such a clear, concise format. Having everything laid out on one page will definitely help me stay focused and avoid rambling during the hearing. It s'really reassuring to hear that the hearing officer in your case was surprised your employer thought a 65% reduction was defensible. You re'right that my 70% cut is even more extreme - when you put it in those terms, it really does seem impossible for them to justify as reasonable employment. I m'working on calculating the exact dollar difference like you and others have suggested. The financial impact numbers should be pretty stark and hard to argue against. And I love your point about the burden being on my employer to defend their position rather than me having to prove mine. Your reminder about the thorough 7-week initial review process is really helpful too. TWC clearly investigated my case carefully before approving it, so that initial decision should carry significant weight. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for the confidence boost! This community has been absolutely incredible during this stressful time. I ll'definitely update everyone after my May 17th hearing - hopefully with good news that can help future members facing similar appeals.
I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating issue right now! Got verified about a week ago after what felt like forever, and the system is telling me I haven't submitted a payment request in 3 weeks - but just like you, I've never been able to submit even one. The error message is so misleading because it makes it sound like we're being negligent when we literally can't access the feature. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening though. It seems like this "3 weeks missing" error is a widespread system bug where TWC's internal timeline gets confused between your original claim filing date and when you actually got verified and could start submitting requests. No wonder so many of us are hitting the same wall! I'm going to work through the solutions people have shared here systematically: starting with the complete logout/clear cache method that @Jasmine Hernandez suggested, then trying the 30-minute session timeout fix that @Giovanni Gallo mentioned, and if those don't work, I'll call the local workforce office directly like @CosmicCadet recommended. The early morning timing strategy (around 6 AM) that @Amina Toure had success with sounds worth trying too. It's ridiculous that we have to become tech troubleshooters just to access unemployment benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions that actually work. Will definitely report back on what ends up breaking through this glitch - hopefully it helps the next person dealing with TWC's broken system!
@Eloise Kendrick You ve'really captured exactly what so many of us are going through! That 3 "weeks missing error" is like a slap in the face when you re'already stressed about not being able to access your benefits. I m'dealing with the same timeline confusion - it s'like the system is living in a parallel universe where we were supposed to be submitting requests before we could even log in. Your systematic approach sounds perfect. I d'also suggest taking screenshots of any error messages you get along the way - sometimes having visual proof helps when you re'talking to representatives. The local workforce office route has been a game-changer for several people here since they seem to have better tools for fixing these backend glitches. It s'honestly wild that we need a whole community strategy guide just to use a government website, but here we are! Really hoping one of these solutions works for you quickly. This thread has become like a survival guide for TWC s'broken system 😅
I'm experiencing the exact same "3 weeks missing" error! Just got verified 5 days ago after a 2-month wait, and the system acts like I've been ignoring payment requests when I literally haven't been able to access them until now. This thread has been a godsend - it's clear this is a system-wide bug where TWC counts from your original filing date instead of your verification date. I'm going to try the solutions in this order: 1. Complete logout + clear cache/cookies + browser restart 2. Wait 30+ minutes before logging back in (session timeout fix) 3. Try accessing the payment request page directly via URL 4. Attempt during off-peak hours (6 AM seems to be the sweet spot) 5. If all else fails, call local workforce office instead of main TWC line The technical explanations from @NeonNinja and @Amina Toure about the timeline disconnect make perfect sense. It's frustrating that TWC's error messages are so misleading, but knowing what's actually happening behind the scenes helps a lot. Thanks everyone for sharing real solutions instead of just commiserating - this community is incredible for navigating TWC's broken system! I'll update with results to help others dealing with this glitch.
Congratulations on your new job! As someone who's been navigating unemployment benefits for the past few months, this thread has been absolutely incredible for understanding the proper process. Reading through everyone's experiences here, the advice is overwhelmingly consistent - you definitely need to submit that final payment request and report your work hours to avoid those terrifying overpayment situations. What really stands out to me is how many people emphasized not just "disappearing" from the system. Those stories about surprise bills months or even years later are honestly my worst nightmare! It seems like the TWC system is designed to be confusing, but the actual solution is pretty straightforward once you know the steps. I'm taking detailed notes from all the advice here: submit that final payment request with accurate work hours and earnings, keep screenshots and documentation of everything, then stop requesting payments knowing your claim stays open for the benefit year. The tip about keeping thorough records seems especially important given how the system can apparently come back to haunt you later. Thanks for asking such an important question - this discussion is going to be my go-to reference when I eventually transition back to work too. You're clearly taking the right approach to handle this properly. Best of luck with your new position!
This thread has been such an amazing resource! I'm also currently on unemployment and was honestly feeling pretty anxious about what to do when I eventually find work. Reading through everyone's real experiences here has made the process so much clearer and less intimidating. What really resonates with me is how the TWC system seems unnecessarily complicated on the surface, but the actual steps are pretty straightforward once you understand them. The horror stories about surprise overpayment bills are definitely scary, but it's reassuring to know there's a clear way to avoid those issues by following the proper process. I love how this community has come together to share practical, real-world advice instead of just generic information from confusing government websites. The consensus is so clear: do that final payment request, report your work accurately, document everything, and then you can stop requesting with confidence knowing your claim stays open. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this discussion is going to help so many people navigate this transition successfully!
Congratulations on your new job! I'm currently on unemployment myself and this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to do when I eventually find work. The consensus here is so clear - definitely submit that final payment request and report your work hours properly to avoid those nightmare overpayment situations everyone's describing. What really caught my attention were all the stories about people getting surprise bills months later. I had no idea TWC could audit claims so far after the fact! It seems like the key is not just stopping payments, but actually notifying them through that final payment request process. The advice about keeping detailed documentation also makes so much sense - screenshots, confirmation pages, everything. Such a simple step that could prevent major headaches down the road. Thanks for asking this question and starting such a valuable discussion. It's giving all of us still job searching a clear roadmap for when our time comes. You're taking exactly the right approach - follow the proper process and you'll be fine. Best of luck with your new position!
What a fantastic thread! I'm moving to Texas from Maryland next week and this has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had yet. It's incredible how everyone's experiences align - out-of-state ID is totally fine, work location is what matters, and the main thing to watch out for is just having good lighting for the ID.me verification. The consistency across all these different states (Oklahoma, Illinois, North Carolina, California, etc.) really shows that this is a well-established process. I'm saving this entire thread as a reference guide. Thanks to everyone who shared their detailed experiences - this community is amazing for helping newcomers navigate these potentially stressful situations before they even become problems!
Welcome to Texas! This thread really has become the ultimate guide for out-of-state ID unemployment filing - I wish something like this existed when I was first figuring this out. It's so smart of you to research this stuff before you actually need it. The fact that you're moving from Maryland and already thinking about potential administrative hurdles shows great planning. Hopefully you won't need to use this information, but like everyone else has said, if you do end up needing unemployment benefits, just remember: work location trumps ID state every single time. The Maryland license will work perfectly fine with TWC's system. Safe travels on your move, and welcome to the community!
This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm in almost the exact same situation - moved to Austin from Louisiana about 5 months ago and just lost my job last Friday. I've been stressed all weekend about the ID situation since my Louisiana license doesn't expire until 2026 and I kept putting off getting a Texas one. Reading everyone's experiences from so many different states (Oklahoma, Illinois, North Carolina, California, etc.) makes it crystal clear that TWC has this process down pat. The consistent advice about good lighting for ID.me verification is noted! Planning to file my claim tomorrow morning with confidence now. Really grateful for communities like this where people take time to share detailed, helpful experiences during stressful times. Y'all are awesome!
Molly Chambers
This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been collecting benefits for about 8 weeks now, I had no idea how comprehensive TWC's verification system was until I saw all these detailed experiences. It's so reassuring to see that literally every single person here had a positive outcome after that initial panic of seeing the 877-892-3024 number. What really strikes me is how this thread has documented practically every scenario that can trigger verification - from DoorDash and Uber Eats to substitute teaching, freelance work, temp jobs, odd jobs, and even helping neighbors. It really shows that TWC takes fraud prevention seriously and verifies any reported earnings, which actually makes me feel more confident about the system's integrity. The 7:01 AM calling strategy has basically become legendary in this thread, and for good reason based on everyone's success stories! I'm definitely keeping that tip in my back pocket. The advice about having all your work details organized beforehand also seems crucial for making the actual call go smoothly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Anastasia Fedorov for both asking the original question and providing that reassuring update. This community really is amazing for helping people navigate these stressful situations with actual facts instead of panic!
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CosmicCommander
•This thread really has become the definitive guide for TWC callback situations! As someone who just started their unemployment journey (filed my first claim about 10 days ago), reading through all these experiences has been incredibly educational and honestly pretty comforting. Before seeing this thread, I would have absolutely panicked if I got that callback number - but now I understand it's just a routine part of their verification process when you report any kind of earnings. The breadth of work situations covered here is amazing - it really does seem like they verify everything from major gig platforms to small odd jobs, which actually gives me more confidence in the system's thoroughness. That 7:01 AM calling strategy has been mentioned so consistently that it's clearly the way to go! I'm definitely saving this entire thread as my go-to resource for navigating the TWC system. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable for newcomers like me!
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Ravi Sharma
This has been such an incredibly valuable thread to read through! I'm about 4 weeks into my first unemployment claim and honestly had zero knowledge about how the callback system worked until I stumbled across this discussion. The consistency in everyone's experiences is remarkable - it's so clear that this 877-892-3024 verification process is just routine procedure when you report any type of earnings, not some catastrophic red flag like it initially appears. What I find most reassuring is how this thread has documented virtually every work scenario imaginable - gig work, temp jobs, freelance, odd jobs, substitute teaching, catering, delivery driving, even helping neighbors with yard work. It really shows that TWC's verification system is comprehensive and fair, which actually makes me trust the process more. The 7:01 AM calling strategy mentioned throughout this thread has basically become community wisdom at this point! I'm definitely filing that away for future reference, along with the excellent advice about organizing all your work details beforehand. Thanks especially to @Anastasia Fedorov for not only asking the question we newcomers all have, but for following up with that reassuring resolution update. This kind of real-world guidance is exactly what makes this community so valuable for those of us still learning to navigate the TWC system!
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