When I had my appeal hearing, I had my 3 year old screaming in the background and I was so embarrassed! But the hearing officer was actually really nice about it. Just wanted to say they're usually pretty understanding people. I was nervous too but it went way better than expected.

Just wanted to add - make sure you have a quiet space for the call and test your phone connection beforehand! I had my hearing last month and the connection kept cutting out, which made it really stressful. The hearing officer was patient about it, but it definitely made me more nervous. Also, if you get overwhelmed during the hearing, it's totally okay to ask for a moment to collect your thoughts or to ask them to repeat a question. They want to make sure you understand what's being asked. One thing that really helped me was writing out a basic timeline beforehand with key dates - when I started the ID.me process, when the hurricane hit, when I discovered the issue, etc. Having it written down made it easier to stay organized when explaining everything. You've got this! The fact that you have documentation of the hurricane and your attempts to complete verification puts you in a really good position.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. The system is totally overwhelmed rn. Have you considered reaching out to a local news station? Sometimes public pressure can help move things along.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue - been waiting 5 weeks now with no updates. The stress is unreal when you're depending on these benefits to survive. I've tried everything mentioned here - calling at 8am, emailing, checking my online account daily. Nothing works. It's insane that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get the help we're entitled to. Has anyone had any luck with filing a complaint with the state ombudsman? I'm running out of options and getting desperate.

Thanks everyone for the responses! Feeling much better knowing it's just the holiday causing the delay. I'll watch for updates tomorrow and expect the deposit a day later than usual. Really appreciate all the information!

Just wanted to share my experience - I've been filing payment requests for about 6 months now and holidays always delay things by exactly one business day. The automated parts of their system do run (like accepting your request), but the final approval and fund transfers require staff oversight. So if you normally get your deposit on Wednesday after filing Sunday, expect it Thursday this week. The delay is predictable and temporary - nothing to stress about! Your claim status won't be affected at all.

Regarding your timing question - the fact that your benefits exhausted one week after the storm is actually a neutral factor. What matters more is that you can demonstrate the disaster created a NEW barrier to employment that didn't exist before. The strongest evidence in your case is: 1. The cancelled interview at the factory (get documentation) 2. Any other job prospects affected by the storm 3. Physical barriers to job searching (damage to your home/transportation) Focus your application on how your path to reemployment was specifically disrupted by the disaster. This frames your case as a disaster-caused continued unemployment rather than just a regular benefits exhaustion. Be prepared that you might need to appeal if denied initially, as these cases often require human review to fully understand the timeline and circumstances.

Hey Millie! I went through something similar after the freeze in 2021. The timing of your benefits exhausting right after the storm might actually work in your favor - it shows you had active UI when the disaster hit, which can help establish the connection. One thing that really helped my case was being super specific about HOW the disaster affected my job search beyond just the one cancelled interview. I documented things like: - Transportation issues getting to interviews due to road damage - Other businesses that were closed/not hiring because of storm damage - Any networking events or job fairs that got cancelled Also, when you apply for DUA, make sure you mention that your apartment was damaged too - that shows the disaster personally affected you, not just your job prospects. Even minor damage counts. The 30-day deadline is key, so don't wait! And definitely keep all those emails about the cancelled interview - that's gold for your case. Good luck!

I had all three of these issues back in January! What ultimately worked for me was: 1. For the work search errors - I waited until 1am to submit mine (when server traffic is lowest) and it finally went through. 2. For the missing card - I discovered my address was slightly wrong in the TWC system (apartment number was missing). Double-check your address in your TWC account settings! Even small errors can prevent delivery. 3. For payment processing - Once I got the work search activities accepted, the payments processed within 48 hours. Don't give up! It's frustrating but fixable. And yes, Claimyr actually does work for getting through to TWC - I was skeptical too, but it saved me hours of redialing.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of waiting for unemployment benefits when you're already struggling financially is just awful. I went through something similar last year and wanted to share a few things that helped me: First, regarding the debit card - if it's been 4 weeks, definitely call US Bank at that number Teresa mentioned. They can tell you if the card was actually mailed and to what address. Sometimes there are delivery issues or the card gets stuck in processing. For the work search Error 5302, I found that using an incognito/private browser window sometimes helped when the regular browser wouldn't work. Also, try submitting just ONE activity at a time and wait for the confirmation before adding another one. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of everything - every phone call attempt, every error message, screenshots of the payment processing status. When I finally got through to someone, having all those details helped them understand the full scope of the problem and take it more seriously. Also, don't forget you can file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission if you're not getting adequate service. Sometimes that gets attention when regular channels don't work. Hang in there - most of these issues do get resolved eventually, even though it feels impossible right now.