I'm so glad you found this thread! Your situation is exactly why I joined this community - TWC's initial response to hour reductions is so frustrating and wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that you have a very strong case for partial unemployment benefits. The fact that your hours were cut from 45-50 per week down to just 9 hours is a textbook example of "involuntary partial unemployment." Here's what I'd suggest for your appeal (if you haven't filed it already): 1) Use the exact phrase "involuntary reduction in hours due to lack of work" - this is the official TWC language for your situation 2) Calculate your percentage reduction (sounds like about 80-85%) and put it prominently in your appeal 3) Attach documentation showing your previous full-time schedule vs your current 9-hour schedule 4) Include recent pay stubs that clearly show the dramatic income drop The key is making it crystal clear to TWC that this wasn't your choice to work part-time - your employer unilaterally reduced your hours due to business conditions. That's completely different from someone who chooses to work part-time. You should definitely qualify for partial benefits since your current earnings from 9 hours are almost certainly less than what your weekly benefit amount would be. Don't let that initial denial discourage you - it sounds like most people in similar situations get approved on appeal once TWC understands the actual circumstances. File that appeal ASAP if you haven't already - you've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! What you're experiencing is unfortunately super common - TWC's initial screening often incorrectly denies people who are clearly eligible for partial unemployment benefits. Your case is actually really strong. An 80% reduction in hours (from 45-50 hours down to 9 hours) is exactly the type of situation partial unemployment benefits were designed for. The fact that TWC denied you initially just shows how broken their screening process is, not that you don't qualify. From reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like your best bet is to appeal immediately and use very specific language. Make sure to emphasize that your hours were "involuntarily reduced" by your employer, not that you chose part-time work. The distinction is crucial for TWC. A couple practical tips: - Calculate your exact percentage reduction (sounds like 80%+) and mention it prominently - Gather documentation showing your previous vs current schedule/pay stubs - Use phrases like "involuntary partial unemployment" in your appeal - File within 14 days of your determination letter date Once you get this sorted out (and based on other people's success stories here, you should!), you'll need to report your part-time wages weekly and TWC will calculate your partial benefit amount. It won't replace your full income but it should help bridge the gap. Don't let their initial denial discourage you - you absolutely deserve these benefits given your situation. Keep us posted on how your appeal goes!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this issue - I was stuck in the same login loop last week and what finally worked for me was a combination of several solutions mentioned here. First, I used incognito mode as @Abigail Spencer suggested, then made sure to manually type (not copy-paste) the temporary password, and most importantly, I logged in during the early morning hours when the system has less traffic. The timing really seemed to make a difference! Also discovered that my antivirus software was blocking some TWC cookies, so I had to temporarily disable it during login. It's ridiculous that we need to become IT specialists just to access our benefits, but at least this community has created an amazing troubleshooting resource. For anyone still struggling, don't give up - work through these solutions systematically and have the Tele-Serv number ready as backup. The combination approach seems to be more effective than trying individual fixes!

This thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who's been dealing with TWC login issues on and off for months, reading through everyone's solutions feels like striking gold. I've bookmarked this and I'm going to try the systematic approach that @Zara Rashid mentioned - tackling multiple potential fixes at once rather than hoping one magic bullet will work. I'm particularly interested in trying the mobile app route since @Zainab Omar mentioned it uses different authentication, and the incognito mode suggestion from @Abigail Spencer. I had no idea about things like antivirus software blocking cookies or computer clock validation affecting login success! One thing I'd add from my own experience - if you're using a work laptop or computer managed by your employer's IT department, they might have security policies that interfere with the TWC site in ways you can't easily fix. I've had better luck using my personal devices when the work computer keeps rejecting my login attempts. It's honestly shameful that accessing unemployment benefits requires this level of technical detective work, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these ridiculous system failures. You've all probably saved countless people from missing their payment deadlines! 🙏

I successfully went through the trailing spouse process about 6 months ago when my husband transferred from San Antonio to Tyler for his manufacturing job. Your situation sounds even stronger than mine was - the fact that he's returning to his original company with a promotion, plus the obvious 4-hour commute issue, should make this a pretty clear case for approval. One thing that really helped speed up my process was creating a "trailing spouse documentation packet" before I even resigned. I included: 1) My husband's written offer letter with start date and location, 2) A brief letter from his HR explaining the business necessity of the transfer, 3) A calculation showing the daily commute would be 8+ hours roundtrip, and 4) Screenshots of job applications I'd already submitted in Tyler. When I filed my claim online, I was able to upload all this documentation immediately rather than waiting for TWC to request it later. My claim was approved in just 16 days, which was faster than most people I've talked to. The examiner told me having everything organized upfront made their job much easier. Also, since you mentioned dealing with school registration timing - you might want to ask if your husband's company offers any temporary housing assistance or if they can provide a letter confirming the move timeline. TWC likes to see that this is truly a necessary business move rather than just a convenient timing choice. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when my husband got transferred from Midland to College Station for his petroleum engineering job. Your case sounds very strong - the 4-hour commute is way beyond what TWC considers reasonable, and returning to his original company with a promotion clearly shows legitimate business necessity. Here's what worked for me: I created a complete documentation folder before resigning that included my husband's written offer letter, an HR letter confirming the transfer was company-mandated, proof of our marriage, and calculations showing the daily commute would be impossible (8+ hours). I also started applying to jobs in College Station before we moved and kept detailed records. My claim was approved in 22 days. The key things TWC focused on were: 1) Clear proof the move was employment-related (not voluntary), 2) Documentation that commuting wasn't feasible, and 3) Evidence I was genuinely seeking work in the new location. One specific tip - when you write your resignation letter, use the exact phrase "I am resigning to relocate with my spouse due to his employment transfer." That precise wording seems to help TWC categorize your case correctly. Also, file your claim the day after your last day of work rather than waiting until you've physically moved. Given your husband's company buyout situation and the clear promotion opportunity, plus dealing with the apartment fire stress, this sounds like exactly the type of family situation the trailing spouse provision was designed to help. You should be approved without issues if you have the documentation ready!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! Filed my claim about 8 days ago after being laid off due to company downsizing, and seeing that "pending" status has been making me so anxious about whether I'll actually get paid for these weeks. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that TWC holds your payments and releases them all at once as backpay once your claim gets approved. Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much relief knowing that legitimate layoffs like ours typically get processed without issues once the employer response period ends. I've been doing my payment requests religiously through Tele-Serv and just set up calendar reminders after seeing how many people emphasized never missing those deadlines. The waiting is definitely stressful when money is getting tight, but it sounds like we just need to stay patient and trust the process. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - this has been way more informative than the official TWC website!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed my claim about 5 days ago after my position was eliminated due to company restructuring, and I've been checking my status constantly hoping to see something other than "pending." This thread has been such a godsend - I was really starting to panic that those first weeks of payment requests were just going to disappear into thin air. It's really reassuring to read so many detailed accounts from people who actually received their full backpay as lump sums once their claims were approved. I had absolutely no idea that's how the TWC system worked - I was imagining much worse scenarios. Since my layoff was also completely legitimate (no performance issues, just budget cuts), it sounds like I should be in the same straightforward approval category as most everyone here. I just set up multiple phone reminders for my payment request dates after seeing how many people emphasized that missing even one can really complicate things. The financial stress while waiting is definitely real when you're already dealing with job loss, but reading all these success stories has given me so much more confidence that everything will work out if I just stay patient and keep following the process correctly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this has been infinitely more helpful than anything I could find on the official TWC site!

Just want to add another tip that worked for me - if you're getting the busy signal or "high call volume" message, try using the callback feature if it's available. Sometimes they'll offer to call you back instead of waiting on hold. I did this last week and got a callback within 3 hours, which was way better than sitting on hold all day. Also, don't hang up if you hear silence for a few minutes after getting through - sometimes it takes a while for the system to connect you to the queue. Almost hung up thinking the call dropped but then suddenly heard the hold music. Stay strong everyone, we'll get through this! 💪

I've been lurking here for a while dealing with the same TWC nightmare, and finally got some success! Want to share what worked for me in case it helps others. I tried the early morning calling strategy that @Danielle Campbell mentioned, but what really made the difference was using a different number. Instead of the main 800 number, I called the employer hotline at 512-463-2735 and explained I was having trouble reaching someone about my claim. They transferred me directly to the benefits department and I only waited about 20 minutes on hold! The agent told me that sometimes the employer line has shorter wait times. Also seconding what @Carter Holmes said about being super nice to the agents - they really do want to help and are dealing with crazy volume. Hang in there everyone, there is light at the end of this tunnel! 🌟