I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation about 4 months ago! Yes, your employer will absolutely be on the same phone call - it's structured as a three-way conference call with you, your former employer, and the TWC hearing officer moderating. I was incredibly anxious beforehand too, but the hearing officer really does maintain control and keeps everything professional. They won't allow interruptions or let things get heated. Here's what helped me prepare: • I created a simple timeline of events with dates that I could easily reference • Made sure I had a quiet, private space with excellent phone reception • Had all my evidence printed and organized in chronological order • Practiced explaining my situation concisely (aim for 2-3 minutes max for your opening statement) Those emails you mentioned where your boss pressured you to resign are absolutely golden evidence! That's textbook constructive discharge. When you reference them during the hearing, be very specific - mention the exact date and quote directly from the email rather than paraphrasing. The whole process took about 40 minutes for me. My employer tried to paint a different picture, but I stayed calm, stuck to the documented facts, and let my evidence speak for itself. I received my approval decision about 8 days later. You're in a strong position with that documentation. Just remember - the hearing officer's job is to determine the facts, and written evidence like threatening emails carries a lot of weight. You've got this!

I went through a TWC appeal hearing last year and can definitely confirm that yes, your employer will be on the same conference call with you and the hearing officer. I know it sounds intimidating, but the hearing officer really does control the entire process professionally. A few things that helped me get through it: • I made sure to have a landline as backup in case my cell dropped the call • Kept a notepad handy to jot down key points while my employer was speaking • Had all my evidence organized in a folder with tabs for easy access • Arrived to the call 10 minutes early to test the connection Those emails you mentioned about being threatened with a bad reference are incredibly strong evidence for constructive discharge. Make sure you can quickly reference the specific dates and exact wording when you're speaking - don't just say "they threatened me," but say something like "As documented in my email from [date], my supervisor stated [exact quote]." The hearing lasted about 45 minutes for me, and honestly my employer ended up helping my case because they got flustered and started contradicting themselves. The hearing officer noticed right away. I got my approval decision about a week later. You're in a really good position having that written documentation. Most people go into these hearings with just their word against their employer's, but you have actual proof. Just stay calm, stick to the facts, and let those threatening emails do the heavy lifting for your case!

I'm completely new to this community but just received my TWC audit letter this week and stumbled across this thread while researching what to expect. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been absolutely invaluable - I went from complete panic to feeling much more prepared and confident about the process! I'm in North Texas near the Oklahoma border and work in logistics/supply chain. Most of the major distribution centers and transportation hubs in my area actually extend into Oklahoma, so naturally a lot of my job searches have been cross-border. I was terrified TWC would automatically reject these contacts, but seeing so many successful audit outcomes with legitimate out-of-state searches has been incredibly reassuring. The documentation strategies shared throughout this thread are amazing. I've been keeping pretty loose records, but I'm definitely implementing that detailed log format everyone's mentioned - company name, contact person, method, date, outcome, plus the crucial explanatory context about WHY each search makes sense for my industry and location. One thing that really stands out from reading all these experiences is how much TWC values understanding your search strategy rather than just seeing a list of contacts. The tip about explaining the regional nature of your job market seems especially important for those of us in border areas where industries naturally span state lines. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real audit experiences - this thread should definitely be a go-to resource for anyone facing their first TWC audit!

I'm brand new to this community and just received my first TWC audit letter today - finding this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I was in complete panic mode because I'm in the Rio Grande Valley and about 70% of my job searches have been in other Texas cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Houston where there are actually opportunities in my field (marketing/digital media). Reading through everyone's experiences has completely changed my perspective from terror to confidence. I had no idea that TWC was reasonable about legitimate search strategies - I thought any deviation from local-only searches would be automatically flagged as problematic. The documentation strategies shared here are incredible. I've been keeping minimal records, but I'm immediately switching to that detailed log format with company names, contact methods, dates, outcomes, and most importantly - the explanatory context about WHY each search makes sense. The tip about explaining your search rationale rather than just submitting bare contact lists is pure gold. For my submission, I'm planning to include context about how the marketing industry is concentrated in major metropolitan areas, plus detailed entries showing genuine effort and willingness to relocate for career opportunities. The fact that I'm targeting established Texas cities with strong job markets should actually work in my favor. Has anyone dealt with creative industry audits specifically? Either way, this thread has given me everything I need to handle this audit confidently. Thank you all for creating such an amazing resource for newcomers - the real-world experiences shared here are worth their weight in gold!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently on day 4 of waiting for my ID.me verification to process (completed it last Friday) and was starting to get worried since it's taking longer than some of the 2-3 day timelines I've seen mentioned. But reading through everyone's experiences here shows that 4-5 days is still totally normal and within the expected range. I've been checking my TWC portal daily and can see my claim is still showing "pending - identity verification" but no red flags or additional issues. Going to give it through tomorrow before I start to worry since that would put me at the full 5 business days. The text notifications tip has been super helpful - at least I know I'll get an alert the moment anything changes! Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and timelines.

Currently going through this same exact situation! Just completed my ID.me verification yesterday evening and the anxiety of waiting is already kicking in. This thread has been incredibly reassuring though - seeing so many people share their actual timelines and knowing that 3-5 business days is pretty standard helps me set realistic expectations. I've already enabled text notifications and bookmarked my TWC portal to check daily for status updates instead of obsessively refreshing my bank account. The tips about continuing payment requests on schedule even while waiting are super helpful too. It's amazing how much the uncertainty adds to an already stressful financial situation, but knowing that the system actually works (even if slowly) gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this kind of real-world info is so much more valuable than the generic timelines on the TWC website!

Thanks everyone for the responses! Sounds like I definitely need to file a new claim if I get laid off. Really helpful to know about the base period calculation too - makes me a bit nervous since I was making more in 2021 than I am now, so my benefit might be lower. Anyone know if there's a waiting period between filing and getting your first payment? I should probably start saving more just in case.

Just went through this exact situation last year! Had around $2,800 showing from my 2020 claim and got all hopeful when I was laid off in February 2024. Nope - had to start completely fresh. One thing I learned though is to check what your base period wages will be BEFORE you file. You can actually calculate it yourself using your pay stubs from the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. In my case, I waited an extra month to file because it bumped me into a new quarter that included higher wages, which increased my weekly benefit amount by about $80. Also pro tip - file your claim on Sunday if possible. I read somewhere that their system processes weekend claims first thing Monday morning, so you might get processed slightly faster than if you file mid-week when they're swamped.

I just wanted to add something that might help others who are early in their claims - I've been keeping a dedicated folder (both digital and physical) with all my unemployment-related documents from day one. This includes screenshots of my weekly certifications, copies of all correspondence with TWC, records of my work search activities, and any earnings I've reported from gig work. Reading through this thread made me realize how smart this was, especially seeing how people mentioned documentation being crucial for eligibility reviews or appeals. It's also been helpful for staying organized with the weekly requirements and tracking patterns in my job search efforts. One thing I learned from a friend who went through this last year is to take screenshots of your TWC account pages regularly, especially your payment history and claim status. Sometimes the system glitches or information disappears, and having your own records can be a lifesaver if you need to prove something later. This whole conversation has been such an eye-opener about the importance of early preparation and understanding the system. Thank you Alexander for starting this discussion and everyone for sharing such valuable insights!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's about 4 weeks into their first unemployment claim. Reading through everyone's experiences really shows how much the system relies on you figuring things out on your own - which is pretty overwhelming when you're already dealing with job loss stress. The biggest revelation for me was learning about WIOA training funding. I've been in food service for years and honestly, the industry has been so unstable that I've been thinking about making a change anyway. Knowing there might be funding available to help with certifications or training in healthcare or skilled trades could turn this unemployment period into an opportunity rather than just a crisis to survive. I'm also taking notes on all the documentation advice - keeping detailed records of everything, taking screenshots, and tracking all activities beyond just the minimum requirements. It sounds like being over-prepared is way better than scrambling later if you get called for a review. Alexander, your persistence in getting through to TWC really paid off with that October timeline clarity. It's encouraging to know there are actual people there who can give concrete answers if you can manage to reach them. Thanks to everyone who shared resources and real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes navigating unemployment so much less scary!