I just went through this exact same frustrating process about a month ago! What finally worked for me was trying the online reset super early in the morning (around 5:30 AM) when their system isn't overloaded. Make sure you're using the EXACT same information from your original application - full legal name, original email address, and even the same address if you've moved since applying. I also had to use incognito mode and disable all browser extensions because they were interfering with the site. It took me several attempts over different days, but the early morning timing really made all the difference. If the online method still doesn't work, try calling right at 8 AM when they open - I got through in about 25 minutes versus hours later in the day. The whole TWC system is definitely outdated and glitchy, but don't lose hope! Once you get it reset, definitely write it down somewhere secure. You've got this! 💪

I just went through this exact same situation about two weeks ago and totally understand your frustration! What finally worked for me was trying the online PIN reset at around 5:45 AM on a weekday when their servers aren't overwhelmed. The timing really is crucial - I had been trying during normal business hours and kept getting errors or timeouts. Make sure you're using incognito/private browsing mode and have all your original registration info handy (exact legal name as it appears on documents, original email address, etc.). Also temporarily disable any browser extensions as they can interfere with the TWC site. If the online method still doesn't work after a few early morning attempts, calling right at 8 AM sharp when they open gives you the best shot at shorter wait times. I waited about 45 minutes versus the 3+ hours I experienced calling later in the day. Don't give up - the system is definitely broken and frustrating, but persistence pays off! Once you get it reset, write that PIN down in multiple safe places. You've got this! 🙌

I've been receiving TWC payments for about 6 weeks now and wanted to share my experience with First National Bank of Texas since I haven't seen anyone mention smaller regional banks yet. My payments consistently post at 6:45am the morning after TWC shows them as processed, which has been super reliable once I got past that first payment hurdle. My first payment took 4 business days to show up, and like everyone else here, I was convinced something had gone wrong! I actually drove to my bank branch thinking there was an issue, but they explained that smaller banks sometimes take a bit longer to process first-time government ACH transfers because they have fewer overnight processing windows compared to the big national banks. One thing that might help people waiting on their first payment - I found that calling my bank's customer service line and asking if they could see any pending ACH deposits gave me peace of mind. They couldn't give me specific amounts for privacy reasons, but they could at least confirm that something was coming, which helped me sleep better while waiting. For anyone banking with smaller regional institutions, don't panic if your timing doesn't match the big banks mentioned here. The delay patterns are the same, but the specific posting times might vary. The important thing is that the money does come through reliably once you get past that initial verification period!

I've been getting unemployment payments for about 4 months now with Credit Union of Texas and wanted to add my experience since I haven't seen many credit unions mentioned. My payments post at exactly 2:47am the morning after TWC shows them as processed - it's been that precise timing for months! But that first payment... ugh, took 5 business days and I was a wreck by day 3! I kept refreshing my account thinking the system was broken. What I learned is that credit unions often have additional internal verification steps for new government ACH setups, which can add an extra day or two compared to big banks. The good news is that once that first payment finally hit, every single one since has been like clockwork. Credit unions might be a day slower on that initial payment, but they're just as reliable as the big banks once you're in the system. For anyone waiting on their first payment with a smaller financial institution, give it that full week before worrying - the money will come through!

Just adding another recent data point to help confirm what everyone else is saying! I completed this process just 10 days ago with a part-time position of only 21 hours/week at a customer service call center, so your 25-hour job will absolutely qualify without any issues. My timeline was almost identical to what others have shared: - Final regular payment processed on a Wednesday - Waited exactly 3 business days (following Monday) - "Request Waiting Week Payment" option appeared in my TWC portal that Monday evening - Submitted the request Tuesday morning around 10am with basic employer details - Payment arrived in my account exactly 6 business days later (the following Monday) The online form was really straightforward - just needed employer name, full address, my exact start date, and hourly rate ($15.25/hour). No documentation uploads required, and the whole thing took about 9 minutes to complete. Based on all these consistent success stories from people working 18-30 hours/week, it's clear that part-time employment definitely qualifies. Don't let any conflicting information stress you out - the recent experiences here overwhelmingly confirm you're good to go with your 25-hour position. Just double-check that your direct deposit information is current before submitting, and you'll be all set! Congrats on the new job and best of luck wrapping up this final step! 🎉

I just successfully completed this process 5 days ago and wanted to add my experience to help confirm what everyone is saying! I was working only 24 hours/week at a local bookstore when I got my waiting week payment approved. Here's exactly what happened: - Final regular payment processed on Friday - Waited 3 business days (following Wednesday) - The "Request Waiting Week Payment" option showed up in my TWC portal Wednesday evening - Filled out the form Thursday morning in about 8 minutes with basic employer info - Payment hit my account yesterday (Tuesday) - exactly 6 business days later The form was super simple - just needed employer name, address, start date, and my hourly wage ($16.50/hour). No documents to upload or anything complicated. Your 25-hour position will definitely qualify! With all these recent success stories from people working 18-30 hours/week, it's clear that part-time work is absolutely sufficient. That conflicting info about needing full-time employment seems to be either outdated or a rare exception. Make sure your direct deposit details are current before submitting - that's really the only thing that could cause delays. The whole process is honestly much smoother than the TWC website makes it sound! Congrats on the new job and good luck with your final step! You're so close to being done with this whole unemployment chapter. 🎉

As someone who's currently navigating the TWC system for the first time myself, I really appreciate all the detailed advice here! I've been keeping a simple notebook too, but after reading these responses, I'm definitely going to create a digital backup system. One question though - for those who've been audited, how much detail do they really want? Like if I apply through Indeed, do I need to note the specific job posting ID number, or is "Applied via Indeed for Customer Service Representative position at ABC Company on [date]" sufficient? I want to make sure I'm capturing enough detail without going overboard. Also, has anyone had experience with what happens if you can't find exactly 3 qualifying activities in a particular week due to limited job openings in your field?

I went through something similar when I first started collecting unemployment in Texas. The confusion is totally understandable! Just to echo what others have said - you're absolutely right that there's nowhere to upload your work search logs during regular payment requests. You'll just answer "yes" when asked if you completed your required activities. One thing I learned the hard way is to be really specific in your record keeping from day one. I initially wrote things like "applied at Home Depot" but when I got audited after 2 months, they wanted way more detail - which specific position, application method, confirmation numbers if available, etc. Now I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, specific job title, how I applied (online, in-person, email), contact person if applicable, and any follow-up actions. Also wanted to mention that Texas allows some flexibility in what counts as work search activities. If you're struggling to find 3 traditional job applications in a week (which can happen depending on your field), remember that things like attending virtual career workshops, updating your WorkInTexas.com profile, or having informational interviews with people in your industry all count too. The key is making sure they're genuine efforts to find employment, not just going through the motions. Good luck with your first payment request - sounds like you're already being diligent about tracking everything!

Great advice from everyone here! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago. One thing I'll add - when you do your final payment request and report your work, make sure you enter your GROSS earnings (before taxes), not your net pay. I made that mistake initially and had to call TWC to correct it. Also, if you worked any hours during your waiting week or have any vacation/PTO being paid out, make sure to report that too. TWC wants to know about ALL compensation related to work during the claim period. The key is being 100% transparent - it's much easier to get things right the first time than to deal with corrections later. Best of luck with the new position!

One more thing to keep in mind - if you're starting a new job but won't work a full week during your first claim period, you can still receive partial unemployment benefits for that week! For example, if you start work on Thursday but the claim week runs Sunday-Saturday, you'd report working 2 days and earning whatever you made those 2 days. TWC will calculate a partial benefit payment for the days you didn't work. This is totally legitimate and helps bridge that gap between unemployment and your first full paycheck. Just make sure to accurately report the days worked and gross earnings, and TWC will handle the math. Many people don't realize they can get partial benefits during transition periods like this!