UPDATE: I just wanted to follow up and let everyone know I finally got my issue resolved. I tried calling the alternate number (800-215-4812) suggested above at 2:45pm on Wednesday, and after about a 25-minute wait, actually got through to a person! The representative was able to verify my work search activities and remove the hold on my payment. For anyone else struggling with this, don't give up - try different approaches until something works. And DOCUMENT EVERYTHING - I had all my work search details written down which made the call go much faster once I got through.

I've been dealing with this exact same nightmare for over a month now! The 800-939-6631 number is absolutely useless - I think I've called it over 100 times at this point. What finally worked for me was using a combination of strategies from this thread. I tried the alternate number 800-215-4812 that @LilMama23 mentioned, called on a Wednesday around 2:30pm like @Esmeralda Gómez suggested, and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was actually really helpful once I reached someone. Also want to echo what others said about documenting everything - have all your info ready because they move fast once you're connected. Don't give up, it's frustrating but there are ways to get through if you keep trying different approaches!

I'm so glad to see all these success stories! I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my employer said "workforce reduction" when they laid me off in December, but just filed an appeal last week claiming I was terminated for "violation of company policy." Like everyone else here, I've been receiving benefits for months and have already used the money for basic living expenses. Reading through all your experiences has been incredibly helpful. I've started gathering my evidence - the original layoff email mentioning budget constraints, performance reviews showing I met expectations, and even a company-wide announcement about downsizing that went out the same week I was let go. My hearing is scheduled for next month and I was panicking about potentially owing back nearly $5,000, but seeing how many of you have successfully defended against these late appeals gives me real hope. It really does seem like some employers wait to see if their unemployment insurance rates go up, then try to retroactively contest claims hoping we won't fight back. Thank you all for sharing such detailed advice about preparation and what to expect during the hearing. This community has been a lifesaver during what's been an incredibly stressful time!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us facing employer appeals! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my former employer initially accepted my layoff (citing "restructuring") but then filed an appeal 10 weeks later claiming "unsatisfactory performance." What strikes me reading all these stories is how common this pattern seems to be - employers wait months, then suddenly change their narrative hoping we won't be prepared to defend ourselves. It really feels like a calculated strategy rather than genuine concerns about eligibility. For anyone preparing for their hearing, I'd add one more tip: if your employer mentions any "progressive discipline" or warnings during the hearing that weren't documented in your personnel file, don't be afraid to ask them to produce written evidence. Verbal warnings that were never formally documented often don't carry much weight with hearing officers. The success stories here give me so much hope that justice does prevail when we're properly prepared. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it means everything to know we're not facing this alone!

This is such wonderful news! I've been following your story from the beginning and I'm so happy to see this positive outcome. $22/hour with the shift differential is going to make such a huge difference for your family - that's nearly $46,000 a year if he works full time, which should help you catch up on those bills and start building that emergency fund everyone mentioned. What really stands out to me is how you both turned this crisis into an opportunity to explore resources you never knew existed. You're going to come out of this stronger and more financially resilient than before. And now you have all these connections - Workforce Solutions, assistance programs, community resources - that you'll know about for the future. I hope you take a moment to celebrate this victory! After months of stress and uncertainty, you both deserve to feel proud of how hard you fought to turn things around. Your husband starts his new career on Monday, and you've got all these other programs in place as backup support. That's an incredible turnaround from where you were just a few weeks ago. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and for following through on everyone's suggestions. Your success story is going to help so many other families who find themselves in similar situations. Congratulations! 🎉

Wow, this is such an incredible success story! I've been lurking in this community for a while but had to create an account just to congratulate you both. Reading through your entire journey from facing eviction to landing a great job with benefits has been truly inspiring. The way everyone came together to provide real, actionable advice instead of just empty sympathy shows what online communities can accomplish at their best. And you both deserve so much credit for following through on every suggestion and staying persistent even when things looked hopeless. $22/hour with shift differential and potential for $24/hour at 90 days is amazing! That's going to completely change your financial situation. Plus now you have all these resources and connections you discovered along the way - Workforce Solutions, assistance programs, community support networks. You're going to be so much more prepared if any future challenges come up. Your story gives me hope for other families going through similar crises. Thank you for sharing your journey and showing that with the right support and determination, people can overcome even the scariest financial situations. Best of luck to your husband on his first day Monday! 🎉

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through the benefits exhaustion process twice in Texas. Since you got confirmation that your temp wages won't qualify you for a new regular claim, I'd strongly suggest applying for any available assistance programs BEFORE your final payment comes through. Things like SNAP, local food banks, and utility assistance programs often have waiting periods, so getting applications in early can help bridge the gap. Also, when you visit the workforce office, ask about their "Choices" program if you have any dependents - it's specifically designed to help parents get training while providing some support. The TWC website doesn't make it easy to find all these programs, but the local offices usually have counselors who know about resources that aren't well-publicized. Hang in there - this transition period is really tough but there are more safety nets available than it initially appears.

I've been following your situation and I'm really impressed with how proactively you're handling everything despite the stress! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Since your factory shut down completely, there's a chance it might qualify as a trade-related closure, which could open up additional benefits and training opportunities that go beyond regular TWC programs. It's worth asking about when you visit the workforce office. Also, many community colleges in Texas have "last dollar" scholarship programs that can cover costs not covered by other aid if you decide to pursue additional training. These programs specifically target displaced workers and often have faster application processes than traditional financial aid. Don't forget to document everything during this transition - keep records of your job applications, any training you pursue, and communications with TWC. This documentation can be helpful if you need to appeal any decisions or apply for additional assistance programs down the road.

This has been such an informative discussion! As someone who's been navigating TWC for the first time this year, I really appreciate how everyone broke down the process so clearly. The biggest revelation for me is understanding that your unemployment claim doesn't actually "pause" or "stop" when you work - it just shifts between different modes of interaction with the system. I've bookmarked this thread because I work in construction where short-term projects are common, and I have a feeling I'll be referencing these tips in the future. The advice about keeping detailed records and using the TWC messaging system instead of calling is gold. Also really helpful to know that brief employment periods under 30 days typically don't require a new work separation review. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is the kind of practical guidance that makes all the difference when you're trying to navigate the system correctly!

This entire thread has been so eye-opening! I'm currently on my first TWC claim and had no idea how to handle the situation if I got temporary work. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially Madison's step-by-step journey from confusion to resolution, makes me feel so much more prepared. The concept that really clicked for me is treating the claim as having two modes - "requesting payment" when unemployed vs "reporting earnings without payment" when working - rather than thinking of it as stopping and starting the claim. That mental framework makes the whole process seem much more manageable. I also love how this discussion evolved from one person's specific question into a comprehensive guide that covers partial weeks, record-keeping, the messaging system, benefit year rules, and industry-specific considerations. This is exactly the type of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing that fills the gaps in official documentation. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource!