I'm at week 3 of waiting for my claim approval and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off from my job at a marketing agency, but I also had a part-time position at a bookstore during my base period that lasted about 5 months. Reading through everyone's experiences with wage verification delays has really opened my eyes to what I'm probably facing. It's so frustrating that TWC doesn't explain upfront that multiple employers can significantly extend processing times beyond their quoted "2-4 weeks." The 7am calling strategy seems to be the consensus approach here, so I'm planning to try that next week if I don't see any movement. I'm also going to reach out to my former bookstore manager proactively to let them know they might receive a wage verification request from TWC. Based on what others have shared, smaller businesses can be slow to respond to these official requests. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become TWC system experts just to navigate what should be a straightforward process, but this community has provided more useful information than their entire official website. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and strategies - it really helps to know others are going through the same frustrating experience!

I'm at week 7 waiting for my claim approval and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Got laid off from my job at a dental office, but also worked part-time at a retail store for about 6 months during my base period. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm now 100% convinced it's a wage verification delay. Finally got through using the 7am calling strategy yesterday (took about 30 minutes of redialing) and the agent confirmed that my retail employer hasn't responded to their wage verification request yet. She put an expedite note on my account and said to call back in 10 days if nothing changes. I immediately called my old retail manager after hanging up with TWC, and it turns out they never received any communication from TWC at all! Their HR department moved to a different location recently and TWC apparently had their old address. My manager is calling TWC today to provide the wage info directly. For anyone still waiting - definitely be proactive about contacting your previous employers, especially smaller businesses that might have outdated contact info on file with TWC. This whole process is incredibly frustrating but there IS light at the end of the tunnel. Will update when my claim finally moves!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Just completed my ID.me verification two days ago after weeks of technical issues and I'm anxiously waiting to see what happens with my backpay. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking - sounds like most people eventually get their money but the timeline is all over the place. I've already taken screenshots of my payment history like someone suggested, and I'm checking my TWC account obsessively. The uncertainty is killing me because I have rent due next week! Has anyone noticed if there's a pattern to which day of the week these backpayments typically hit? Trying to figure out if there's any rhyme or reason to their processing schedule.

I just went through this exact same process last month! After my ID.me verification finally went through, it took about 5 business days for my account status to update from "held" to "processed" for all those backed up weeks. Then I got all my backpay in one lump sum on my next regular payment date - it was actually a bigger deposit than I expected because I had forgotten exactly how many weeks were on hold. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was logging into the TWC portal and checking the "Payment Request" section daily to watch the status changes. You'll see them flip from "held" to "processed" one by one as their system catches up. Also definitely keep an eye on your correspondence inbox like others mentioned - they send detailed payment breakdowns that show exactly which weeks you're getting paid for. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you have bills due, but from everything I've seen in this group, people do get their money once the ID.me clears. Hang in there! 💪

I went through almost the exact same thing! My employer made a clerical error and TWC hit me with an overpayment that wasn't my fault. I panicked and paid back $95 before filing my appeal. Good news - when my appeal was successful, TWC did automatically refund the money I'd already paid! It took about 3 weeks from when I got my reversal letter. Since you paid online with a debit card like I did, the refund should go back to the same card automatically. One tip: don't expect any notification when the refund happens. I was checking my bank account daily and it just showed up one morning as "TWC REFUND" on my statement. Keep an eye out for it over the next 2-4 weeks, and if it doesn't appear by then, that's when I'd start making calls. Congrats on winning your appeal - employer mix-ups are so frustrating but at least TWC does fix these things when you have the documentation!

I had a very similar experience about 8 months ago! TWC incorrectly flagged me for an overpayment due to their system glitch, and I paid back $180 before my successful appeal. The good news is that TWC did automatically refund my money - it took about 22 business days from receiving my reversal letter. Since you paid online with a debit card like I did, the refund should go back to the same card without you having to do anything. Just keep monitoring your bank statements for a transaction labeled something like "TWC REFUND" or "TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION." One thing I learned is that TWC's refund system works pretty reliably once the appeal is finalized - it's just not very fast. The 2-4 week timeframe others mentioned seems accurate based on my experience. I'd only start calling if you don't see anything after 4 weeks, since their phone lines are so backed up. Keep that determination letter handy just in case, but you should be all set! Congrats on getting the overpayment reversed - employer mix-ups are such a headache but at least TWC does eventually make it right.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this exact situation with Walmart in 2023. I was cut from 32 hours to 10 hours and successfully got partial unemployment benefits. A few additional tips: 1. Apply ASAP - there's a waiting week in Texas, so the sooner you file, the sooner benefits start 2. Keep detailed records of your schedule changes and any requests for more hours 3. Don't let Walmart intimidate you - they cut hours all the time and know employees file for partial unemployment 4. The online application is actually pretty straightforward, much easier than dealing with their broken phone system I ended up getting about $240/week in partial benefits while working my reduced hours. It made a huge difference in covering my bills while I searched for a better job. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. You've got this - don't let them force you into poverty because of their "business needs"!

I went through this exact situation last year when I was working at a grocery chain. Hours got slashed from 35 to 9 per week and I was panicking about rent. Here's what I learned: 1. Apply immediately online at ui.texasworkforce.org - don't wait or overthink it 2. You absolutely qualify for partial unemployment with a 70% hour reduction 3. When they ask why you're filing, select "reduction in hours" not "quit" or "fired" 4. Be completely honest about your current wages when doing weekly payment requests 5. Keep working those 8 hours - quitting will hurt your case The hardest part was the ID.me verification (took 3 attempts) and waiting for the determination letter. But once approved, I got $285/week in partial benefits which was a lifesaver. TWC understands that employers like Walmart do this to avoid paying benefits or severance. One more thing - start your job search immediately because you'll need to report 3 work search contacts per week. Use indeed.com, company websites, even walking into places counts. Document everything in case they audit you later. Don't let Walmart's "business needs" put you in financial crisis. The system exists for exactly this situation!

I went through the TWC appeal hearing process last year and can share what it was like! The hearing was conducted over the phone with a TWC hearing officer, me, and a representative from my former employer. The whole thing took about 45 minutes. The hearing officer was professional but not intimidating - they asked direct questions and let both sides present their case. I went first to explain my situation, then my employer gave their side, and then we both had a chance to respond to each other's statements. What helped me the most was being organized with my documentation. I had everything labeled and ready to reference when asked specific questions. The hearing officer asked about dates, what I told my supervisor, and what evidence I had for each absence. The key is to stay calm, stick to facts, and don't get emotional or defensive. I focused on explaining why each absence was unavoidable and how I followed company policy. About two weeks later I got a written decision approving my benefits. From what I experienced, if you have legitimate reasons with documentation and followed proper procedures like you did, the appeal hearing is really your chance to get a fair review. The initial determination process seems much more automated and superficial compared to having an actual person evaluate all the details.

Just wanted to update everyone - I filed my claim this morning! After reading through all the incredible advice here, I felt much more confident about the process. I made sure to be very specific about the circumstances of each absence, using phrases like "documented mechanical failure" and "dependent care emergency" as suggested by @Edison Estevez and others. The online application was a bit tedious but not as bad as I expected. I included details about following the call-in policy, attached my mechanic receipts, and referenced the school communications about my daughter being sick. Now I just have to wait and see what happens. I'm prepared for a potential initial denial and ready to go through the appeal process if needed. Honestly, this community has been amazing - I went from feeling hopeless to feeling like I actually have a fighting chance. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. I'll definitely update once I hear back from TWC! @Ethan Brown @Derek Olson - you should both file soon too! We can support each other through this process.