I'm really glad you posted this Daniel! I had a similar scare a few weeks back when I was running errands and realized at 5:15pm that I hadn't done my payment request yet. I was literally in the parking lot of Target frantically trying to log into the TWC website on my phone! Got it submitted by 5:25pm and still received my payment on the normal Tuesday schedule. The 6pm cutoff is definitely a hard rule, but as long as you're under it, you're in the clear. Setting those calendar reminders is such a smart idea - I did the same thing after my close call. It's amazing how much stress we can save ourselves with just a simple recurring alarm!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm about 4 months into unemployment and I've definitely had my share of Sunday deadline anxiety. What I've learned is that the TWC system is actually pretty reliable with that 6pm cutoff - it's one of the few things that works exactly as advertised! I've submitted anywhere from 9am to 5:30pm and always gotten paid on the same Tuesday schedule. The key thing that helped me was realizing that ALL Sunday submissions before 6pm get processed in the exact same batch, so there's literally no advantage to submitting early vs late in the day. Now I just make sure to get it done sometime Sunday afternoon when I'm relaxed and not rushing. Daniel, glad everything worked out for you and thanks for sharing - these real experiences are way more valuable than just reading the official TWC guidelines!

I just went through this process as a self-employed IT consultant and wanted to share what I learned! The application process is the same system as regular employees, but there are definitely some key things to know upfront. First, when you apply online, there's a section asking about your work status - make sure you select "self-employed" rather than just "unemployed." This prevents confusion later. You'll also list your business name as your "employer" in the work history section. For your specific situation with losing 75% of clients due to their budget cuts, that absolutely qualifies as involuntary income loss. Save all those cancellation emails - even vague ones about "pausing services" help demonstrate the loss was beyond your control. Documentation you'll need: - 2024 tax returns (especially Schedule C) - Any 1099s you received - Bank statements showing business income patterns - Client cancellation emails/contracts - Business license or registration (if you have it) Important heads up: benefits are calculated on your NET Schedule C income after business expenses, not your gross revenue. So if you had significant deductible expenses, your benefit amount might be lower than expected. Start documenting work search activities now, even before you're approved. You'll need 3 per week, and for self-employed folks, networking events, client outreach, and business development activities all count alongside traditional job applications. The whole process took me about 4-5 weeks. Being super organized with documentation upfront really helps avoid delays. You've got this - the system is confusing but definitely navigable with the right prep!

I'm a self-employed accountant who just successfully completed this process last month, so I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: **Documentation Organization Tip**: Create a single PDF file with all your key documents in order - tax returns first, then 1099s, bank statements, and client cancellation emails. This makes uploading much easier and ensures nothing gets lost in their system. **Timeline Management**: While others mentioned 4-6 weeks, mine actually processed in just 3 weeks because I called the TWC customer service line exactly 7 days after applying to confirm they received all my documents. Sometimes a simple check-in call can prevent your application from sitting in a queue. **Work Search Strategy**: For the 3 weekly work search activities, I mixed traditional job applications (about 1 per week) with business development activities (networking events, client outreach emails, professional development courses). The key is being very specific in your descriptions - instead of "sent client emails," write "contacted 5 potential clients via email regarding tax preparation services, including XYZ Company and ABC Corporation." **Benefit Calculation Reality Check**: My benefits came out to about 35% of my previous average monthly net income. It's not great, but it definitely helps bridge the gap while rebuilding your client base. The client cancellation situation you described sounds very similar to what I experienced - definitely document those as "economic conditions beyond your control." You're going to get through this!

I just want to add my experience since I see so many people going through this same anxiety! I switched to ReliaCard about 10 months ago and that first deposit took a full 3 business days - I was checking the app constantly and even called TWC twice thinking something was wrong. But everyone here is right - after that first payment, it becomes super reliable. Mine now consistently shows up within 24-48 hours, usually around midnight or early morning. The key thing that helped my peace of mind was realizing that "payment processed" in your TWC account just means they've approved it and sent it to the bank - there's still the actual transfer time. Since you mentioned rent is due soon, you might want to give your landlord a heads up about the timing just in case. Most property managers understand that government payments can have delays. Hang in there, Friday sounds very realistic based on your timeline!

I'm new to unemployment benefits and considering switching to direct deposit since everyone here seems to recommend it over paper checks. Reading through all these experiences is super helpful! Quick question - do you have to wait for your current paper check cycle to finish before you can switch to ReliaCard, or can you make the change right away? Also, is there any fee for getting the ReliaCard or using it for regular purchases? I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons before making the switch. Thanks for sharing your timeline - it's really helpful to see what to expect for that first deposit!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about a month ago and have been requesting payments whenever it was convenient for me during what I thought was my "request week." After reading through all these responses, I realize I've probably been doing it completely wrong. Just logged into my TWC account and found that calendar view everyone mentioned - my assigned days are apparently Thursday/Friday (my claim effective date ends in 6). I've been requesting on random days like Sunday or Monday when I remembered to do it. No wonder the system seems confused! @Ezra the tip about calling at exactly 7:01 AM seems to be the most consistent advice here. I'm going to try that tomorrow too. Also planning to check out that Claimyr service that @Jay mentioned - anything to avoid spending hours on hold. It's honestly ridiculous that TWC doesn't explain this request schedule clearly during the application process. How are new claimants supposed to know that the days are fixed based on your claim effective date? The website just says "request payment every two weeks" which makes it sound like you have flexibility. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than the entire TWC website!

This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I'm a new claimant (just filed 2 weeks ago) and I had absolutely no clue about the fixed request days based on your claim effective date. I've been planning to just request "every two weeks" whenever it was convenient, so I would have definitely run into this same issue. Just checked my TWC account using the calendar view tip that several people mentioned - my claim effective date ends in 8, so I should be requesting on Friday/Saturday according to the pattern. Going to screenshot that calendar and set up multiple reminders right now before I forget! @Ezra I hope you got through to TWC today! Between the 7:01 AM calling strategy, the technical issues queue option, and that Claimyr service, it sounds like you have some solid approaches to try. This community is amazing for sharing real-world solutions that actually work. TWC really needs to hire whoever wrote these responses to redo their website because this thread explained the system better than any of their official documentation!

One thing that really helped me when I was in a similar situation was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly earnings vs. the benefit threshold. I put in columns for hours worked, hourly rate, gross earnings, the 25% allowance ($106.25 in your case), and calculated reduction. It made it so much easier to see exactly where I stood each week and plan my hours accordingly. Since you're looking at $18/hr, you could work about 29.5 hours before hitting that $531.25 cutoff where benefits stop completely. Also, make sure you're reporting earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid - that tripped me up initially and caused some confusion with my payment requests.

Just wanted to add something that might help - I found out the hard way that TWC also counts tips, commissions, and any other income (like freelance work) toward your weekly earnings limit. So if your part-time job involves tips or if you do any gig work on the side, make sure to include ALL of that income when calculating whether you'll go over the $531.25 threshold. Also, keep detailed records of everything - pay stubs, tip logs, etc. TWC can audit your earnings at any time, and if they find unreported income, they can make you pay back benefits AND add penalties. I've seen people get hit with huge overpayment bills months later because they forgot to report cash tips or a small side job. The good news is that $18/hr for 22 hours puts you right in the sweet spot where you'll still get partial benefits plus be earning more overall than just unemployment alone. Just stay organized and report everything accurately!