I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got laid off from my engineering role 3 weeks ago with 10 weeks of severance pay. My TWC claim has been stuck in "pending" status with that same "severance pay investigation" message. It's so frustrating that they don't just tell you upfront how the calculation works or give you a timeline. I've been religiously doing my work searches and submitting payment requests every two weeks like everyone here recommends, but the uncertainty is killing me. Really glad to see your update that you finally got through - gives me hope that I'll eventually get some answers too. The fact that they mailed you a determination letter that you never received is典型 TWC though. I'm going to try calling right at 7 AM like you did. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who went through this process twice (unfortunately got laid off again during the pandemic). The severance allocation period is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of Texas unemployment, but there are a few things that might help others in this situation: 1. **Document everything** - Keep copies of your severance agreement, any HR communications, and screenshots of your TWC account status. I had to reference these multiple times. 2. **Set up mail forwarding** - TWC still relies heavily on physical mail for important notices. If you've moved recently or might move during your claim period, make sure your address is updated everywhere. 3. **Consider temporary/contract work** - During your severance allocation period, you can still do temporary or contract work and report that income. It won't affect your future UI benefits once the allocation period ends. 4. **Use this time strategically** - Since you're required to do work searches anyway, treat this period as an opportunity to really focus on your job hunt without the pressure of needing to accept the first offer that comes along. The system is definitely frustrating and poorly designed, but hang in there - once your allocation period ends, the benefits do kick in automatically if you've been keeping up with all the requirements.

For anyone still following this thread, another tip I learned the hard way - if you're expecting your check around a federal holiday or during bad weather, add extra time to your estimates. USPS delivery can get delayed, and TWC doesn't account for that in their 3-5 day estimate. I had a check delayed by 2 extra days during a winter storm last year. Also, if you live in an apartment complex, make sure your unit number is clearly listed in your TWC profile - sometimes checks get delivered to the wrong unit or held at the office if the address isn't complete.

Just wanted to add that if you're really stressed about timing, you can also set up informed delivery through USPS (it's free) so you'll get an email showing what mail is coming that day. That way you'll know if your TWC check is in the mail before you even get home to check your mailbox. I started doing this after my first unemployment payment and it really helped with the anxiety of waiting and wondering. You can sign up on the USPS website and it shows scanned images of your incoming mail each morning.

I won a very similar severance overpayment appeal about 6 months ago, and reading your story brings back all those same feelings of panic and frustration! The fact that you called TWC beforehand and reported everything properly puts you in a really strong position. Here's what worked for me: I created a simple one-page summary showing the timeline - when I was laid off, when I called TWC, what they told me, when I filed, and how I consistently reported my severance on every payment request. The hearing officer could see at a glance that I acted in good faith throughout the entire process. Also, don't underestimate how powerful it is that you have those payment request confirmations showing you disclosed the severance. That's your smoking gun evidence that you weren't trying to hide anything. The hearing officer in my case said that kind of consistent disclosure pattern was exactly what they look for when determining whether someone was acting fraudulently or just following bad guidance. One last tip - when they ask you questions, keep referring back to the fact that you specifically called to ask how to handle the severance and followed their instructions exactly. Don't let them make it about whether you "should have known" the rules differently. This is about whether you reasonably relied on their guidance, and you clearly did. You've got a very winnable case here!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add that might help your case - if you still have access to your old work email or HR records, try to get a copy of the actual layoff notice or severance documentation that shows the timing and reason for the payment. In my research, I found that TWC sometimes reverses these decisions when they can clearly see the severance was a one-time payment for past service rather than ongoing compensation. Also, if your former employer has a standard severance policy that shows this type of payment is routine for layoffs, that could strengthen your argument that it wasn't wages for the weeks in question. The combination of your disclosure records plus documentation showing it was clearly a past-service payment seems like it would be really compelling evidence. Best of luck with your hearing - it sounds like you have a really strong case based on everything you've shared!

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got one of those vague messages about "additional information needed" with no details about what they actually want. The changing deadline thing is absolutely maddening and makes it feel like the system is broken. I'm definitely going to try the 7am calling strategy tomorrow. Has anyone had success with the chat feature on the TWC website, or is calling still the only reliable way to reach a human? Also keeping my fingers crossed that it's just another routine work search verification and not something more serious!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My deadline has changed three times in the past week and I've been calling non-stop with no luck. Reading through all these responses is giving me some hope though. I'm definitely going to try the 7am strategy tomorrow morning, and I love the tip about taking screenshots of the changing deadlines - I wish I had thought of that earlier! It's so frustrating that their system is this glitchy when people's livelihoods depend on it. At least now I know I'm not going crazy and this is actually a widespread issue. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I just checked my old emails and found that my claim from this February took exactly 33 days from filing to approval. The agent I spoke with when I called using Claimyr explained that first-time claims just take longer because they have to verify everything from scratch. After the initial approval, everything went smoothly with my biweekly payment requests. Hang in there!

I totally understand your stress - I went through something similar earlier this year. Filed in January and didn't get approved until mid-February, so about 6 weeks total. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're worried about bills. One thing that helped me manage the anxiety was setting up payment plans with my utilities and explaining the situation to my landlord. Most companies are understanding about unemployment delays right now since it's so common. The fact that the agent gave you a specific timeframe ("about a week") rather than a vague "keep waiting" response is actually really encouraging. In my experience, they only give those kinds of estimates when they can see your claim moving through the final stages in their system. Keep doing everything you're supposed to do - the payment requests, work search activities, checking your correspondence inbox - and try to hang in there just a little longer. The backpay when it finally comes through will help catch you up on everything.