also don't 4get to do your work searches!! my friend got approved but then got her benefits cancelled bc she forgot to do the 3 searches every week. you gotta do them even while waiting for approval

Hey Diego! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. "Potentially eligible" is actually a good sign - it means you meet the basic requirements and TWC is just doing their standard investigation before making the final decision. Since you were fired for performance issues without any written warnings, you're likely in good shape. TWC distinguishes between "misconduct" (like stealing, fighting, or willfully violating policies) and just not meeting performance standards. Struggling with unrealistic sales targets that kept increasing is definitely not misconduct. A few tips based on my experience: - Keep requesting your weekly payments even while waiting for final approval - Start your work search activities immediately (3 per week minimum) and log them in the TWC system - Check your correspondence inbox daily for any questionnaires about your job separation - If your employer contests the claim, you might get a phone interview from TWC - just be honest about what happened The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from filing to getting my first payment. The ID.me verification was the longest part - took about 6 days. Hang in there, it sounds like you have a solid case!

Just wanted to add that if you're really tight on timing, you can also set up text alerts through the ReliaCard website to get notified the moment your deposit hits. I was in a similar situation a few months ago where I needed to know ASAP when the money was available. The alerts come through pretty quickly - usually within an hour of the deposit posting. Better than constantly checking your balance and stressing out! You can set it up in the notifications section of your ReliaCard account.

Based on my experience, Wednesday requests usually hit the card by Friday like others mentioned. But here's a pro tip that saved me when I was in your exact situation - if you have online banking with your regular bank, you can often do a cash advance from the TWC debit card to your checking account as soon as the funds hit (usually for a small fee). That way if the deposit comes through Friday evening, you don't have to wait until Monday to access it for your bills. Just make sure you know your PIN and daily withdrawal limits ahead of time!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be dealing with ReliaCard issues - I was in a similar situation last year when my card got damaged and I couldn't get to a branch. What worked for me was calling the ReliaCard customer service number directly (not TWC) and explaining my situation. They were able to expedite a replacement card to my address within 3-4 business days, which was faster than switching to paper checks. That said, if you're having broader issues with the card system or don't have proper ID like Malik mentioned, paper checks are definitely the way to go. The key is being persistent with those phone calls - I know it's frustrating but eventually you'll get through to someone who can help!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in Texas and just applied for unemployment benefits myself, so reading about everyone's experiences with payment options is really valuable. It sounds like the system has quite a few quirks but there are definitely workarounds available. For anyone else who might be new to this process like me - it's reassuring to see how willing people are to share their experiences and help each other navigate these challenges. The tip about calling right at 8 AM seems to be mentioned by multiple people, so I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any issues with my benefits. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion!

Has anyone had any luck getting an installment plan from TWC that doesn't completely drain your bank account every month? They want me to pay $275/month which I CANNOT afford right now with inflation and everything else going up!

I went through this exact situation last year and it was a nightmare to figure out! Here's what I learned after consulting with a CPA who specializes in these cases: You absolutely DO need to report the full $4,600 from the 1099-G as income - there's no way around that since TWC already reported it to the IRS. But you have options for getting relief on the repayments. Since you started repaying in 2024 (the same year you received the benefits), you can actually deduct the amount you repaid IN 2024 from your taxable income. So if you paid back $540 in 2024 ($180 x 3 months), you can reduce your reportable unemployment income to $4,060 for tax year 2024. For the payments you'll make in 2025, you'll handle those on your 2025 tax return. Since your total repayment will be over $3,000, definitely look into the Section 1341 credit calculation - it could save you more money than just taking the itemized deduction. Keep EVERY receipt and confirmation of your payments to TWC. The IRS may want to see proof of the repayments if they have questions. Also, consider hiring a tax professional for this year since the calculations can get tricky with partial repayments across multiple tax years. Don't stress too much - the tax code does have provisions for exactly this situation, even though TWC doesn't make it clear!

I went through this exact same nightmare with the EM22 error about 6 months ago! In my case, it was triggered because I had worked as a contractor for one employer while also being a W-2 employee at another company during the same time period. The TWC system just couldn't handle that scenario automatically. After reading through all these helpful responses, I wish I had known about some of these alternatives back then. I ended up getting through by calling at exactly 7:00 AM on a Tuesday morning and staying on hold for over 2 hours. The agent was super helpful once I finally connected and completed my entire application over the phone in about 35 minutes. One thing I'd add - make sure you have your Social Security card handy when you call. The agent asked me to verify the full number even though I had already entered it online. Also, if you received any final paychecks or vacation payouts, have those exact dates and amounts ready. The system is very particular about getting all the financial details correct. Don't give up! The EM22 error is frustrating but it's definitely resolvable once you get a human on the line.

I've been following this thread closely as I'm currently stuck with the same EM22 error. Based on everyone's experiences, it seems like this error is much more common than TWC lets on, especially for people with any kind of non-standard employment situation. For anyone still struggling with this, I wanted to share that I found the TWC website actually has a page explaining error codes (though it's buried deep in their help section). EM22 specifically means "Employment verification required" - which confirms what others have said about needing manual review. One strategy I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you have a local TWC office that's open for in-person visits, that might be another option. I called my local office directly and they said they can sometimes help with application errors during walk-in hours, though you'd need to bring all your employment documentation with you. The system really needs to be updated to handle these common scenarios automatically instead of forcing everyone through phone support. But until then, at least we have this community sharing solutions!