Sorry to hear about your layoff - that's always tough, especially with no warning. Just wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me when I went through this last year: 1. Apply for unemployment the same day if possible - don't wait! Every day you delay pushes back your potential start date. 2. For semi-monthly pay, they'll look at your total quarterly earnings, so gather your last few paystubs to have those numbers ready. 3. While waiting for approval, consider reaching out to local food banks or community assistance programs if money gets tight - there's no shame in getting help during a transition. 4. Start your job search immediately even before benefits kick in. The work search requirements are real, and having a head start helps both with compliance and potentially finding work faster. 5. If you have any severance pay, be aware that it might affect when your benefits start - TWC has specific rules about this. The 3-4 week timeline others mentioned is pretty accurate in my experience. Hang in there - this phase won't last forever, and you'll come out stronger on the other side!

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago when my company did "workforce optimization" (another fancy term for layoffs). Here's what I learned that might help: **Immediate action items:** - File your claim TODAY if possible - the sooner you file, the sooner your waiting period starts - Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and last paystub ready when you apply - Write down your exact termination date and reason (you'll need this multiple times) **Semi-monthly pay specifics:** - TWC will calculate your quarterly wages automatically from employer records - They typically use your highest earning quarter from the "base period" (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters) - Your weekly benefit will be roughly your quarterly high divided by 25, up to the $694 max **Timeline reality check:** - Initial claim filing: 30-45 minutes online - Determination letter: 10-14 days if straightforward - First payment: 2-4 weeks total from filing (if no complications) - You'll get backpay for eligible weeks once approved **Money management tip:** Contact your utility companies, credit card companies, and landlord NOW to explain your situation. Many have hardship programs or will work with you on payment plans if you're proactive rather than reactive. The stress is real, but you're taking the right steps by getting informed. This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating the process!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of preparing for your new baby! I went through a similar situation 2 years ago and it's incredibly frustrating how little support there is for new parents in Texas. Everyone here is absolutely right about unemployment - you won't qualify while on FMLA because you're not "available for work" even though the leave is unpaid. It's such a cruel catch-22. Here are a few things that helped me get through 10 weeks of unpaid leave: 1. **Food banks** - Many don't require income verification and can help stretch your grocery budget significantly 2. **Plasma donation** - If you're healthy, you can donate plasma while pregnant (up until about 6 weeks before due date) for extra cash 3. **Gig work before baby comes** - I did some freelance work evenings/weekends to build up savings 4. **Local pregnancy resource centers** - Many provide free diapers, formula, baby clothes and sometimes emergency financial assistance Also, start having conversations with your mortgage lender NOW rather than waiting until you miss payments. Many have hardship programs but they work better if you're proactive. The whole system is absolutely broken, but you WILL get through this. Don't be afraid to accept help from family and friends - most people understand how expensive having a baby is. Hang in there mama! 💕

I feel for you so much! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and just went through this same panic when I realized my company's maternity leave is completely unpaid too. It's honestly criminal how little support new parents get in this country. Since everyone has already confirmed that unemployment won't work (which sucks but is unfortunately true), here are a few things that have helped me prepare financially: 1. **Baby registries with completion discounts** - Target and Amazon both give you 15% off remaining registry items. I'm using this for all the essentials like diapers, wipes, etc. to stock up cheaply 2. **Local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook** - I've gotten SO much free baby stuff this way, including a barely-used crib and changing table 3. **Nextdoor app** - neighbors often sell baby items cheap or give them away 4. **Second-hand baby stores** - much cheaper than regular retail and babies outgrow everything so fast anyway Also, if you have any skills like writing, graphic design, or tutoring, consider setting up some remote freelance work you could potentially do during maternity leave (when baby is sleeping). Obviously your health and bonding time come first, but even a few hours a week could help with bills. The financial stress is so real, but you're going to be an amazing mom and you'll figure this out! We're all just trying to make the best of a broken system. ❤️

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who also moved from out of state - I came from California and the Texas system definitely takes some getting used to! One thing that really helped me was downloading the TWC mobile app. It makes requesting payments way easier than using the website, especially when the site gets overloaded. You can also check your payment history and benefit balance right from the app. Also, keep all your work search documentation organized because TWC can audit you at any time and ask for proof of your activities. I use a simple notebook to write down company names, dates, and contact methods for each application/contact. Good luck with your claim!

As someone who's been navigating TWC for a while now, I just wanted to jump in and say you're asking all the right questions! The biweekly payment system really threw me off at first too. One thing I learned the hard way is to always screenshot your payment request confirmation page - sometimes the system glitches and you might need proof that you actually submitted your request on time. Also, if you're ever unsure about anything, don't hesitate to call the TWC customer service line early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) when the wait times are shorter. The representatives are usually pretty helpful once you get through. Welcome to Texas and hope your job search goes smoothly!

Honestly, the inconsistent timing with TWC is one of the most stressful parts of being unemployed. I'm glad you finally got your payment! For what it's worth, I've noticed that sometimes the second and third payments take longer because they do random quality checks - not necessarily because there's a problem with your claim, but just part of their process. It's super annoying when you're trying to manage bills and rent. I started keeping a small emergency fund specifically for these TWC delays after going through this myself. Also, if you ever need to call them again, try calling right when they open at 8am - much better chance of getting through than later in the day.

I've been through similar delays with TWC and it's definitely nerve-wracking when you have bills due! One thing I learned is that TWC often processes payments in batches, so sometimes there can be random delays even when everything is correct on your end. Since your status changed to 'processed', that's actually a really good sign - it means they've approved your payment and sent it to your bank. In my experience, once it hits 'processed' status, the money usually shows up within 24-48 hours. TWC's system is just really inconsistent with timing unfortunately. I started requesting my payments earlier in the week (like Monday or Tuesday) to give myself more buffer time before bills are due. Also, if you're using direct deposit, make sure your bank info is still current in your TWC profile - sometimes small changes can cause delays. Hang in there, you should see that deposit very soon!

Glad to hear it worked out @Drake! For anyone else reading this thread, here's a quick summary of what we learned: TWC typically takes 24-48 hours to process and show "posted" status, then the ReliaCard takes an additional 1-2 business days for funds to actually appear. So total time from payment request to available funds is usually 2-4 business days. The ReliaCard customer service can often see pending deposits before they show in your balance, so that's worth calling if you're worried. And definitely consider switching to direct deposit for faster access - just triple-check your banking info first!

Just wanted to add that if you're still having anxiety about future payments, you can also set up text alerts through the ReliaCard website. They'll send you a notification as soon as funds are deposited, which helped me stop obsessively checking my balance every hour! Also, keep in mind that if your payment request falls on a Friday, the whole timeline shifts because of weekends - so a Friday filing might not show up until the following Tuesday or Wednesday.