my cousin works at twc and she says they're SUPER understaffed right now which is why nobody can get thru on the phones. apparently they lost like 30% of their staff after budget cuts but claims went up by like 20% this year. system is totally overwhelmed. not helpful i know but explains why its so hard to reach anyone

Just wanted to follow up - if the ID.me verification and Form TWC-FV25 don't resolve your issue within 7 business days, you should also submit an official inquiry through your state representative's office. They have staff specifically dedicated to helping constituents with state agency issues like TWC problems. Many people don't realize this, but your state rep can often get issues resolved much faster than going through normal channels. Google "Texas state representative [your zip code]" to find your rep's contact info, then look for a "constituent services" link on their website.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that I tried the reverify option after checking ID.me directly (thanks @helpful_person!) and it worked! My account is now showing as verified in the TWC portal too. Going to request my payments right away. Thanks everyone for your help!

Wow, this thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with the same ID.me verification issue right now - been stuck on "processing" for 3 days. Reading through all these experiences, it sounds like this is unfortunately pretty common lately. I'm definitely going to try checking my ID.me account directly first to see if there's a sync issue like @Savannah had. If that doesn't work, I might look into that Claimyr service @Aisha mentioned. It's reassuring to know that benefits get backdated once it's resolved, but still stressful when you're waiting on money for bills. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I'm feeling a bit more prepared now. I'll wait until the 18th to file, but I'll start getting all my documentation together. And I'll make sure to request payments even while waiting for approval, and to set up direct deposit. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly!

Just wanted to add - keep copies of EVERYTHING. Print out your layoff notice, save screenshots of your TWC application confirmation, and keep records of all your work search activities. I learned this the hard way when TWC asked me to provide documentation months later and I had to scramble to find everything. Also, if you get any correspondence from TWC (letters, emails, etc.), respond quickly. They have strict deadlines and missing one can really mess up your claim. You sound like you're being smart about preparing ahead of time!

you should talk to a lawyer some do free consultations for unemployment stuff. this is a lot of money were talking about!

I went through something similar two years ago - the key is acting fast but also being thorough with your documentation. Since you mentioned you worked in hospitality and there were company-wide layoffs, make sure to gather any emails, texts, or documents that reference the "restructuring" and "economic conditions" your employer mentioned. Even internal company announcements about financial difficulties could help your case. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of events - when you were laid off, when you filed for benefits, when you received approval, etc. This shows you were acting in good faith throughout the process. Also document every step you take now (screenshots of your appeal submission, phone call logs if you contact TWC, etc.). The appeals hearing will likely be by phone, so when you do get your new hearing scheduled, make sure you have a quiet space and all your documents organized. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights and the fact that you weren't notified is a serious procedural violation. Stay strong!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the uncertainty is absolutely exhausting. I was in a similar situation last year and what helped me was expanding my search beyond just healthcare admin. Have you considered looking into remote customer service or data entry positions? Many companies are hiring for these roles and your admin background would be valuable. Also, regarding the work search documentation - definitely start logging everything in the TWC system again, even if you're not currently receiving benefits. If you do qualify for a new claim, having that complete record will make the process smoother. I learned this the hard way when I had to reconstruct months of job search activities. One more thing - check if your local community college has any quick certification programs for in-demand fields. Sometimes a 6-week program can open doors while you're still looking for something in your preferred field. Hang in there!

Hey Diego, I've been following this thread and wanted to share some resources that might help with remote work since you mentioned being interested in that direction. For legitimate remote customer service positions, I'd recommend checking out: - FlexJobs (paid site but screens out scams) - Indeed with "remote" filter specifically - Working Solutions, LiveWorld, and ModSquad (all reputable companies that hire remote CS reps) - Your state's official job board - they sometimes list remote positions from verified employers For your healthcare admin background, you might also look into remote medical coding or healthcare virtual assistant roles. Companies like AHIMA have job boards specifically for healthcare admin professionals, and many are going remote post-COVID. Since you're dealing with the TWC situation, definitely use Claimyr as others suggested - but also consider reaching out to your local WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) office. They sometimes have training funds available for people in long-term unemployment situations, which could help with those certifications Amara mentioned. Hang in there - 8 months is brutal but you're not alone in this market. The healthcare field really does tend to have more openings in fall/winter as budgets reset.