Methods and apparatus for operating a user equipment (UE) for a wireless communication system. A method includes determining, by the UE, whether the UE is in a battery-efficient state; if the UE is not in a battery-efficient state, configuring the UE to transmitting a signaling connection release indicator with a cause value; if the UE is in the battery-efficient state, determining whether the UE is in a high-mobility state; if the UE is in the high-mobility state and is in the battery-efficient state, enabling the UE to transmit the signaling connection release indicator with a cause value; and if the UE is not in the high-mobility state and is in the battery-efficient state, disabling the UE from transmitting the signaling connection release indicator with a cause value.