Texas Unemployment
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Can't reach Texas Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the TWC
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the TWC drops your call
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- DO post questions about your issues.
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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
TWC denied my appeal for leaving a 2-day job - can I win with second appeal after missed hearing?
I'm in a frustrating situation with TWC and need advice on next steps. I briefly worked at a company for 2 days last month when I received a better offer from another employer. The new job couldn't start me for about 3 weeks, so I told my current employer I'd be happy to continue working/training until then and even offered to stay part-time afterward. Instead of accepting, they decided not to continue my training since they didn't want part-time help. Now TWC is demanding I repay ALL benefits from when I left that job until I started the new one (about $2,800). They're claiming I "quit for personal reasons" which is technically true but completely ignores the context. I filed an appeal with a detailed explanation of everything but MISSED the hearing date (totally my fault - calendar notification issue). Just got the determination letter saying my appeal was denied due to non-appearance. Has anyone successfully won a second-level appeal after missing the first hearing? I have texts and emails documenting everything. Can I still win this even though I messed up by missing the hearing?
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TWC keeps disconnecting me when on hold - need help getting payments unlocked after missed claim submissions
I'm at my breaking point trying to contact Texas Workforce Commission!!! Been calling every day for 2 weeks straight at different times (morning, afternoon, evening). I always get the same thing - automated system puts me on hold with that annoying 'your call is important to us' message, then CLICK... disconnected after 20-30 minutes! I've missed submitting my payment requests since February (I know, totally my fault) and now my claim is locked. I need to speak to an actual human to get it unlocked so I can start receiving benefits again. My rent is due next week and I'm seriously panicking. Has anyone figured out how to actually get through to a real person at TWC? Any specific time of day that works better? Should I just drive to a workforce office in person?
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i went thru this in january and its actualy FASTER to just go to ur local workforce center in person!! the one in north austin helped me get everything fixed in one visit. call centers r useless now with everyone trying to get thru. bring ID and social security card and they can pull up everything right there
This is great advice, but remember some Workforce Centers require appointments now, especially for unemployment issues (thanks COVID protocols that never went away 🙄). Call your local office first to check if they take walk-ins for UI claim issues. When I tried last month, they told me benefit questions had to be handled by phone or appointment only.
UPDATE: I tried that Claimyr service and IT WORKED! Got connected to a TWC rep in about 40 minutes (while I was able to do other things instead of sitting on hold). The agent was able to unlock my claim and helped me file for the weeks I missed. They could only backdate 3 weeks like someone mentioned, but at least I'm back in the system now. For anyone else dealing with this headache, it's worth trying - saved me days of frustration!
Thanks for letting us know! I might try that too. My claim has been stuck in 'pending' for 2 weeks and I can't get through to ask why.
TWC benefits at risk after declining job offer due to scabies diagnosis - will my ER documentation be enough?
So I'm in a weird situation and freaking out about my unemployment benefits. I had a job interview at a restaurant last week and got offered the position, but then had to decline it because I was diagnosed with scabies (!!!) at the ER. I went in because my leg was hurting really bad, and the doctor found I had these bites and rash all over. They prescribed antibiotics and this special cream, and told me I needed to quarantine for 5 days.\n\nHere's my problem - I reported everything honestly to TWC including that I declined the job offer, but the ER discharge papers don't specifically mention the quarantine requirement. I uploaded all my medical documentation but I'm terrified they'll disqualify me because it doesn't explicitly say "must quarantine" on the paperwork.\n\nI did talk to the restaurant manager and explained my situation, and she said they could wait, but I haven't gotten that in writing yet despite asking for an email or text confirmation.\n\nDoes anyone know if TWC will accept my medical documentation as a valid reason for declining work? Or am I going to lose my benefits? I'm so stressed about this!
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That's really good to know - I probably would have made that exact mistake. I'll keep doing my payment requests no matter what.
TWC denied me DUA but I lost job from storm damage - am I totally ineligible?
Just got a determination letter saying I'm not eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance after the March flooding damaged the warehouse where I worked. The letter says something about having 'sufficient base period wages' for regular UI benefits, but then has a separate paragraph saying I don't qualify for DUA because I 'don't meet self-employment requirements'? I'm so confused! I wasn't self-employed - I was a full-time warehouse worker for 2 years until our building got flooded and they laid everyone off. Our boss said we should apply for disaster assistance. Does this mean I'm not eligible for ANY unemployment or just that I need to apply for regular UI instead? The TWC website is so confusing and I can't get through on the phone. Anyone dealt with this before? I have bills due next week!
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did they also tell you you need to do the work search activities? I got confused cuz I thought DUA didnt require that but then for regular UI I had to submit 3 job contacts every week? whole system is confusing
Yes, I saw that! The Work Search requirement is showing 3 activities per week. I've been applying to jobs online and documenting them in the system, just in case. I really don't want to mess anything up and delay my benefits any longer.
Based on all your responses, it sounds like you're doing everything right! You've: 1. Completed ID.me verification 2. Been requesting payments every two weeks 3. Following the work search requirements 4. Found your regular UI claim that's pending At this point, it's just a waiting game. With disaster-related claims, TWC is experiencing high volume, so it might take another week or two for your claim to be processed. Once approved, you'll receive all back payments for the weeks you've been requesting payment. If you need to speak with someone at TWC urgently about your claim status (especially with bills coming due), that Claimyr service mentioned above is probably your best bet for getting through quickly rather than spending hours redialing.
Thank you so much for all the help! I feel so much better now understanding what's happening. I was really panicking thinking I might not get any benefits at all. I'll give the claim another week to process, and if it's still pending, I'll try that Claimyr service to speak with someone. You've all been so helpful!
TWC unemployment after termination for 'not clocking out' following work injury - will I qualify?
So here's my situation - I got injured on the job about 3 weeks ago (hurt my back lifting inventory). I filed a workers' comp claim and kept working on light duty. Then yesterday my supervisor called me in and said they were letting me go because they 'don't have any work for me anymore.' I applied for unemployment benefits right away, but just got a call from a former coworker who said the company is telling TWC I was fired for 'timecard violations' because I didn't clock out for lunch breaks. The thing is, in the 9 months I worked there, NOBODY ever clocked out for lunch because the system automatically deducted 30 minutes! This feels like they're just making up a reason to deny my benefits because I got hurt. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation? Will TWC side with me or my employer? What should I expect at this point?
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That helps your case then. Warehouse jobs have high injury rates and TWC knows this. They'll be more likely to suspect retaliation. My buddy won his appeal in a similar situation. Just make sure you mention it was a warehouse job during your appeal.
Yara Khoury
my brother had to pay back like $5000 to twc last year and he just ignored it. now they're garnishing his wages lol. dont be like my brother
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Connor O'Reilly
YEP! They'll get their money one way or another. They can take your tax refunds too. And they add interest and penalties! The whole system is designed to squeeze every penny out of desperate people. It's disgusting.
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Keisha Taylor
Important point: If your second appeal is denied, you still have options before paying. You can request a payment plan to spread out the repayment, or in some cases, file for a waiver of overpayment if repaying would cause financial hardship. Don't ignore the overpayment notices though - that leads to collection actions including tax refund intercepts and eventual wage garnishment. Also, continue your work search and benefit requests while this is pending. The appeal process doesn't stop your ongoing benefits unless they specifically tell you otherwise.
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Miguel Alvarez
AuthorThank you for this advice. I've already started applying for other jobs just in case, even though I like my current position. I'm worried about making ends meet if I have to pay back nearly $3k all at once. If my appeal is denied, I'll definitely request a payment plan. What kind of documentation would I need for a hardship waiver?
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Keisha Taylor
For a hardship waiver, you'll need to complete TWC's financial statement form showing your income, expenses, assets, and debts. Include documentation of essential expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities, medical costs, childcare if applicable). The key is demonstrating that repayment would prevent you from affording basic necessities. The bar is pretty high though - they don't approve these easily. Payment plans are granted much more routinely and can stretch payments over 12-24 months depending on the amount.
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