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I had same problem and fixed it by going to the TWC office in person! Waited about 2 hours but at least got it fixed same day instead of waiting forever on the phone
Just to add some helpful information for others: for seasonal school employees, TWC requires you to upload documentation showing your return-to-work date. This helps verify that you have "reasonable assurance" of returning after the break, which is required for eligibility. You'll want an official letter from your school stating your employment terms and specific return date. Also, remember that you still need to do the 3 work search activities each week, even though you have a job to return to. I've seen claims delayed because people think seasonal workers are exempt from work search - they're not!
Just wanted to update - a friend of mine was in this exact situation last week. She used Claimyr to get through to TWC, and the agent she spoke with was able to see that her ID.me verification had actually completed successfully in their system, but there was a secondary review flag that was holding up the process. The agent removed that flag while she was on the phone, and her account was updated and money restored within 48 hours. Sometimes you just need to get to the right person who can see what's actually happening in their system.
So about that whole "using Spanish at work" thing - I'm really curious what happened there if you don't mind sharing. Was that seriously the reason they fired you and denied benefits? That sounds like potential discrimination depending on the circumstances, especially if non-Hispanic employees were specifically targeted for using Spanish while Hispanic employees weren't.
Long story short: I worked at a call center, learned Spanish in college, and would occasionally help Spanish-speaking customers when our bilingual staff was busy. Management initially praised this but a new supervisor decided it was "misrepresentation" since I wasn't officially hired as bilingual staff. They claimed customers might be confused or misled about my cultural background. TWC sided with them saying I violated company policy even though no such policy existed until after I was fired. Not worth fighting anymore - that was last year's battle.
UPDATE: I finally got through this morning! Called exactly at 7:00am and still waited 45 minutes, but eventually spoke with someone. For anyone else stuck in the "must call in" loop after a seasonal job: 1. They confirmed my account was flagged for manual review due to previous appeal history 2. I had to verify identity again through ID.me even though I did this last year 3. The agent manually created my new claim 4. She said I should receive my determination letter within 7-10 business days 5. I CAN start requesting payments next week even before determination (this was news to me!) Thanks everyone for your help! That silent hold is still absolutely maddening though.
Yay!! So glad you got through! Did you use any special prompt or button combo to reach an actual person?
To answer your follow-up question about timing: Once your son's claim is approved (which typically takes 2-3 weeks if there are no issues), he'll be able to request his first payment. He won't get paid for the first week (the waiting week), but he still needs to request payment for it. After that, he'll request payment every two weeks on his assigned day. The money usually arrives 2-3 business days after a successful payment request via direct deposit, or 5-7 days if he's using the TWC debit card. Regarding work search documentation, a spreadsheet is perfect! He should record: - Date of activity - Employer name/contact information - Type of work search activity (application, interview, networking, WorkInTexas.com activity, etc.) - Position applied for - Method of contact (online, in person, email) - Results/follow-up TWC doesn't audit everyone, but when they do, having organized records makes it much easier.
For your last question about what counts as work search activities - it's more than just job applications. Here's what TWC accepts as valid work search activities: - Submitting job applications/resumes - Attending job interviews - Creating a profile on WorkInTexas.com - Attending job fairs - Participating in job search seminars or workshops - Taking skills assessment tests - Registering with a staffing agency - Networking events related to job search He needs at least 3 of these activities each week. And regarding the wage investigation deadline - he should request it within 14 days of receiving his Statement of Benefits letter. Also, once he starts receiving benefits, he should set a reminder to request payment every two weeks. Missing a payment request can create real headaches!
Anastasia Fedorov
Wait has he had ANY job since getting let go last year? Even part time work? Because if he got a new job and then lost THAT job within the last year, he could possibly file based on the newer job loss!
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Chloe Anderson
•He did some handyman work for cash over the summer but nothing with actual payroll. I don't think that would count, would it?
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Luca Romano
•Unfortunately, cash work wouldn't establish a new base period since those wages weren't reported to TWC through an employer's quarterly wage reports. Only W-2 employment or properly reported 1099 work (where the employer paid unemployment taxes) would qualify for establishing a new claim.
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Sean Doyle
Sorry to hear about your father in law's situation. My neighbor went thru something similar last year. The missed benefits hurt but the silver lining was that WorkForce Solutions helped him with his resume and he found a better job than his old one within 2 months!
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Chloe Anderson
•That's encouraging to hear! I think he's been feeling too old to start something new, but maybe with some support he'll feel differently.
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