For the hearing itself: 1. Be 100% factual - don't exaggerate or try to make your former employer look bad 2. Emphasize that you followed all TWC instructions and reported accurately 3. Keep your answers brief and directly related to questions asked 4. Have your separation date, claim dates, and benefit amounts written down 5. Mention that you actively sought and found new employment The hearing officer will primarily want to determine if you were terminated for misconduct or if you quit without good cause. Since TWC already ruled in your favor initially, the burden of proof is largely on your former employer to show why that determination should be reversed.

keep us updated!! i hope it works out for you!! the system is so unfair sometimes.

so i had my account locked for fraud last year and what worked for me was calling EXACTLY at 7:30am when they open. i got through after trying for like 15 minutes and they verified my identity right there and unlocked my account. i was able to request payment the same day. but like others said if you miss the deadline they can backdate it so dont worry too much

When my account was locked for suspected fraud, I discovered that it was because someone had attempted to access my account from an unrecognized device in another state. The fraud department needs to verify your identity before they can unlock your account. Here's what I recommend: 1. If you can't reach them by phone, try going to your local Workforce Solutions office in person with your identification documents (driver's license, social security card, etc.) 2. Even with your account locked, document the dates you would have requested payment - you'll need this information for backdating 3. Once your account is unlocked, you'll need to submit a Payment Request Revision through your online portal under the "Payment Request" section 4. You might also need to complete a new ID.me verification even after your account is unlocked Don't worry about missing Tuesday's deadline as long as you're actively trying to resolve this. TWC has procedures for these situations.

i had something similar happen when i was working for a school cafeteria company! filed in summer and got approved but then TWC sent me a letter saying i wasnt eligible and had to pay everything back! found out later my boss checked the wrong box about me having "reasonable assurance" of going back in fall. make sure ur boss fills out their paperwork right!!!

Thanks everyone for all the advice and sharing your experiences! I called my HR department today and they confirmed they'll be reporting our summer break as a temporary layoff, and they provided me documentation showing I'm employed by the contractor, not directly by the school. I also checked my TWC account and confirmed my previous overpayment was classified as non-fraud, so hopefully they'll only take 25-30% of my benefits. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow and make sure I select all the right options regarding my school contractor status. I'll update this thread once I find out if my claim is approved and how they handle the overpayment situation. Fingers crossed!

Anyone saying this is automatic approval is WRONG! My employer didn't respond and I still got denied because the investigator said i was fired for a good reason. I had to appeal and wait forever. Don't count on anything with TWC!!!

UPDATE: Just checked my claim status online and it now says "pending adjudication" - does anyone know what that means exactly? Is that good or bad? The waiting is killing me.

Just wanted to follow up - definitely double check the TWC website for any new updates on extended benefit programs. They occasionally add these during periods of high unemployment, though they aren't currently active in Texas to my knowledge. Also, when you do speak with a TWC rep, ask specifically about a "requalification" with your Amazon wages rather than a completely new claim. There's a technical difference that might matter in your case. Keep in mind that any new benefits would be based on your earnings in the base period, which is different from your benefit year. The TWC rep can explain how your specific earnings timeline affects your options.

good luck! let us know what they say cuz i might be in the same boat soon 😬

Just want to mention - make sure you're documenting ALL your work search activities properly. I know you mentioned doing 5 per week, which is great (TWC only requires 3), but are you recording them in your TWC account? If you do qualify for a new claim, they'll review your work search history from your previous benefit period. Also, have you tried reaching out to Texas Workforce Solutions for job placement assistance? They often have resources for people in your situation beyond just unemployment benefits.

After using Claimyr to speak with TWC, make sure to also ask about Extended Benefits or any other special programs you might qualify for. Occasionally there are state or federal extensions available depending on economic conditions. Regarding working between benefit years - the base period for your new claim would be July 2024 through June 2025, excluding the most recent completed quarter. So even if you find work now, it might not count toward your next claim's base period. Good luck! The healthcare admin field usually picks up in the fall as hospitals adjust budgets for the new year, so your timing might actually work out.

i was in this exact situation last year!! they said i was doing work avoidance but it was actually the stupid system not working right!! what happened with me was i lost my first appeal but i got a lawyer for the second one and we won! it cost me $750 but i was gonna have to pay back like $11,000 so it was worth it. my lawyer knew all the right things to say about burden of proof and stuff i never would have known. good luck!!

One more important thing I forgot to mention: You only have 14 days to file that appeal paperwork, but gathering evidence can take longer. Make sure you file the appeal form BEFORE the deadline, even if you don't have all your evidence yet. You can submit additional evidence later as you gather it. On the appeal form, clearly state that you're requesting a subpoena for specific work emails and call recording system logs. Also mention that you were denied access to crucial evidence that would prove your case. The Commission Appeals are more thorough than the first-level appeal hearings. They'll review the complete record from the first hearing plus any new evidence you provide. This is your chance to fix what went wrong in the first hearing.

Just want to follow up on this thread - I'm curious if you've received any updates from TWC? The \

I just got off the phone with a TWC agent (finally!) who was much more helpful than the first one. She confirmed that since I'm in TWC-approved training, this should be considered

this happened to me to!!! its so unfair they dont explain this stuff when u first apply!! i was counting on having unemployment for 6 months but mine ran out at 16 weeks because my benefit amount was higher so it used up the total faster. nobody explained that could happen!!! i hate the whole system.

Since you're near the end of your benefits, make sure you request a statement of benefits paid for your tax records. You can do this through your TWC account. Also, even though extensions aren't available, continue checking your correspondence inbox on the TWC portal weekly. Sometimes there are updates about temporary programs or specialized assistance that might apply to your situation. The system isn't always great about sending email notifications for these opportunities.

One more thing that's critically important: make sure you continue to request payment every two weeks even while your appeal is pending. If you win your appeal, TWC will only pay for weeks you properly requested payment, even if you were eligible for those weeks. Too many people stop requesting payment during appeals and lose months of benefits they could have received retroactively.

To answer your follow-up question: For the Commissioner Appeal, you need BOTH strong legal arguments AND comprehensive medical documentation. They complement each other. For the legal argument, focus on how the Appeal Tribunal misapplied the law regarding mental health separations. Be specific about which precedent cases apply to your situation. For medical documentation, quality matters more than quantity. Get documentation that specifically addresses: 1. The severity of your condition 2. How it specifically impacted your ability to perform your job duties 3. Why relocation was medically necessary 4. Your treatment plan and prognosis Regarding hiring an attorney - while not required, representation significantly increases success rates for Commissioner Appeals, especially for complex mental health cases. The appeal process has specific legal procedures and precedents that attorneys familiar with TWC cases understand. And yes, definitely start requesting payments again immediately. Unfortunately, you likely can't recover the weeks you missed, but you should request for all future weeks while your appeal is pending.