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I'm in a very similar situation - just started getting Social Security retirement benefits this month while still on unemployment. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the consensus is that Social Security retirement benefits don't need to be reported during the biweekly payment requests since those are specifically asking about work income/earnings. But I'm seeing some conflicting advice here about whether we need to notify TWC at all about starting Social Security after our claim was already established. Some people are saying to send a message through correspondence, others are saying it's not necessary at all. Has anyone actually done this notification step and can share what happened? I don't want to potentially trigger a benefit reduction if it's not required, but I also don't want to get in trouble for not reporting a change. The TWC system really needs clearer guidance on this stuff!
I'm new to this community but have been dealing with unemployment for a few months now. From what I've researched and based on the helpful responses here, it seems like the safest approach is to notify TWC through correspondence about starting Social Security after your claim was established. Yes, it might trigger a benefit recalculation, but that's better than potentially having issues later if they find out during an audit or review. The way I see it, transparency is always the better route with government agencies. Better to have them reduce your benefits legitimately than to risk having to pay back money later if they determine you should have reported the change. Has anyone here actually had their benefits reduced after notifying TWC about starting Social Security?
I actually went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and can share what happened. I started receiving Social Security retirement benefits while already on unemployment, and after reading conflicting advice online, I decided to call TWC directly to get clarity. After many attempts (the phone system is truly awful), I finally got through to an agent who confirmed that: 1. Social Security retirement benefits do NOT need to be reported during biweekly payment requests - those are only for work income/earnings 2. However, since I started receiving SS after my claim was established, I should notify them through the correspondence system I sent the notification through my UI portal, and about 2 weeks later I received a determination letter saying my weekly benefit amount was being reduced by about $40 due to the Social Security income. Was I happy about the reduction? No, but at least I knew I was following the rules correctly. The key thing to remember is that the biweekly payment requests are separate from benefit calculations. You only report work income on those, but major changes like starting retirement benefits should still be reported to TWC for their records. Better safe than sorry with these agencies!
@Freya Pedersen This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your actual experience! I ve'been stressing about this exact situation since I started getting Social Security last month while still on unemployment. Your step-by-step approach makes perfect sense: don t'report SS on the biweekly payment requests since (those are only for work income ,)but do notify TWC through correspondence about the change. The $40 reduction is unfortunate but you re'absolutely right that transparency is better than potential problems later. I m'going to send a message through my correspondence system today. One quick question - when you sent the notification, did you include any specific documentation about your Social Security benefits, or did you just describe the situation in the message?
@Freya Pedersen This is exactly the kind of clear, real-world guidance I was looking for - thank you! Your experience really helps clarify the confusion in this thread. It makes total sense to separate the two processes: don t'report Social Security on biweekly payment requests since (those are for work income only ,)but do notify TWC about starting benefits after your claim was established. The $40 reduction isn t'ideal, but like you said, being transparent with government agencies is always the safer route. I m'going to follow your approach and send a notification through my correspondence system. Quick question - did you mention in your message that you understood this might affect your weekly benefit amount, or did you just report the facts about starting Social Security? I want to make sure I word my notification correctly.
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As someone who went through this exact same PIN nightmare last year, I can confirm that the in-person route is absolutely the way to go! I wasted almost two weeks trying to get through on the phone and waiting for mail that never came. Finally drove to my local Workforce Solutions office and had everything resolved in under an hour. Pro tip: if you're going in person, try to arrive about 15 minutes before they open (usually 8 AM) to be first in line. Also, bring a utility bill or bank statement in addition to your ID - sometimes they need extra proof of address. The staff there are actually really helpful once you can get face-to-face with them. It's just their phone and online systems that are completely overwhelmed. Really glad your mom got it sorted out so quickly once she went in person!
This is exactly the kind of practical advice that makes such a difference! Arriving 15 minutes early is brilliant - I bet that alone can save hours of waiting. The utility bill tip is really smart too since address verification seems to be a common sticking point. It's such a relief to hear from someone who actually made it through the whole process successfully. Your experience really reinforces what everyone else has been saying about the in-person option being the most reliable path. Thanks for sharing those specific details about timing and documentation - those are the kinds of insider tips that can turn a stressful day into a manageable errand!
This entire thread is a goldmine of information! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. My sister is going through something similar right now in San Antonio, and after reading all these experiences, I'm definitely going to recommend she skip the phone runaround and head straight to the local Workforce Solutions office. It's incredible how much collective wisdom this community has gathered about navigating TWC's system. The combination of practical tips (arriving early, bringing multiple IDs, trying the mobile app) and realistic expectations (long wait times, system overload) is exactly what people need when they're already stressed about unemployment. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're literally helping people get through one of the most difficult times in their lives!
Absolutely agree - this thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a FAQ! I've been lurking here for a while and this is hands down the most comprehensive breakdown of how to actually get through TWC's system that I've seen anywhere. Your sister is lucky to have you helping her research this beforehand. The San Antonio offices tend to be pretty efficient from what I've heard from friends there. One thing I'd add based on reading everyone's experiences - if she does go the in-person route, maybe have her call the specific office first thing in the morning to double-check their hours and any COVID-related policy changes. Some locations have adjusted their walk-in procedures recently. But honestly, after seeing how quickly OP's mom got resolved going in person versus all the phone/mail struggles, it really seems like the clear winner!
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I got one of these calls yesterday and was totally freaking out thinking it was a scam! Reading through everyone's experiences here is super reassuring. The call I got was from a 512 area code (Austin) and they left a message saying they needed to verify my identity for continued benefits. Like others mentioned, they didn't leave a callback number which made me suspicious. I'm planning to call the main TWC line today to verify before I answer if they call back. It's crazy that they're doing random checks now but I guess it makes sense with all the fraud that happened. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than anything on the official TWC website!
I'm glad this thread helped ease your worries! I was in the exact same boat a few weeks ago - got a call from a 512 number and immediately thought "scam." Your plan to call the main TWC line first is exactly what I did and it saved me a lot of stress. When you call, just tell them you received a verification call and want to confirm it's legitimate before proceeding. They should be able to see in your account if you've been selected for the random verification program. And you're totally right about this thread being more helpful than the official website - I couldn't find clear info anywhere else about these new verification calls!
I had this happen to me about a month ago and was totally convinced it was a scam at first! The voicemail was so vague and didn't give me a way to call back. But after doing some research (including finding threads like this one), I learned it's part of their new verification system. When they finally reached me, the agent knew specific details about my claim that a scammer wouldn't have - like my exact weekly benefit amount and the name of my previous supervisor. The whole call took about 8 minutes and they just asked me to confirm my work history and verify my current mailing address. No sensitive info like SSN or bank details requested. My biggest tip is to not ignore the calls completely - I almost did and found out later that would have put my benefits on hold. If you're unsure, ask the caller to give you a reference number and then call TWC's main line to verify the legitimacy before proceeding. Better safe than sorry, but these calls do appear to be the real deal.
This is such great advice, especially about asking for a reference number! I never would have thought of that but it's a perfect way to verify legitimacy. Your experience sounds very similar to what others have shared - they seem to focus on confirming basic info rather than asking for anything sensitive. I'm feeling much more confident about answering these calls now. It's frustrating that TWC doesn't do a better job explaining this new verification program on their website, but at least we have this community to share experiences and help each other out!
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This is incredibly helpful information! I've been dealing with TWC for a disability claim issue and kept getting those same muffled voicemail texts instead of actual callbacks. I had no idea about the "Silence Unknown Callers" setting potentially blocking the real calls - just checked and mine was turned on! I'm going to try the 7am calling strategy tomorrow and be very specific about having a "disability claim processing issue" since that seems to be key. It's honestly disgusting that we need to treat contacting our own benefits office like some kind of military operation, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works. The fact that this thread has so many people with identical experiences really shows this isn't just individual bad luck - TWC's callback system is fundamentally broken and they're using it to avoid actually helping people. Thank you @Dylan for the update and everyone else for the detailed strategies!
@Malia The disability claim issues are especially frustrating because those often involve time-sensitive medical documentation! I'm glad you caught that "Silence Unknown Callers" setting - it's crazy how many of us had that blocking the actual callbacks without realizing it. When you call tomorrow, you might also want to mention if you have any approaching deadlines for medical paperwork since that can sometimes get you prioritized. The whole system really is designed like some kind of obstacle course, but at least we've all figured out the cheat codes together! Definitely update us on how it goes - disability claims can be tricky but the early morning strategy should still work.
This entire thread is a perfect example of how broken the TWC system has become! I've been dealing with the exact same voicemail text nightmare for almost a month now. Every single callback request turns into these incomprehensible recordings that sound like they were made during an earthquake. What really gets me is that this isn't just affecting a few unlucky people - literally dozens of us in this thread alone are experiencing identical issues. That tells me this is a deliberate cost-cutting measure disguised as "improved efficiency." They'd rather send us automated garbage than actually staff their phones properly. I'm definitely going to try the 7am strategy with specific problem language that everyone's mentioned. My issue is a "benefit year end transition" problem that's been dragging on for weeks. It's shameful that we need to crowdsource solutions just to access our own unemployment benefits, but I'm genuinely grateful for communities like this where we can help each other navigate their bureaucratic maze. The fact that @Dylan finally got through gives me hope that persistence and the right approach can work. Will definitely report back after trying the early morning call tomorrow!
Naila Gordon
I'm so glad to see this thread has helped so many people! I'm actually in HR for a restaurant group here in Texas, and I wanted to add some perspective from the employer side that might be helpful. When employees apply for partial unemployment due to reduced hours, it's actually not a big deal for most legitimate employers. We get a notice from TWC asking us to confirm the employee's work status and earnings, and we just provide the requested information. There's no penalty to the employer for having employees on partial unemployment - it's actually built into the system for exactly these situations. The key things we verify are: - Whether the hours reduction was employer-initiated (not employee choice) - The employee's current weekly earnings - Whether the employee is still available for their scheduled shifts For anyone worried about their employer's reaction, remember that partial unemployment is a safety net that benefits both workers AND employers. It helps employees stay afloat during slow periods, and it helps employers retain trained staff instead of having everyone quit when hours get cut. StarSurfer, with only 6 hours per week and a supportive manager, you're in an ideal situation for partial benefits. The restaurant industry goes through these cycles, and partial unemployment is designed exactly for situations like yours. You're doing the right thing by applying!
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Brooklyn Foley
This is such valuable insight from the employer perspective - thank you for sharing! As someone new to this community but unfortunately not new to employment struggles, it's really reassuring to hear that legitimate employers generally don't view partial unemployment claims as a problem. I think a lot of people (myself included) worry that applying for partial benefits might somehow hurt our relationship with our current employer or make us look bad. But you're absolutely right that it's designed as a safety net that actually benefits everyone involved. The point about partial unemployment helping employers retain trained staff during slow periods is something I hadn't considered before. It makes total sense though - if employees can get some income support during reduced hours periods, they're less likely to jump ship and find other jobs, which saves the employer from having to recruit and train new people when business picks back up. For anyone still on the fence about applying due to employer concerns, this HR perspective should definitely help put those worries to rest. Thanks for taking the time to explain how it actually works from the business side!
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Amara Nnamani
•This HR perspective is incredibly helpful - thank you so much for sharing! I think one of the biggest fears people have is that applying for partial unemployment will somehow strain their relationship with their employer or make them look ungrateful. It's really reassuring to know that from an employer standpoint, it's just part of normal business operations during slow periods. The point about it helping employers retain staff is brilliant and something I never would have thought of. It makes so much sense that it's better for businesses to have their trained employees get some income support and stick around rather than lose everyone to other jobs and then have to start from scratch when things pick up. This community has been such an eye-opener for me - not just about the technical aspects of applying for benefits, but about understanding that these situations are way more common than I realized. Reading everyone's experiences has made me feel so much less alone in dealing with drastically reduced hours. Thanks to everyone who's shared their knowledge here!
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