anyone here kno how long these appeal hearings usually take?? my friend had one last month and said it was like 15 minutes on the phone and the judge just asked a few questions

While looking for an attorney is certainly your right, I'd still recommend trying to resolve this on your own first. The appeal process for TWC cases is designed to be navigated without legal representation. The hearing officer will ask questions to get the facts and make a decision based on Texas law. Before hiring an attorney, consider: 1. Carefully reading your determination letter to understand exactly why you were denied 2. Gathering all documentation that proves your position was eliminated (emails, termination letter, severance agreement, etc.) 3. Making a list of witnesses who can testify that your job was eliminated 4. Practicing your explanation of why you believe the determination is incorrect If you still want an attorney after preparing these items, you'll be in a better position to evaluate whether they're knowledgeable about your specific situation.

did u try calling the disaster assistance hotline? its different from the regular twc number

I received DUA after the 2021 freeze in Texas. Some advice from my experience: 1. Keep detailed records of all communications 2. Don't miss any payment request deadlines 3. Continue your work search activities (3 per week for Texas) 4. Check both your email and TWC correspondence inbox regularly Mine took 27 days for approval, which seems to be about average. And yes, they do backdate payments to when you became unemployed due to the disaster, not when you applied or were approved.

I've helped several people with their TWC claims, and I can tell you that the timing of your termination (right before a bonus payout) is definitely something that TWC will look at closely. When TWC reviews termination cases, they look at several factors: 1. Were you given warnings about performance issues before termination? 2. Did the employer follow their own documented discipline process? 3. Was the termination timing suspicious (like right before a bonus)? 4. Can the employer document specific instances of misconduct? If your employer can't demonstrate that you were fired for actual misconduct (as opposed to just general performance claims), you should be approved eventually. The process is frustratingly slow, but I've seen people in similar situations get approved after 4-6 weeks. Be prepared for a phone interview with a TWC examiner. Have documentation ready about your performance, any positive feedback you received, and definitely mention the bonus timing.

UPDATE: I took several of your suggestions and finally got some answers! I used Claimyr to reach TWC (after 30+ failed attempts calling directly) and found out my employer is claiming I was fired for not meeting performance metrics. The TWC agent scheduled a fact-finding interview for next week. I also contacted my state rep's office and they said they'd follow up on my claim. Between these two actions, things are finally moving! The agent confirmed that if approved, I'll get backpay for all the weeks I've been requesting payment. I'll update again after my interview. Thank you all for the help and advice during this stressful time!

One more thing I forgot to mention - at the start of the hearing, the officer will ask if you've received and reviewed all the documents related to your case. If you haven't received anything, make sure to tell them. Sometimes they fail to send important documents that could help your case. Also, I did win my appeal! The hearing officer agreed that the combination of technical issues and circumstances beyond my control (in my case it was a family emergency, not a hurricane) constituted good cause for the delay. The exact language they used in my favorable determination was that I had "made reasonable efforts to comply with program requirements but was prevented from doing so by factors outside my control." This is exactly the narrative you want to establish in your hearing. Good luck!

When I had my appeal hearing, I had my 3 year old screaming in the background and I was so embarrassed! But the hearing officer was actually really nice about it. Just wanted to say they're usually pretty understanding people. I was nervous too but it went way better than expected.

wat about disaster unemployment assistance? thats different from regular benefits i think

Update: I took everyone's advice and filed my appeal online yesterday. I also managed to get through to TWC this morning after using Claimyr (thanks for that tip!). The agent was actually really helpful - she said she couldn't reverse the determination, but after reviewing my documents, she put in a request to expedite my appeal hearing based on financial hardship and the strong documentation I have. She said I should get a hearing date within 2 weeks instead of the usual timeframe. She also suggested I look into hurricane relief assistance through FEMA since our county was declared a disaster area. I'm going to check that out today. Thank you all for the advice - I'll update once I get my hearing date!

my aunt gets both and she doesnt report it. system only asks about work

Does anyone know if this same rule applies to my pension from my old job? I get unemployment and a small pension payment every month. Been reporting the pension but maybe I don't need to?

I used Claimyr last week when I couldn't get through about my disaster claim. Totally worth it! The agent I talked to explained that disaster claims take longer because they have to coordinate with FEMA. She also told me exactly what documents I needed to send in, which wasn't clear from the website at all. Just wanted to share since getting through to TWC right now is nearly impossible with regular calling.

For those asking about documentation for disaster claims, here's what TWC typically requires: 1. Proof of employment at the time of the disaster (pay stubs, employment verification letter) 2. For self-employed: tax returns, business licenses, 1099s, or client statements 3. Documentation showing how the disaster directly affected your employment 4. Any correspondence with your employer about closures or reduced hours The most common reason for DUA claim delays is insufficient documentation. Submit everything upfront if possible. Also, if your regular employer isn't reopening or you're unsure when they will, remember that accepting temporary work doesn't necessarily disqualify you from benefits. You just need to report any earnings when requesting payment, and if they're below your benefit amount, you may still receive partial benefits.

Update: I just wanted to add something important - when you file, TWC will ask about the reason for your separation from employment. Make sure you accurately indicate you were laid off (not fired for cause or that you quit). This affects your eligibility. Since your employer is continuing to pay you, they might not have reported your separation to TWC yet, which could cause confusion. You might want to speak with your former employer to ensure you're both on the same page about how your separation is classified.

Just one more thing - make sure you setup direct deposit right away in the TWC system! The debit card option takes way longer to get your money and has all kinds of weird fees. The direct deposit option is buried deep in the account settings and easy to miss.

i finally got my pin reset yesterday!!! called 26 times but finally got thru around 3pm. they said they've been having system issues all month so lots of people cant get in

UPDATE: I finally got it resolved! For anyone with similar problems in the future: I ended up using Claimyr this morning (the service someone mentioned above) and got connected to a TWC rep in about 30 minutes. The rep was able to reset my PIN, help me file my initial claim, AND backdate it to my actual layoff date four weeks ago. She said they've been having major system problems with PIN resets for the past month, which explains why none of my contact requests were answered. Now I just need to wait 2-3 weeks for the claim to process, but at least I'm in the system now! Thanks to everyone who offered advice. This has been incredibly stressful but I'm so relieved to finally have it submitted.

I'm a little confused by some of the advice here. When TWC says you need to "work 6 weeks" to requalify, they actually mean you need to earn wages equaling at least 6 times your weekly benefit amount (WBA) AND work at least 30 hours in 6 weeks. So it's not just about working for 6 weeks - it's about earning enough money during that time. For example, if your weekly benefit amount would have been $400, you'd need to earn at least $2,400 at a new job before you can requalify. But definitely appeal if you believe you were wrongfully terminated! If you win the appeal, you won't need to satisfy the requalification requirement at all.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with a TWC representative (finally!). They explained that my employer claimed I was consistently not meeting productivity standards after multiple warnings. I was able to file my appeal online and explain that the standards kept changing and were impossible to meet. I have an appeal hearing scheduled for December 10th by phone. The rep said to gather any evidence I have - like emails showing the changing standards or witnesses who can testify that the goals were unreasonable. Fingers crossed this works out. Thanks everyone for your help!