Victoria, I've been following this thread and wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through a very similar situation last year. Your story sounds almost identical to mine - my employer initially said I was terminated for "poor performance" but then told TWC I was also "unreliable" and had "attitude problems" that I'd never heard about before. What really helped me was understanding that TWC investigators are specifically trained to recognize when employers are adding reasons after the fact. During my fact-finding interview, the investigator actually asked me directly if these additional allegations had ever been discussed with me before my termination. When I said no, she made a note of it. The key thing that worked in my favor was having documentation that contradicted my employer's claims - similar to your approved time off screenshots. I had performance reviews that directly contradicted their "poor performance" claim. TWC ended up approving my benefits because they found the employer's additional reasons lacked credibility. One practical tip: if you haven't already, write down the exact questions the TWC investigator asked you and your responses while they're still fresh in your memory. If you do need to appeal later, having that detailed record of the fact-finding interview can be really valuable. You've got this - from everything you've shared, it sounds like you handled the interview perfectly and have solid documentation to back up your case. The fact that you were genuinely surprised by the new allegations is actually one of your strongest pieces of evidence that they're not legitimate!

I've been reading through this entire thread and wanted to add some encouragement from someone who recently went through TWC appeals. Victoria, based on everything you've described, you actually have a stronger case than you might realize. The fact that your employer is now claiming multiple new reasons they never mentioned during your actual termination is a huge red flag that TWC investigators are trained to spot. Your genuine surprise during the fact-finding interview was probably one of your best pieces of evidence - you can't fake that kind of authentic reaction. Here's something that might help ease your mind: I work with a lot of folks who've been through this process, and in cases where employers add significant new allegations after the fact (especially when the claimant has documentation like your approved time off), TWC tends to view the employer's credibility as questionable. The key things working in your favor: - You have documentation proving your approved time off - You were genuinely surprised by the new allegations (which came through during your interview) - Your employer's story changed between what they told you and what they told TWC - You sent a follow-up email asking for clarification that they ignored Keep documenting everything and definitely continue requesting payments. The determination should come within the next week or two. Even if it goes against you initially, your documentation and the inconsistencies in your employer's story would make for a strong appeal case. You've handled this exactly right so far - stay confident!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! Unfortunately, those 3+ hour wait times with no answer are sadly becoming the new normal for TWC - you're definitely not doing anything wrong. I just went through this exact same nightmare when I filed my claim last month after losing my job. What finally worked for me was calling at exactly 7:00 AM on a Wednesday morning (set multiple alarms!). I know it sounds brutal, but I got through in about 25 minutes instead of the usual hours-long torture session. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings seem to be the sweet spot based on what others have shared. For your employer address question, definitely use the address where you physically worked, not their new relocated location - that's exactly what the system is looking for and it won't delay your claim. Before you subject yourself to more phone hell though, I'd recommend trying the online portal at ui.texasworkforce.org one more time with that employer address clarification. The system has actually improved quite a bit and you might be able to complete your entire claim without ever needing to call. If you do need to call, have all your employment documents ready beforehand - W-2s, employment dates, reason for separation, etc. Once you finally get through, you'll want to move quickly to resolve everything in one call. I know how stressful this is when you desperately need that income, but don't give up! The early morning strategy really does work. You've got this! 💪

I'm currently going through this exact same frustrating experience right now! Lost my job at a logistics company two weeks ago and have been trying to get through to TWC for the past 5 days with absolutely zero success. My record so far is 3 hours and 20 minutes yesterday before I had to hang up to pick up my kids from school - so I totally feel your pain about that 3+ hour wait! This thread has been absolutely incredible though - I had no idea about all these strategies everyone's sharing. The 7:00 AM Wednesday morning approach seems to be the magic formula that everyone's discovered. I'm definitely setting multiple alarms tonight to try that tomorrow (along with having my coffee ready like others suggested!). I also had the same confusion about employer addresses since my company recently consolidated offices, so it's really helpful to get confirmation about using the physical work location. Going to try the online portal one more time with that clarification before attempting the early morning phone strategy. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become tactical experts just to file for unemployment benefits, but this community sharing all their hard-won knowledge is such a lifesaver. Thanks to everyone for making me feel less alone in this broken system - you're all amazing! 🙏

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! I went through almost exactly the same thing about 5 months ago - my employer was also a no-show at my appeal hearing, and I was completely blindsided when I still lost despite their absence. What I learned through my experience is that TWC operates on what they call "record evidence review" - meaning all documentation submitted by both parties gets considered, regardless of who actually shows up to defend it. It's really misleading how their paperwork makes it sound like a no-show would automatically benefit you! But here's what should give you tremendous hope: based on everything you've described, you have an exceptionally strong case for Commission Appeals. The combination of: - Termination for alleged "performance issues" with zero documented warnings - Positive performance reviews from just 3 months prior - Complete absence of progressive discipline procedures - Their no-show preventing you from cross-examining their claims These are exactly the types of procedural failures that get overturned at the Commission level. I ended up winning my Commission Appeal after about 6-7 weeks, and the back payments made all the stress worth it. The Commission reviewers are much more thorough about examining whether employers actually followed proper termination procedures. When there's such a glaring contradiction between recent positive reviews and sudden "performance" termination with no documentation trail, it seriously undermines their case. Don't lose hope - make sure to file that Commission Appeal within 14 days if this decision doesn't go your way. Your situation sounds very winnable based on their clear procedural failures. This community has been such a support system for so many of us going through these battles. You're not alone in this fight!

I'm really sorry you're going through this frustrating situation! I just joined this community because I'm dealing with something very similar right now. My employer also didn't show up to my appeal hearing last week, and reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening about how the process actually works. Like you, I initially thought their no-show would automatically help my case, but now I understand that TWC reviews all submitted evidence regardless of attendance. It's really misleading how their paperwork doesn't explain this clearly! Based on everything you've shared - being terminated for "performance issues" with no documented warnings, having positive reviews just 3 months prior, and no evidence of progressive discipline - you honestly have one of the strongest cases I've seen described in this thread. The contradiction between recent positive performance evaluations and sudden termination claims is exactly the type of procedural failure that seems to get overturned at the Commission Appeals level. I've been taking notes from all the success stories shared here, and the consistent theme is that the Commission reviewers are much more thorough about examining whether employers actually followed proper procedures. Your situation with zero documentation backing up their performance claims while you have recent positive reviews seems like a textbook case for appeal success. Don't give up! From everything I've learned here, filing that Commission Appeal within 14 days could very well turn this whole situation around. This community has been such a valuable resource for understanding that we're not alone in these battles with the system.

One thing to keep in mind is that the TWC representative has to follow a script and ask certain questions for legal reasons. Their demeanor shouldn't affect the outcome if your case is legitimate. For position elimination cases, the TWC is primarily checking: 1. That you were indeed laid off and didn't quit 2. That there was no misconduct involved 3. That you're available and actively searching for work Since you mentioned you have documentation confirming the elimination of your position, you're in a strong position. The determination is typically made within 7-10 business days after the fact-finding interview. If you haven't received a determination letter by then, you can check your claim status online or try contacting them again.

let us know what happens!! this is so stressful

I just remembered something I learned from my tax preparer last year - if you happen to receive unemployment in two different states (like if you moved mid-year), you'll get separate 1099-Gs from each state's unemployment office. Just mentioning in case anyone had benefits from another state before Texas.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're planning to file your taxes early (like in February), definitely check your TWC online account first rather than waiting for the mail. I've found that the electronic version is usually available a few days before the physical form gets mailed out. Also, if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they have a specific section for unemployment income where you'll enter the amounts from your 1099-G. Don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable at both federal and state levels in Texas!