I'm a former TTEC employee who went through something very similar about 18 months ago - same TxDOT contract, same system issues, same bogus "work avoidance" termination. The good news is I won my appeal! Here's what made the difference in my case: I documented EVERYTHING chronologically and included timestamps wherever possible. The appeal officer was particularly interested in the pattern of me reporting issues vs. their lack of response. I also managed to get a statement from our IT help desk showing multiple tickets I'd submitted about system freezes. When TTEC's HR rep tried to claim the system was working fine, I had concrete evidence proving otherwise. The whole appeal process took about 6 weeks, but I got all my back pay. One thing that really helped was having specific examples ready - not just "the system froze a lot" but "on March 15th at 2:47 PM, the customer database crashed while I was helping a customer with account #12345, and I immediately reported it to supervisor Jane Smith via email." That level of detail made it clear this wasn't employee negligence. You've got the screenshots and emails already, which is huge. Don't let them gaslight you - TTEC's systems are notorious and TWC knows it.

I just wanted to add one more crucial piece of advice that I learned the hard way during my own TWC appeal - make sure you get everything in writing from TTEC/HR when you request documentation. Don't accept verbal responses or claims that "we don't have those records." Send your documentation requests via email with read receipts, and if they claim certain records don't exist, ask them to confirm that in writing. I've seen cases where companies initially claimed they had no IT tickets or system logs, but when pressed for written confirmation, suddenly those records appeared. Also, if you have any performance metrics from before the system issues started showing you were meeting targets, include those too - it helps establish that your performance declined specifically after the technical problems began, not due to any work avoidance on your part. The contrast between good performance before system issues vs. problems after the technical failures started is powerful evidence. You're building a really strong case here with all the documentation you have. Keep pushing forward with that appeal!

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you right now! Had my TWC appeal hearing yesterday after waiting since late October, and my employer also didn't show up. The hearing officer told me the same thing about them still being able to appeal within 14 days, which just seems so backwards when they couldn't even be bothered to participate in the first hearing. I've already checked my portal like 10 times today even though I know it's too early for any updates lol. Reading through all these responses is actually really comforting though - sounds like most no-show employers don't follow through with a second appeal, and the 5-7 day timeline for portal updates seems pretty consistent. I've been doing my payment requests religiously every two weeks this whole time, so hopefully that backpay will be worth all this waiting and stress! This whole process has been such an emotional rollercoaster but at least we're not alone in dealing with TWC's broken system.

Just wanted to add my experience to help with your timeline expectations! I had my TWC appeal hearing about 3 months ago (also a no-show employer situation) and my portal updated exactly 5 business days later with the "Decision Mailed" status. Got the actual determination letter 3 days after that, and it was favorable! The backpay took another 8 days to hit my account after receiving the letter. What really helped my sanity during the waiting period was setting specific times to check the portal (like once in the morning and once at night) instead of refreshing it constantly throughout the day. Your employer not showing up is actually a huge advantage since they basically forfeited their chance to present any evidence against you. Most employers who can't be bothered to attend the first hearing don't follow through with appeals either. You've already survived the hardest part - just a few more days of waiting and you should start seeing some movement in your account!

As a newcomer to Texas unemployment, this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently on my first TWC claim and haven't had to deal with brief employment periods yet, but reading through everyone's experiences and advice gives me so much more confidence about how the system actually works. The thing that stands out most to me is how the TWC website seems to assume everyone already knows these procedures. Like Madison mentioned, there's really no clear guidance for common situations like returning to benefits after short-term work. It sounds like the key takeaways are: - Always report earnings, even when not requesting payment - Your claim stays "active" for the full benefit year regardless of work periods - Keep detailed records of everything - The messaging system on the website is faster than calling Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that new claimants need but can't find in the official documentation!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - I was on unemployment, got a temporary warehouse job that lasted only 2 weeks before they cut staff, and now I'm back to needing benefits. I was so worried I'd have to restart everything from scratch, but reading everyone's experiences here shows me that I can just pick up where I left off. The advice about treating your claim as "always active" during the benefit year really clicked for me. I've been overthinking this whole process when it's actually more straightforward than I thought. Going to log in right now and request payment while reporting my earnings from those 2 weeks I worked. One quick question though - since I only worked part of one week (got laid off on a Wednesday), do I report earnings for just that partial week, or do I need to do something different for incomplete work weeks? Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences!

Just wanted to add another resource that helped me when I was in a similar spot - check if your local workforce development board offers emergency assistance programs. Many Texas cities have programs that can help with utilities, rent, or even grocery assistance while you're transitioning between jobs. In my area (Dallas), they also had a "rapid response" program specifically for people whose unemployment was running out that included job placement services and temporary financial help. You can find your local board through the TWC website under "Local Workforce Development Areas." Also, don't forget about food banks and community assistance programs - there's no shame in using these resources while you're getting back on your feet. They're designed exactly for situations like yours.

One thing I learned the hard way is to start preparing NOW for when your benefits run out, not wait until the last payment. I was in your exact situation last year - had about $800 left with months remaining on my claim period. Here's what I wish I'd done sooner: 1) Applied for SNAP benefits immediately (food stamps can bridge the gap and the process takes weeks), 2) Contacted 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local assistance programs - they have databases of everything available in your area, 3) Started doing gig work strategically using that Earnings Disregard rule mentioned above, and 4) Applied for utility assistance programs before I was behind on bills. The key is getting these safety nets in place while you still have some income coming in, because most programs have waiting periods or application processes that take time. Also, document EVERYTHING with TWC - save screenshots of your account, benefit amounts, dates, etc. You never know when you might need that information later. Hang in there!

One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're applying to jobs that are actually "suitable work" for your background and skills. I got flagged during an audit because I was applying to random positions way outside my field just to hit the 3-per-week requirement. TWC considers suitable work to be jobs that match your previous experience, education, and the wage you were earning before unemployment (though they do lower the wage threshold over time). So if you were a manager making $20/hour, don't just apply to minimum wage jobs thinking it counts the same. Focus on positions that genuinely match your qualifications - it's better to have 3 quality, relevant applications than 10 random ones that might not pass an audit.

I've been on unemployment for about 8 months now and went through an audit around month 5. One tip I'd add is to keep a simple spreadsheet or document on your phone/computer where you log each work search activity immediately after doing it. I found that trying to recreate my activities from memory weeks later was really difficult. Also, don't forget that networking activities count too! I attended a few virtual networking events through my local library and workforce center, and those counted as valid work search activities. LinkedIn networking (reaching out to people in your field, joining professional groups) can also count if you document it properly with screenshots of your messages or connection requests. The key is really just being consistent and thorough with your documentation. I know it feels like extra work when you're already stressed about finding a job, but it's so worth it for peace of mind. Good luck with your job search!