I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in as someone who just went through a very similar situation! I was working at a coffee shop where my hours got cut from 28 hours down to just 8 hours per week due to "seasonal slowdown" that seemed to drag on forever. Reading through this thread has been incredibly validating - it's clear that what you're experiencing with only 6 hours per week absolutely qualifies for partial unemployment. The advice everyone has shared here is spot-on, especially about documenting everything and being precise with your earnings reporting. One thing I learned during my experience is to take screenshots of your work schedule every single week, even if it seems redundant. My employer initially told TWC they had offered me more hours that I "declined," but I had screenshots of every weekly schedule showing I was only given 8 hours. That documentation saved me from a lengthy appeals process. Also, don't feel guilty about applying! I struggled with that at first, thinking maybe I should just tough it out or find a second job immediately. But partial unemployment exists exactly for situations like this where your employer cuts your hours through no fault of your own. You've been paying into this system through your taxes - you deserve the support when you need it. The fact that your manager is being understanding about the situation is huge. That cooperation will make the TWC verification process go much more smoothly. Good luck with your application!

Welcome to the community! I can see you're dealing with a really tough situation, but the good news is that you absolutely qualify for partial unemployment with only 6 hours per week. That's well below any threshold TWC would consider adequate employment. A few quick tips based on what I've seen work for others: 1. When you apply, make sure to select "still employed but hours reduced" - not laid off or terminated 2. Keep detailed records of every paycheck and work schedule going forward 3. You'll still need to do work search activities (3 per week), but things like updating your resume, applying to jobs online, or networking all count The fact that you went through the full unemployment process in 2020 actually works in your favor - you already know how TWC operates and what to expect. This time it's just partial benefits instead of full benefits. Your manager being understanding is going to make this process so much smoother. Many employers actually prefer when employees file for partial unemployment during slow periods because it helps them retain trained staff without the full payroll burden. Don't feel guilty about applying - you've been paying into this system, and this is exactly what it's designed for. With $94 paychecks, you're definitely not making enough to live on. File as soon as possible since you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you waited to apply. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience will help others in similar situations!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My employer at a small office fired me for what they called "unreliability" after I had to leave early one day due to a family emergency (which I had documented proof of). The TWC investigator interviewed me last Tuesday and said they'd contact my former employer. When I called to check status yesterday, they told me my employer has until Thursday to respond and hasn't called back yet. Reading everyone's responses here is giving me some hope - I was terrified that no response would automatically mean denial. I also have all my documentation saved including the emergency room paperwork and text messages to my supervisor. Fingers crossed for both of us! This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss.

I work as a paralegal and handle employment law cases, so I see TWC situations like this regularly. Based on what you've described - being fired for a single tardiness incident after 2+ years of good attendance, especially with documentation that you notified your employer about the car emergency - this should qualify you for benefits. Texas law requires "misconduct connected with work" to disqualify someone, and isolated incidents typically don't meet that standard. If your employer doesn't respond by Friday's deadline, the investigator will make their determination based solely on your statement and evidence. While there's no guarantee, non-responsive employers usually result in approvals when the claimant has good documentation like you do. Keep requesting payments and doing work searches while you wait - don't let anything lapse during this process. The fact that you have text proof of notifying your manager puts you in a strong position.

Great news! It's always helpful to hear what the actual issue was. This could help others who are experiencing the same problem.

This is such valuable information - thank you for sharing the complete resolution! I'm dealing with something similar right now where my payment requests keep getting stuck. My employer also contested my separation reason even though I have documentation showing it was a reduction in force. It's really helpful to know that even after getting the determination letter, the system can still flag accounts for these employer disputes. I've been calling for two weeks with no luck, so I'm definitely going to look into Claimyr. Did the agent mention how long these flags typically stay on accounts if you don't get through to resolve them? I'm worried this could drag on for months if I can't get connected to someone.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is actually becoming a huge problem with TWC lately. I went through something similar last year where someone changed my banking info after I'd already received a few payments. A few things that really helped me get through the process faster: 1. When you call that fraud hotline number someone mentioned (512-463-2832), ask them to email you a case reference number immediately. Having that number makes follow-up calls way easier. 2. Don't just rely on their online portal - the fraud department often doesn't update it regularly. Call every 2 weeks for status updates and document who you spoke with. 3. If you have any old screenshots or emails from when you originally applied showing you selected the debit card option, gather those now. They helped prove my case. 4. Consider reaching out to your state representative's office if this drags on past 8-10 weeks. They have a constituent services team that can sometimes light a fire under TWC to move faster. The whole thing took about 9 weeks for me, but I did get every penny back plus they issued it on a new debit card. Stay persistent - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with TWC unfortunately!

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately way too common these days! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where my benefits went to some account I've never seen before. A few things that have helped me so far: - When you file that police report, make sure to specifically mention "identity theft" and "fraudulent bank account access" - the TWC fraud department needs those exact terms in the report - Save/screenshot EVERYTHING from your TWC portal before they potentially "fix" anything, because I've heard of cases where people lost their evidence when TWC updated their systems - If you have any friends or family who work in banking, ask them to help you trace those routing/account numbers. Sometimes you can at least figure out which bank the fraudulent account is with The 6-8 week timeline everyone's mentioning seems accurate based on what I'm hearing from the fraud department, but don't let them string you along past that. Start escalating if you hit 10 weeks with no resolution. Stay strong - this whole system is broken but people ARE getting their money back eventually. Document everything and keep pushing!

This is such a perfect example of why so many people give up on legitimate unemployment claims! 1.5 years is absolutely insane, but I'm really glad you posted this because the responses here are super encouraging. I'm in a similar boat - filed my appeal in March 2024 and still haven't heard anything. I was starting to assume they just "lost" my case or something. Seeing that people are actually getting substantial back pay even after these ridiculous delays gives me hope to keep waiting. The advice about requesting your appeal file and testing the phone connection ahead of time is really valuable. Definitely go to your hearing - if you were legitimately laid off due to budget cuts and have the emails to prove it, that sounds like a pretty solid case. Please update us after June 3rd!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got my appeal hearing notice after 14 months of waiting. I was honestly ready to just ignore it since I found work last year, but reading about everyone getting thousands in back pay has convinced me to go through with it. The advice about requesting your appeal file ahead of time and testing the phone connection is really valuable. It's frustrating that TWC creates these massive delays and then expects us to still be prepared with all our documentation, but at least it sounds like the hearings themselves are pretty straightforward. Thanks for posting this - it's given me the motivation to dig up all my old paperwork and actually follow through with my hearing!