Can I claim TWC benefits in another state where I was a 1099 contractor after Texas benefits exhausted?
So my Texas unemployment just ran out last week. I've worked in several states during the past year, but my longest and highest paying gig was as a 1099 contractor in another state (about 6 months). The other jobs were just temporary W-2 positions - like a week here and there in different states. Since my Texas benefits are now exhausted, can I file a claim in the state where I did the 1099 work since that's where I made most of my money? Or am I completely out of options because it was contract work? Really stressing about this as rent is due next week. Anyone dealt with this interstate/contractor situation before?
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James Johnson
Unfortunately, 1099 contractor work typically doesn't qualify for regular unemployment benefits in any state. Independent contractors generally don't pay into the unemployment insurance system, which is why you weren't eligible based on that work. The only exception was during COVID when they had the PUA program, but that ended years ago.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•Wait seriously? Even if I was there for 6 months and that was my main source of income? That's really frustrating. So I'm just completely out of options now?
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Sophia Rodriguez
thats why i always try to get W2 work even if the pay is lower sometimes... contractors get screwed when work dries up :
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Mia Green
You might want to look at what's called a Combined Wage Claim (CWC). If you had enough W-2 wages across multiple states within your base period, you might be eligible to combine those wages for a new claim, even if individually they were short-term jobs. Texas would likely be your filing state since that's where you had your most recent claim, but they'd pull wage data from other states. You'll need to contact TWC directly to inquire about this option. Just be clear that these were W-2 jobs in multiple states, not the 1099 work.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•Thank you! I didn't know about Combined Wage Claims. Do you know if there's a minimum amount I needed to earn in those W-2 positions? Most were pretty short gigs.
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Mia Green
•Yes, there are minimum qualifying wages required. In Texas, you need to have earned at least 37 times your weekly benefit amount during your base period, and wages in at least 2 quarters. The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. If your W-2 jobs were very brief, it might be tough to qualify, but it's worth checking. When you talk to TWC, they can calculate this for you based on all your combined W-2 wages across states.
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Emma Bianchi
I went thru something similar last year and tried to get benefits based on work in 3 difrent states. It was a NIGHTMARE trying to get anyone on the phone at TWC to help me figure it out!! I spent WEEKS calling and getting hung up on or disconnected. So frustrating!!!
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Lucas Kowalski
•I had the same experience trying to reach TWC about a multi-state claim. After days of busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They basically call TWC for you and when they get through, they connect you. Saved me so much frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh
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Olivia Martinez
Sorry to hear your benefits ran out. One thing to keep in mind is that even if you can open a Combined Wage Claim with your W-2 work from other states, there's usually a 1-2 week gap between claims. And if they have to contact other states for wage verification, it might take longer to process. Make sure you have some backup plan for bills in the meantime.
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Charlie Yang
have u checked if ur eligible for extention on ur texas claim?? sometimes they give u more weeks if unemployment is high in ur area
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James Johnson
•Extensions aren't currently available in Texas. Those were temporary programs during economic downturns or the pandemic. Regular state unemployment is limited to 26 weeks maximum in Texas, and there are no extension programs active right now.
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Sophia Rodriguez
This happened to my brother last month actually!!! He had worked in Texas and Arizona and when his Texas benefits ended he was able to file a new claim in Arizona where he had worked before. But his was W2 work not 1099 contractor stuff so probably different from ur situation
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
UPDATE: I called TWC (finally got through!) and they confirmed I can't claim benefits based on 1099 work in any state. BUT they are looking at my W-2 wages from the short jobs in other states to see if I qualify for a Combined Wage Claim. The agent said it's borderline because the jobs were brief, but they're checking. Going to take about 10 days to hear back after they contact the other states. Fingers crossed!
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Mia Green
•That's good progress! While you're waiting, make sure you still have access to your TWC account online and check it regularly. Sometimes they'll post correspondence there before you receive it in the mail. Also, if they approve a Combined Wage Claim, you'll need to start doing your work search activities right away (minimum 3 per week) and keep detailed records of them.
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