Can I collect unemployment and disability at the same time in Texas TWC?

Yes actually I did get a letter but honestly didn't fully understand what it said. It mentioned something about 'income from other sources' but didn't say my benefits were being reduced or stopped. Does that mean I'm okay?

If the letter didn't issue a 'cannot pay' determination, that's generally a good sign. The determinations are pretty explicit when they deny or reduce — they don't leave you guessing.

That's a little reassuring. I still feel like I should double-check with someone at TWC just to make sure I'm reading this right.

Oh that's a really important point I hadn't thought about. My doctor had me on reduced activity for the first three weeks but I'm cleared for light-duty office work now. So what do I answer for those earlier weeks?

For the weeks when you weren't cleared for full-time work, the honest answer is that you weren't able and available. That may make those weeks ineligible but it's better than answering incorrectly and dealing with a fraud finding later.

Yep, TWC can and does audit payment request answers. The workers' comp records and medical records can surface in a review. Answer accurately every time.

My biggest fear is spending two hours on hold and then getting disconnected. I'll look at this.

My cousin had a workers' comp claim overlap and she spent days trying to get through to TWC. Might set this up for her.

Wait so SSDI doesn't reduce unemployment benefits? I thought any disability income would offset it.

Workers' comp is the one that potentially affects the payment depending on the type. SSDI is different — TWC doesn't deduct it, but you have to actually be physically able to work, which is where most people on SSDI run into trouble with unemployment claims.

This distinction really matters and I'm glad someone spelled it out. The 'disability' umbrella covers so many different programs and TWC treats each one differently.

Mine was specifically the lifting restriction — the job required regular lifting over 40 lbs and my doctor capped me at 15 lbs. I did get approved so I think TWC saw it the same way. I just worry about the workers' comp piece on top of that.

Since you got approved for the separation part, the workers' comp issue is a separate determination. Focus on that letter you received. If it said you can pay, you're in a different situation than someone who never reported it at all.

Okay this is making me nervous. I did report it at application but I'm not sure I've been reporting it on every payment request. What do I do now?

Call TWC as soon as possible and let them know. Voluntary disclosure before they catch it themselves is treated very differently from them finding it in an audit. Don't sit on this.

100% this. Getting ahead of a discrepancy is way better than explaining it after a notice arrives.

Calling right away is the right move. Even if it results in a small overpayment determination, TWC works out a payment schedule — they don't demand a lump sum immediately.

My highest quarter was Q4 of 2025 and I earned about $14,200 in that quarter. So $14,200 divided by 25 gives me $568, but my actual WBA came out at $480. Does that mean TWC used a different quarter?

TWC uses whatever quarter gives the highest result, so if your $480 came out it might mean a different quarter was actually higher in their calculation, or there's a rounding factor. The determination letter that set your WBA should show which quarter was used.

The determination letter spells this out specifically. It lists the base period quarters and which one they used. It's worth pulling that out and cross-checking.

I'm in Travis County so that's 5 activities per week. I've been doing them but not keeping a formal log, just kind of noting it in my head. Should I go back and document the ones I remember?

Start a proper log now — date, employer or job board, position applied for, method of contact. For past weeks, write down what you can remember with as much detail as possible. It's not perfect but having something is better than having nothing.

A spreadsheet works great for this. I keep mine in Google Sheets and it takes about two minutes a week to update.

TWC's work search log form is also on their site — some people prefer using the official one so there's no question about format.

How did he appeal it? Was it a complicated process?

He just submitted a written appeal online through UBS within 14 days of when the determination letter was dated — not when he received it, the date printed at the top of the letter. Then there was a phone hearing with one hearing officer. He had his medical records and pay stubs ready and walked through the timeline of events.

The 14-day window is strict — it runs from the date printed on the determination letter. If someone misses it they can still try at the Commission level but it gets much harder.

This is exactly what I'm most afraid of. The amount I could potentially owe if they decided workers' comp made me ineligible for some weeks would be significant.

The good news is you disclosed it at application. That matters. The fraud penalties are for people who knowingly hide income, not people who reported it and had uncertainty about whether they were doing the payment requests correctly.

Agreed. Knowing versus not knowing is a real distinction in how TWC handles these things. Report proactively if there's a gap and document that you did.

This is really helpful to hear — reduced rather than eliminated is way better than what I was imagining.

The determination letter told me exactly what amount was being offset each week. It was pretty clear once I actually read it carefully.

This matches how the system is supposed to work. The type and amount of workers' comp determines the offset, not some blanket disqualification.

TWC holds your first payable week — called the waiting week — until you've been paid twice your weekly benefit amount AND you either return to full-time work or use up all your benefits. It doesn't disappear, it just sits until one of those things happens. If you go back to full-time work, you have to specifically request it through UBS or Tele-Serv. Both things have to happen before they release it — not just the two payments.

So I shouldn't just assume it will show up automatically if I go back to work?

Exactly — you have to actively request it. There's an option in UBS labeled 'Request Your Waiting Week' and there's also a Tele-Serv path. It won't happen on its own.

A lot of people miss this and wonder why they never got paid for one week. The waiting week is not lost forever, but you do have to ask for it after you're back to full-time work.

Someone at my job told me Social Security retirement DOES reduce unemployment and I've been worried about that for my dad. So that information above is incorrect — SS retirement doesn't reduce TWC benefits?

Social Security retirement is not deducted by TWC. Only pensions from a base-period employer are deducted. Your coworker had it wrong.

This is one of those things that gets confidently repeated incorrectly a lot. Good to have it set straight.

I didn't receive any kind of notice pay, just standard final paycheck for hours worked. So I don't think this applies to me, but good to know the distinction.

Right, final wages for hours worked is just wages, not in lieu of notice. That's normal and doesn't affect your claim.

How long did it take once you set it up to actually get through to someone?

Got connected the same day. The agent was thorough and I had my determination letter numbers ready to go, which made the call faster.

I did register there but only filled in the basics. Do I need a full resume posted?

Your profile should be complete enough to actually be a usable job posting. Minimal profiles can trigger a flag. Add your work history and skills sections at minimum.

WorkInTexas.com and UBS use the same user ID and password, plus a one-time code each time you log in. If you're only logging into one, make sure the other account isn't sitting incomplete.

I had no idea unemployment was taxable. I didn't elect withholding and now I'm realizing I'm going to owe something in April.

You can still change your withholding election in UBS — it's not locked in at the start. Setting it now would at least reduce what you owe from payments going forward.

The 1099-G also shows up in UBS under IRS Tax Information, so if the mailed copy ever goes missing you can pull it from there.

I should probably pull together all the emails from HR about the accommodation conversation. I have them but they're scattered across my inbox.

Get them organized now, before you need them. If an appeal comes up, you want to be able to find things fast.

That's a very specific scenario and I bet a lot of people get it wrong.

The rule is specifically about the base-period employer, not any employer ever. People hear 'pension gets deducted' and assume all pensions count.

Adjudication holds are the worst because UBS just says 'pending' with zero information. Good to know there's a way to actually get answers.

Exactly — the system doesn't flag what's causing the hold, only that one exists. A live agent can actually tell you which employer response or which issue is under review.

Medical-only workers' comp is the cleaner situation. Wage-replacement overlap is what usually causes the offset. Good outcome.

Glad you got a clear answer. Knowing the exact type of workers' comp is the whole ballgame in these situations.

Keep that work search log tight and report every payment request accurately and you should be in good shape going forward.