Can I file a new TWC claim after exhausting benefits if I worked part of 2024?

Yes, you can file a new claim! The base period for UI claims is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file now (late 2024), TWC will look at your earnings from July 2023 through June 2024. If you worked enough during that period to qualify (usually need wages in at least 2 quarters), you should be eligible for a new claim.\n\nJust be prepared that the benefit amount might be different than your previous claim since it's based on your earnings during that specific base period.

Thank you so much! That's a relief to hear. So even though I was on unemployment for part of that period, the fact that I worked from May to October should count toward the new claim? And I did work all of 2023, so that should help too I guess.

im in almost the same boat got laid off in feburary, came back in june, then permanent layoff in september. My benefits run out next week and i already applied for a new claim last night. I'll let u know what happens

Please do let me know! Hope it works out for you. Did you get any kind of initial confirmation when you applied for the new claim?

yea got an email saying they recieved it and to wait for determination letter. should come in a week they said

You absolutely can file a new claim! I'm a former TWC employee, and here's what you need to know:\n\n1) TWC uses a base period of the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters\n2) You need earnings in at least 2 of those quarters\n3) You need to have earned at least 37 times your weekly benefit amount in that base period\n4) Your last employer will be the company that closed in October, which is perfect since it's a clear layoff situation\n\nThe key distinction is this: when you restarted your claim in October, you were continuing your existing benefit year. Now that it's exhausted, you can start a completely new benefit year with a new monetary determination.\n\nOne tip: If you have any lag wages (earnings not previously used in a claim calculation), those can help qualify you for the new claim.

What are \

Great question! Lag wages are simply earnings that weren't counted in your previous UI claim calculation. So in this case, the wages earned from May to October 2024 would be considered lag wages because they weren't part of the original claim's base period calculation. TWC can use these wages to help determine eligibility for a new claim. It's basically a technical term for \

TWC's WHOLE SYSTEM is messed up right now!!! I filed a new claim last week after being laid off and their stupid website gave me an error but then I got a confirmation email?? Then I called for THREE DAYS and couldn't get through to anyone. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh\n\nThe agent told me that yes, you can file a new claim anytime your benefits are exhausted as long as you have enough wages in the base period. But she also said there's a waiting week for the first week of a new claim that you won't get paid for unless you return to work for 6 weeks and then become unemployed again. Just FYI.

Thanks for the tip about Claimyr. I might need that if I run into problems. And good point about the waiting week - I forgot all about that from my first claim.

Be careful about reapplying too soon. I tried filing a new claim immediately after exhausting my benefits and got denied because I didn't have enough work history in between. The determination letter said something about lacking

What you're referring to is the \

i'm so confused by all this base period stuff tbh. why cant they just make it simple? like either you worked or you didnt. all these quarters and calculations make my head hurt lol

It can definitely be confusing! The simple version is this: TWC looks at about a year of your work history (specifically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) to determine if you qualify and how much you'll receive. They do this to make sure benefits are based on a stable employment history rather than just a few weeks of work.

The WORST part of all this is even if you qualify on paper, you might STILL have to wait WEEKS before you see a penny! When I filed my new claim, it took almost 4 weeks to get the first payment because of \

Ugh, that's what I'm worried about. I have maybe 2 weeks of expenses covered but after that I'm in trouble. I guess I'll file the new claim ASAP and hope for the best.

Something similar happened to my cousin last year. They exhausted benefits, reapplied, and got approved. BUT their weekly amount was lower because they worked fewer hours during the new base period than their previous one. Just something to keep in mind - your benefit amount might change.

That's good to know. I was making decent money from May-October, but it was only about 5 months total, so I guess my weekly amount might be less than before. At this point, something is better than nothing!

Does anyone know if we're still required to do the 3 work search activities per week when filing a new claim? I know the OP mentioned being temporarily laid off before - does that status carry over to a new claim? Just curious how this works.

Great question. When you file a new claim, everything resets. So yes, you'll need to do the standard 3 work search activities per week unless you get a specific exemption. The temporary layoff status doesn't automatically carry over to a new benefit year/claim. The OP would need to indicate on the new application if they have a definite return-to-work date with a new employer.

I definitely don't have a return date since the company closed permanently. I've been applying to jobs like crazy anyway, so the 3 work search activities won't be a problem. Thanks for clarifying this!