Can I file for unemployment if I got fired from my job in Texas?

My cousin had the same exact panic when she got fired and couldn't get anyone on the phone. I'm going to send her that link, she's been trying to reach TWC for days.

Appreciate you posting this, I need to ask TWC about a different issue but calling has been a nightmare. Gonna try that site today.

This actually makes me feel better. The performance issues they cited were things like 'not meeting productivity targets' but I was hitting the same numbers as my coworkers. Never anything about policy violations or anything like that.

yeah same kind of thing happened to my brother, they called it performance but there was nothing actually wrong he did. he still got approved.

Important clarification here - TWC looks at what both you AND your former employer say happened. So your side of the story absolutely matters. Document everything you can remember about those reviews and the lack of written warnings before you apply.

Okay filing today then. Do I need anything specific ready when I apply, like paperwork from my employer?

Have your Social Security number, your employer's address and phone number, your start and end dates there, and your last pay info. You don't need anything from your employer to apply - TWC contacts them separately.

TWC mails your former employer a notice and gives them 14 days to respond with their side. So your employer will have a chance to explain why they fired you, and TWC reviews what both sides say before making a determination.

My last review was about 8 months ago and was rated 'meets expectations.' Is it worth trying to get a copy of that before or after applying?

Apply first, get the review copy after. Don't hold up your application to gather documents - the clock starts ticking the day you file. Once your claim is in, gather whatever records you can in case there's an adjudication or you need to appeal a decision.

This is right - adjudication just means TWC is still reviewing your eligibility, it's not the same as being denied. A lot of people panic when they see that word but it's just part of the process.

Wait I didn't know I had to do work search activities even while they're reviewing my claim. How many do I have to do?

TWC mails you a letter after you apply that tells you exactly how many work search activities your county requires each week. The number varies by county - some require just one or two, others up to five. That letter is what tells you your specific number, not a general rule. Keep a log of everything you do because TWC can ask for it anytime.

And do your payment requests on schedule even if TWC hasn't made a decision yet. Missing a payment request window means you don't get paid for that week, period.

Oh I had no idea they were separate steps. So even if I'm still in adjudication I should be doing payment requests?

Yes exactly. You request payments on schedule no matter what - TWC holds them while they review but once they approve your claim they release everything they owe you. If you never requested those weeks though, there's nothing to release.

This is one of the most common mistakes people make. File first, then remember to come back and request payments every two weeks starting when TWC tells you to. The UBS portal is where you do both.

WorkInTexas.com - got it. Is that just creating a profile or do I have to actively apply for jobs through there?

Creating the profile satisfies the registration requirement. You can search and apply for jobs through it which counts toward your work search activities, but you're not locked into using it exclusively - you can also apply elsewhere and just log those activities.

The work search log is important. Keep track of every application, every company you contact, every interview - date, company name, position, how you applied. You might never need it but if TWC asks and you can't produce it, that's a problem.

How long did your sister's case take? I'm wondering how long I'll be waiting before I know anything.

About four weeks from when she applied to the first determination letter arriving. She got paid about four weeks after applying too. The first payment usually only covers one week even though you're waiting longer, because of how TWC holds the first payable week.

To add to that - TWC sends separate determination letters for different parts of your claim. Getting one determination doesn't mean the whole thing is resolved. So watch your mail and your UBS account closely.

That held week is called the waiting week. You're not losing it - it's just held. If you go back to full-time work before you exhaust benefits you can request that waiting week through UBS or Tele-Serv. Both things have to happen though - the two payments AND returning to work - before you can collect it that way.

Okay that clears it up. I thought I had been shorted a whole week. Good to know I can request it if I go back to work.

A lot of people think getting two payments automatically releases the waiting week. It doesn't - you need both conditions met, the payments AND the full-time job return or exhausting benefits. Just wanted to make that clear because I've seen that mistake made in other threads.

And if I disagree with their determination I can appeal it right? Like if they side with the employer?

Yes - you have 14 calendar days from the date printed at the top of the determination letter to file an appeal. That date matters, not when you receive it. You can appeal through UBS, in person at a Workforce Solutions office, or by mail or fax. Keep requesting payments the whole time you appeal too.

The appeal goes to what's called the Appeal Tribunal - it's a phone hearing with one Hearing Officer. If you lose there, you can go to the Commission level after that. No lawyer required at any step though a lot of people do it without one just fine.

How much would I have to work to clear a disqualification like that?

You'd need to start a new job and either earn six times your weekly benefit amount or work at least 30 hours a week for six weeks, then lose that job through no fault of your own. After that you can apply again and the original disqualification no longer blocks you. Keep any pay stubs or proof of hours in case TWC needs documentation.

This is accurate. And just to be clear, that's only if you're actually disqualified. A lot of people fired for performance reasons without documented misconduct get approved on the first try. Apply, see what TWC decides, then go from there.

Mine didn't say anything about it but honestly I assumed the same thing - that being fired meant automatic denial.

Really common assumption and it's just not how it works in Texas. Getting fired is not an automatic bar to benefits. The question is always about the nature of the separation and whether misconduct was involved.

Employers can and do fight claims though. If yours submits a detailed response to TWC disputing your version, that goes into the review. Doesn't mean you lose but be ready to give TWC your side clearly too if they reach out.

Has anyone had luck with specific call times? Like is there a better time of day to reach TWC?

Early morning right when they open tends to have shorter waits. But even then it's not guaranteed. The volume at TWC is just unpredictable.

Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321 is for automated stuff like payment requests and checking your payment status - no hold time for that. For questions that actually need a human, the Tele-Center wait times are rough no matter when you call.

They gave me two weeks of pay as a 'separation package' - is that going to affect my claim?

Report it when you apply, there's a spot for other income. TWC will review what kind of payment it is and mail you a determination on it. Don't skip reporting it - unreported income can cause an overpayment situation later that's much harder to deal with.

The overpayment situation is genuinely not something you want. TWC has to recover every overpayment even when it wasn't your fault. Report everything upfront and let TWC sort out what counts.

Can any type of job application count or does it have to be in my field?

Suitable work is what matters, and in the first eight weeks that means jobs paying at least 90 percent of your normal wage. After eight weeks the threshold drops to 75 percent. You're not required to apply only to your exact field but the job should be reasonably comparable to what you were doing.

In practice early on you're mostly applying to similar jobs anyway. The 90 percent threshold just means you don't have to take a massive pay cut to keep your benefits in the first couple months.

Yep this is right. The login is the same as UBS which makes it easy - same user ID and password. Just go to WorkInTexas.com and get the profile set up early so it's not hanging over your claim.

I created a WorkInTexas account about a year ago for a different job search. Does that existing account count or do I need to make a new one?

An existing account should be fine - just log in and make sure the profile is current and complete. The connection to your unemployment claim happens through the login credentials being shared between the two systems.

Okay good to know. I was going to ask about taxes. Is there a state tax on it in Texas too?

No state income tax in Texas so the 1099-G is only for federal purposes. Just the 10 percent federal withholding to think about if you want it, nothing at the state level.

A lot of people elect the withholding upfront so they don't have to remember to set money aside. Easier to just have it taken out automatically than to try to manage it yourself when you're already dealing with everything else.

I filed this afternoon, took about 20 minutes through UBS. Registered on WorkInTexas.com too. Now I guess I wait and keep up with the payment requests and work search. Thanks everyone, this thread was incredibly helpful.

Mark on your calendar when your first payment request is due - TWC will send that date in the mail but keeping your own reminder helps. Good luck with the determination.

Keep your eyes on UBS and your mailbox for the determination letters. If anything looks wrong or unclear in a letter you receive, that's the time to call TWC or look into appealing. Fourteen days from the date on the letter is your window, so don't sit on it.

Good to know there's a way to actually get answers when the phone lines are impossible. Bookmarking that for when I need to check on my claim status.

Adjudication just means TWC is still figuring out if you're eligible - it's not a denial. It's the review stage. Lots of people see that word and panic thinking they've already been denied.

Exactly right. Adjudication is just the process, not a verdict. The determination letter is what tells you TWC's actual decision.