Can I get TWC unemployment after my 6-month temporary contract ends?

yes u can file for unemployment after ur temp contract ends. i did this last year when my 8 month contract wasn't renewed. just make sure u have documentation that shows it was always meant to be temporary and u didnt quit. they'll probably ask for the contract or offer letter during the application.

You absolutely can file for unemployment when your temporary contract ends, as long as you didn't quit and there was no misconduct involved. Texas considers this a qualifying job separation. Since you mentioned it's a W-2 position, that's even better - it means your employer has been paying unemployment insurance taxes for you. Here's what you should do: 1. Wait until your last day of work to actually file the claim 2. When you file, select "layoff" or "contract ended" as the reason for separation 3. Have your contract/offer letter ready as evidence 4. Be prepared to explain it was always temporary when asked Once approved, you'll need to request payment every two weeks and complete 3 work search activities each week. Document everything carefully.

THE TWC SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST CONTRACT WORKERS!!! I had a 9-month contract that ended last year and they initially DENIED my claim saying I should have known the job was temporary when I accepted it!! Had to go through the WHOLE APPEAL PROCESS which took FOREVER!!! Be careful how you word things on your application. DO NOT say you took a job knowing it was temporary or they might use that against you. Say your employer decided not to continue your employment. It's technically true and doesn't give them ammunition to deny you!!

I had similar situation last december. temporary contract ended and they said no extension. got approved for benefits without any problems but it took almost 6 weeks to get first payment!! just be prepared for the wait.

When your contract ends, you should qualify for unemployment benefits under Texas law. Since you have a W-2 position (not 1099), your employer has been paying into the unemployment insurance system. Here are some steps to prepare now: 1. Gather documentation proving the temporary nature of your position (offer letter, contract) 2. Create an account on the TWC website before you need to file 3. Update your resume since you'll need it for work search activities 4. Start job hunting now if possible - you'll need 3 work search activities per week once approved One important note: you might struggle to reach TWC by phone when filing or if you have questions. When I was going through this, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual TWC representative. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh It was much better than spending days hitting redial and getting busy signals.

My sister had a temp contract and filed unemployment after. She said there's a specific question in the application about whether your job was temporary. Make sure to answer YES to that. Also get a letter from your boss confirming the contract end date if possible.

When I filed after my contract job ended they asked me a bunch of questions about why I didn't find another job before this one ended. Kinda felt like they were trying to trick me into saying I didn't look hard enough! Be careful how you answer everything. They made me list all the jobs I applied for in the last month of my contract.

As a follow-up to my earlier comment, I want to address what others have mentioned about potential complications: 1. Yes, TWC will contact your employer to verify separation details 2. Your employer has 14 days to respond to TWC's notice 3. If they don't contest it and your documentation shows it was a temporary position ending as scheduled, approval is generally straightforward 4. The "temporary job" question is important - answer honestly that it was a temporary contract position The confusion some people experience comes from TWC distinguishing between: - A true temporary position with a predetermined end date (generally eligible) - Quitting a permanent job because you knew it might end someday (not eligible) As long as you have documentation showing it was explicitly a 6-month contract position, you should be fine. The key is proper documentation and accurate explanation of your situation.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with a temp contract in Dallas. One thing I wish someone had told me - start documenting your work search activities NOW, even before your contract ends. When you file for unemployment, they're going to ask what you've been doing to find work, and having a head start on that documentation really helped me. Also, when you file online, there's a section where you can upload documents. I uploaded my original offer letter, my contract, and even some emails where my supervisor mentioned the temporary nature of the position. Having everything ready to upload during the application process seemed to speed things up for me. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected. Just be honest about everything and have your paperwork ready. Good luck!

I just want to add that timing is important when you file. Don't file too early (like before your last day) or too late (more than a few days after). I made the mistake of waiting almost 2 weeks after my contract ended because I thought I needed to give my employer time to "officially" notify me they weren't renewing. Big mistake - those 2 weeks don't count toward your benefit year and you can't get back pay for them. File your claim the day after your last day of work or within a few days at most. The sooner you file, the sooner your waiting week starts. Also keep in mind that even if approved, there's typically a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment, so don't panic if you don't see money right away.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this process twice with temp contracts in Texas. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of all communications with my employer about the contract end date. Even informal conversations can be useful documentation later. Also, when you're filling out the unemployment application, there's a section where they ask about your availability for work. Make sure you answer that you're available immediately and willing to accept suitable work. I've heard of people getting tripped up here by saying they want to take a break or are only looking for specific types of positions. The work search requirement is real - you'll need 3 documented activities per week once approved. These can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or even creating/updating professional profiles on LinkedIn or Indeed. Keep detailed records with dates, company names, and what type of activity you did. One last tip: if you get approved but then find a new job quickly, you can stop claiming benefits anytime. There's no penalty for finding work faster than expected, and it actually looks good on your record for any future claims.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also check if your employer offers any kind of transition assistance or job placement services when temp contracts end. Some larger companies have partnerships with staffing agencies or provide references that can help with your job search. It's worth asking HR or your supervisor about this before your last day. Also, make sure to request a copy of your employment verification letter or service letter when you leave. This document can be helpful for future job applications and sometimes TWC asks for it during the claims process. It's much easier to get this while you're still employed than trying to request it later. If you're worried about the phone system at TWC being overwhelmed, try calling right when they open (usually 8am) or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. I've found Tuesday through Thursday mornings tend to be better than Mondays or Fridays. Good luck with your claim! It sounds like you have all the documentation you need and you're asking the right questions ahead of time, which puts you in a much better position than most people.

I went through this exact situation with a temp contract in Austin last year. Since you mentioned it's a W-2 position, you're definitely in a good spot - your employer has been paying unemployment taxes on your behalf. A couple of things that helped me: 1. Screenshot or save any job postings that clearly showed the temporary/contract nature when you originally applied 2. Keep any emails mentioning the 6-month duration or budget constraints - these serve as great supporting evidence 3. When you file, be very clear that this was always intended as a temporary position with a defined end date The process was actually pretty straightforward for me. I filed the day after my contract ended, uploaded my original offer letter and a few relevant emails, and was approved within about 10 days. The key is having that paper trail showing it was genuinely a temp position that's ending as originally planned, not a permanent job you're leaving. Since you've been paying into the system and have documentation, you should be fine. Just make sure to file promptly after your last day and keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one.

I'm in a similar situation with a 4-month contract ending next month in San Antonio. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed - if my contract was originally supposed to be 6 months but they're ending it early at 4 months due to budget cuts, does that change anything for unemployment eligibility? I'm worried TWC might see it as being "fired" rather than a contract completion. My original offer letter clearly states 6 months, but now they're cutting it short. Has anyone dealt with this specific scenario?