Can I qualify for TWC trailing spouse benefits after quitting to follow husband's job relocation?

Yes, you should qualify under Texas's trailing spouse provision! As long as your husband's relocation is for a legitimate employment reason (which a promotion definitely is), and the distance makes it unreasonable for you to commute (4 hours definitely qualifies), you should be eligible when you quit. When you file your initial claim, make sure to select that you left your job to relocate with your spouse. TWC will then send you a form requesting documentation. You'll need: 1. Proof of your marriage (marriage certificate) 2. Documentation of your husband's new job (offer letter showing location) 3. Documentation of your resignation (include in your resignation letter that you're leaving specifically to relocate with your spouse) I went through this exact process last year when my husband transferred to Dallas. As long as you have the right documentation, it's pretty straightforward!

Just be careful about the timing. I thought I qualified for trailing spouse benefits when we moved for my husband's job, but TWC denied me because I quit my job BEFORE he actually started his new position. They're really strict about the order of events. Make sure you don't resign until he's actually accepted AND has a concrete start date at the new location. Document EVERYTHING!!

my sister did this last yr when they moved from amarillo to houston for her husbands oil job and twc approved her no problem. took like 3 weeks total i think

To answer your timing question - it took about 20 days for my claim to be processed from application to first payment. That included time for my employer to respond to TWC's inquiry. Just make sure you request payments on your assigned days even while waiting for the determination.

I had such a nightmare reaching TWC when I was in your exact situation last year. Was getting busy signals for DAYS trying to make sure I had everything filed correctly. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh The agent confirmed I needed to wait until my husband had actually started the new position before submitting my claim (or at least had a firm start date in writing). She also said to make sure my resignation letter specifically stated I was relocating due to my spouse's employment. Made the whole process way smoother having that clarification upfront.

TWC WILL DENY YOU!!!! They denied me in almost the same situation because they said my husband's new job wasn't "substantially better" than his old one because the raise was only 8%. They said it had to be a NECESSARY move not just a BENEFICIAL one. Their exact words!!! I fought it for 6 weeks and finally gave up. The whole trailing spouse provision is basically USELESS because they find any reason to deny you. Don't count on getting a penny from them.

Update: I called TWC using that Claimyr service (thanks for the recommendation) and finally got through! The agent explained that since my husband is going back to his original employer but in a different location, and it includes a promotion, it definitely qualifies under the trailing spouse provision. She advised me to wait until he has his official start date in writing before I give notice at my job. She also said I'll need to do 3 work search activities per week even with trailing spouse benefits, but that applying to jobs in our new city absolutely counts toward that requirement. I feel so much better now! Will start the application process as soon as I have my last day of work confirmed.

Has anyone here ever successfully appealed a trailing spouse denial? My wife switched jobs and TWC denied me saying it wasn't necessary for maintaining the family. We were moving 250 miles away!! How could I possibly commute? The whole appeal process is confusing me.

One thing nobody's mentioned - make sure you get a copy of the lease or mortgage for your new place as additional proof you're actually relocating. TWC asked me for that documentation when I filed my trailing spouse claim. Also don't forget to transfer your driver's license once you move because they sometimes check that too.

Just wanted to add another data point - I successfully claimed trailing spouse benefits when my husband got transferred from Austin to El Paso for his engineering job. The key things that helped my case were: 1) My resignation letter explicitly stated I was leaving "to relocate with my spouse for his employment", 2) I included a letter from my husband's HR department confirming the transfer was mandatory, and 3) I calculated the exact driving distance (542 miles) and commute time (8+ hours daily) to show it was unreasonable. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment. One tip - when you do your work search activities, keep detailed records of every application you submit in the new city. TWC audits these periodically and you want to show you're genuinely looking for work in your new location. Good luck with your move!

I've been following this thread closely since I'm in a similar situation - my husband just got a job offer in Dallas and we're currently in San Antonio. Based on everyone's advice here, I wanted to share what I've learned from my research into the trailing spouse provision. The Texas Labor Code Section 207.045 specifically allows for benefits when you voluntarily leave work to accompany a spouse who is relocating due to employment. The key requirements are: 1) The relocation must be due to your spouse's work, 2) The distance must make your commute unreasonable, and 3) You must be available for work in the new location. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that TWC also considers whether you made "reasonable efforts" to find work with your current employer in the new location. So if your hospital has any locations in East Texas, it might be worth asking HR about transfer possibilities first (even if they say no, having that documentation could strengthen your case). Also, I called TWC last week and they confirmed that a 4-hour commute absolutely qualifies as "unreasonable" - they generally consider anything over 2 hours each way as meeting this requirement. Your situation with the promotion and company buyout sounds like it should be pretty straightforward to document as a legitimate employment-related move.

I just went through this exact process 6 months ago when my husband got transferred from Houston to Beaumont! A few additional tips from my experience: 1. Make sure to keep copies of ALL your documentation - I had to resubmit some paperwork when my case got transferred to a different examiner 2. File your claim online as soon as possible after your last day of work. Don't wait thinking you need to be physically moved first 3. When they ask for your work search activities, include ANY job-related activity in your new city - even just researching potential employers counts 4. Be prepared for your employer to possibly contest the claim initially. Mine did, but TWC still approved it after reviewing all the documentation The whole process was way less stressful than I expected once I had all the right paperwork together. Your situation with the promotion and 4-hour distance sounds like a textbook case for approval. Just make sure that resignation letter is crystal clear about WHY you're leaving! One last thing - start looking into COBRA or marketplace insurance options now if you're on your employer's health plan. That gap in coverage can be expensive if you're not prepared for it.

I went through a very similar situation when my husband got transferred from Fort Worth to Tyler for his manufacturing job. The key thing that helped me was documenting EVERYTHING from day one. Here's what I learned: 1. Get your husband's offer letter and any transfer paperwork in writing BEFORE you resign 2. Include specific language in your resignation about relocating "to accompany spouse for employment purposes" 3. Calculate the exact mileage and commute time - 4 hours each way is definitely unreasonable by TWC standards 4. Keep records of any job searches you do in East Texas before you move (this shows good faith effort) My claim was approved in about 18 days. The examiner told me that cases with clear documentation of spouse's job transfer and unreasonable commute distance are usually pretty straightforward. Also, definitely ask your hospital's HR about any sister facilities or transfer options in East Texas first, even if you're 99% sure they don't have any. Having that "we have no positions available in that area" email helps show you explored all reasonable alternatives before resigning. Your situation sounds much stronger than mine was - promotion + original company + 4 hour distance should be a clear case for approval!

I successfully claimed trailing spouse benefits in 2023 when my husband got transferred from Corpus Christi to Dallas for his accounting firm. Your situation sounds very similar to mine - the key factors that worked in my favor were having clear documentation that it was a legitimate job transfer (not just a voluntary job change), and the distance being obviously unreasonable for commuting. A few things that really helped my case: 1. I waited until my husband had his official start date in writing before submitting my resignation 2. My resignation letter specifically stated I was leaving "due to spousal job relocation" 3. I included a copy of his offer letter showing the new location 4. I calculated the driving distance (6+ hours daily roundtrip) to demonstrate unreasonable commute The fact that your husband is going back to his original company with a promotion should make your case even stronger - it clearly shows this is a legitimate employment opportunity, not just a lateral move. TWC approved my claim in about 3 weeks and I received benefits for the full period while I searched for work in Dallas. One tip: start documenting your job search efforts in East Texas now, even before you move. When you file for benefits, you'll need to show 3 work search activities per week, and applications to hospitals in your new city definitely count toward that requirement.

I went through this same process about 8 months ago when my husband got transferred from Lubbock to Houston for his engineering job. Your situation sounds like it should definitely qualify for trailing spouse benefits - the promotion, 4-hour distance, and going back to his original company all work strongly in your favor. A couple of additional tips from my experience: 1. When you file your initial claim online, there's a specific checkbox for "left work to relocate with spouse" - make sure you select that option 2. Save screenshots of your online application submission - I had to reference mine later when there was a question about my filing date 3. TWC may contact your current employer to verify your reason for leaving, so make sure your resignation letter is very clear about the spousal relocation reason 4. Keep copies of all your job applications in East Texas in a spreadsheet with dates - you'll need to report 3 work search activities per week even with trailing spouse benefits My claim was approved in about 2.5 weeks and the whole process was much smoother than I expected. The key really is having all your documentation ready upfront. Since you're dealing with kids and school registration timelines, maybe talk to your husband's new employer about whether they can provide any temporary housing assistance or extended timeline flexibility while you get everything sorted out. Good luck with the move!

I went through a similar situation last year when my husband got promoted and transferred from Waco to Amarillo for his banking job. Based on my experience, you should definitely qualify for trailing spouse benefits - the 4-hour commute distance alone makes it clearly unreasonable, and going back to his original company with a promotion strengthens your case even more. A few things that really helped my claim get approved quickly: 1. I made sure my resignation letter explicitly stated "I am resigning to relocate with my spouse due to his job transfer" - don't just say you're "moving" 2. I got a letter from my husband's HR department confirming the transfer was company-initiated (not something he requested) 3. I applied to a few jobs in Amarillo BEFORE I moved and kept records of those applications - this showed TWC I was serious about finding work in the new location 4. I filed my claim the day after my last day of work rather than waiting until after we physically moved My claim was approved in about 19 days and I received benefits while job searching. The work search requirement is 3 activities per week, but applications to hospitals in East Texas absolutely count. Given your husband's situation with the company buyout and returning to his original employer, plus the obvious distance issue, your case sounds very strong. Just make sure you have that official start date in writing before you resign!

I went through this exact situation about a year ago when my husband got transferred from El Paso to Austin for his tech job. Your case sounds really solid - the 4-hour distance is way beyond what TWC considers reasonable for commuting, and the fact that he's returning to his original company with a promotion makes it clearly employment-related rather than voluntary. A few things that made my process smoother: 1. I waited until my husband had his official written offer with start date before giving notice 2. My resignation letter specifically said "I am resigning to accompany my spouse who is relocating for employment purposes" 3. I requested a letter from my husband's HR confirming the transfer details and business necessity 4. I started applying to jobs in Austin before we moved and kept detailed records for the work search requirement The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment. One thing I learned - even with trailing spouse benefits, you still need to do 3 work search activities per week, but job applications in your new city definitely count toward that. Given everything you've been through with the apartment fire and company changes, plus the clear documentation you should be able to provide, I think you'll be approved without issue. Just make sure you have all your paperwork lined up before you file!

I'm currently going through a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively! Based on everything I've read and the advice from TWC representatives, your case sounds like it should definitely qualify for trailing spouse benefits. The key factors working in your favor are: 1) Your husband is returning to his original employer (shows legitimate business relationship), 2) He's getting a promotion (demonstrates career advancement necessity), 3) The 4-hour commute distance is way beyond TWC's "reasonable" threshold, and 4) The company buyout situation provides clear documentation of why the move became necessary. I'd recommend getting everything documented before you resign: your husband's written offer letter with start date, a letter from his HR department explaining the transfer/promotion, and start keeping records of any East Texas hospital applications you submit. Also make sure your resignation letter explicitly states you're leaving "to relocate with spouse for employment purposes" - that specific wording seems to be important for TWC. From what I've read in similar cases, approval typically takes 2-3 weeks if you have all the right documentation upfront. You'll still need to do 3 work search activities per week, but applications to hospitals in East Texas count toward that requirement. Given everything your family has been through with the apartment fire and company changes, this move sounds completely justified from both a personal and legal standpoint.

I've been following this conversation closely as someone who went through trailing spouse benefits in Texas about 18 months ago. Your situation sounds very strong for approval - the combination of your husband returning to his original employer with a promotion, the 4-hour commute distance, and the clear business necessity due to the company buyout should make this a straightforward case for TWC. A few additional points that might help based on my experience: 1. Consider getting a brief letter from your current hospital's HR stating they have no facilities or positions available in East Texas - this shows you explored keeping your current job before resigning 2. When calculating the commute distance for your documentation, include both mileage AND time - TWC considers anything over 2 hours each way unreasonable, and you're at double that 3. Save all your East Texas hospital job applications in a folder with dates - you'll need 3 work search activities per week even with trailing spouse benefits, but these absolutely count 4. File your claim online the day after your last day of work rather than waiting until you've physically moved The approval timeline seems to run 2-3 weeks based on what others have shared here, which matches my experience. Just make sure your resignation letter explicitly states you're leaving "to accompany spouse for employment relocation" and you should be good to go. With two kids to think about, this sounds like exactly the kind of family situation the trailing spouse provision was designed to protect!