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

SSDI, the one based on work history. I've worked full time for about 11 years so I think I qualify to apply at least.

Yeah that distinction matters a lot actually. SSI is need-based, SSDI is work-record based. For TWC purposes both are treated differently so good clarification.

That's really helpful, I've been trying to get through to someone at TWC for days with no luck. I'll check that out.

Good to know there's a way to actually reach someone. I've been going back and forth about whether to even file because of my own situation with disability income.

My cousin had a workers comp situation too and TWC sent her a determination letter within a few weeks explaining exactly what would be deducted if anything. She said calling in actually helped speed up getting the right information.

Right, that's exactly what I'm worried about. My doctor hasn't said I'm totally disabled, just that I have restrictions. So I think I'm okay saying I can work, just not in my old role.

This is the accurate way to think about it. The two programs have different definitions of disability. SSDI is about your ability to do substantial gainful activity generally, while TWC looks at whether you can do some kind of work week to week. Having limitations doesn't automatically mean you fail either test.

Does being on SSDI also affect how much you can earn while claiming unemployment? Like is there an earnings limit that stacks?

Oh that's clarifying, so the issue isn't the money side, it's the availability question.

This makes me feel better about the application I already submitted. I was worried I'd done something wrong just by filing.

Worth noting though that TWC mails you a determination on this stuff, it's not like you just get approved automatically and nothing is reviewed.

This is the clearest explanation I've seen on this. The 'able and available' requirement is really the crux of it.

My physical therapist actually told me I should document everything about what work I can and can't do, specifically for situations like navigating these two programs at the same time.

SSDI approval doesn't automatically end your unemployment eligibility, but it can affect your able and available status depending on what your determination says. The safest move is to call TWC if your SSDI situation changes.

Yeah I've been wondering about this too. What if Social Security decides I'm disabled enough for SSDI but I'm still doing some light work searching? It feels like I could get caught in the middle.

The TWC won't just figure it out for you - you have to report changes to your situation. That's on the claimant.

I'm in Harris County and registered on WorkInTexas.com already. I figured I'd apply for administrative or coordinator type roles. Does applying on WorkInTexas.com count toward the work search log?

Applying through WorkInTexas.com absolutely counts. Keep records of everything - the job title, company, date, how you applied. TWC can ask for your log at any time.

Harris County requires 5 work search activities a week which is more than most. Just want to make sure you know that in case your letter says a lower number, double check it.

How long did it take to get the workers comp determination from TWC? Mine is pending and I don't know if I should wait before making my first payment request.

Don't wait on making payment requests. Keep requesting on your regular schedule, even before any determination comes back. TWC only pays weeks you requested on time - that's really important.

This is crucial. Missing a payment request is so easy to do when you're waiting to hear back on other stuff, and you can't get those weeks back easily.

Private LTD policies and SSDI are handled differently by TWC. With private disability insurance you should report it on your payment requests under other income and TWC will mail a determination on how it affects your benefits. Don't assume it has no effect.

Ugh okay so I need to report it. I had no idea that was a question on the payment request form.

Every payment request asks about income from other sources, and that includes disability payments. It's always better to report and let TWC decide than to not report and face an overpayment later.

That's honestly the scariest part of all this. I'd rather be super conservative and lose out on a few weeks than get hit with an overpayment.

Seriously the overpayment thing is brutal. I know someone who had to deal with one and TWC took it from his next job's wages through some kind of lien. It went on for months.

To be clear - TWC doesn't garnish wages directly. They can file an Abstract of Assessment which creates a lien, and they can intercept federal tax refunds and state payments like lottery winnings. The collection is real but it's not a paycheck garnishment.

That's a really smart system. I've been kind of winging it mentally and I need to be more organized.

Also keep copies of everything TWC sends you - the determination letters especially. Those have dates on them that matter if you ever need to appeal anything, and the appeal window is only 14 calendar days from when it was mailed.

Framed that way I'm definitely available. I could start a data entry or customer service job tomorrow if someone offered it.

That's a really useful framing. It also helps when you're doing your work search - you should be applying for jobs you'd actually accept, not just going through the motions.

How did his appeal end up going?

He won the appeal because he could show his doctor's actual limitations note was about his prior job specifically and he had genuinely been applying for sedentary work. The Appeal Tribunal went off the actual evidence at the hearing, not what Social Security had on file.

The appeal hearing is a phone call with one Hearing Officer and you present your own evidence. No lawyer required. The written decision usually comes within about five to ten working days after the hearing. It's worth doing if you get a determination you disagree with.

Good to hear from someone who called specifically about a medical thing. I might use it to get clarity on my specific SSDI situation before my first payment request is due.

My payment request is coming up and I have a part-time job I picked up. I've been meaning to call and ask how to report partial earnings correctly too.

So if my weekly benefit is like $400, I can earn up to $100 without any reduction? And then above $100 it starts coming off my payment dollar for dollar?

Exactly. And if you earned $501 or more in that example, you'd get zero for the week. But that's just for that week - it doesn't affect your other weeks.

I need to remember this. If I do pick up any light duty work during this process I'll know how to report it correctly.

That's good context. Though if the OP gets denied it would more likely be for the able and available issue than a job separation issue, right?

Yeah, job separation and ongoing eligibility are separate issues. Separation is about how you left your job. Able and available is about every week going forward. They're handled in separate determination letters.

TWC sends a determination for each issue, and even if one comes back saying it can pay, another one saying it can't will override it. Don't celebrate one approval letter too early if there are multiple issues pending.

Keep making your payment requests on schedule even while in adjudication - that's the most important thing. The waiting week is the first payable week and TWC holds it until you've been paid two times your weekly benefit amount AND you either return to full-time work or use up your benefits. Both conditions have to be met.

Oh I thought it just paid out after a couple payments. So it doesn't automatically come through, there's a separate step?

For going back to full-time work, you do have to request it specifically through UBS or Tele-Serv. It doesn't happen automatically. If you exhaust your benefits it handles itself, but if you go back to work you need to actively request that waiting week payment.

14 days is so short. I feel like most people don't even look at their mail quickly enough to catch that.

You can appeal online through UBS which helps because you're not waiting on physical mail going back and forth. The date that matters is when the determination was mailed to you, not when you received it, so act fast.

This is really important to know. I'm going to keep a close eye on any mail from TWC and check UBS every day.

The two-factor code at every login is a little annoying but I get why they do it.

It's worth making sure your phone number and email on the account are current so the login code actually reaches you. People get locked out because their contact info is outdated.

My situation is a little similar - I have a small annuity from a previous employer. I've been wondering if that would count against my claim.

Whether it's a base period employer is the key question. If your annuity is from somewhere you worked in roughly the last two years, it might matter. If it's older than that, probably not. But a TWC agent can tell you definitively for your specific situation.

This thread has been genuinely the most useful thing I've found on this whole situation. Thank you all.