Can I reopen my March TWC claim after 3 months working? Just lost new job

Yes, you can reopen your existing claim as long as you're still in the same benefit year (which is 52 weeks from when you initially applied in March). Log into your TWC account and look for the option that says 'Request to reopen claim' or something similar. You'll need to provide information about your most recent employer and explain why you're no longer working there. Since you were terminated for alleged policy violations, TWC will likely contact your employer for their side of the story, which could delay things if they contest your eligibility. The standard processing time is 2-3 weeks, but it could be longer if there are issues with your separation reason.

Same thing happened to me last yr. U gotta call and reactivate ur claim. but GOOD LUCK getting thru!! Been trying for 2 days straight and NOTHING but busy signals!!

When you reopen a claim TWC will investigate your most recent work separation regardless of which job the benefits are based on. If your employer says they fired you for misconduct, TWC might deny benefits completely. They have to check if you're currently eligible, not just if you were eligible before. Did you get any documentation about why they fired you?

I just went through this process last month after going back to work for a short time. The most important thing to understand is that TWC will investigate your most recent job separation EVEN IF you're reopening an old claim. That's because eligibility depends on WHY you're currently unemployed, not just your past work history. Policy violations can be tricky - if the employer can show you knowingly broke reasonable policies, TWC might consider that misconduct and deny benefits. But if the policy was unreasonable or they didn't properly communicate expectations, you have a good case. Make sure you're very clear in your explanation when you reopen the claim. Document EVERYTHING about your separation - dates, who told you what, any witnesses, etc. And be prepared for a phone interview with a TWC examiner. As for timing - the basic reopening process is pretty quick (1-2 days) if there are no issues, but the investigation into your separation could add 2-3 weeks or more. If your case is straightforward you might get a determination faster.

Good luck getting through to twc lol i tryed for 2 weeks straight before i gave up last time

Bro, they gonna hit u with the "able and available" requirement no matter what. UI isnt just about having benefits left. They check if ur laid off or fired without misconduct EACH TIME. If u got fired for breaking rules thats misconduct and ur probably screwed. I got denied even with benefits left for the same reason. The whole system is rigged to deny people!!!

Here's what you need to do specifically: 1. Log into your TWC account at ui.texasworkforce.org 2. Select the option to "Request Benefit Payment" (it's confusing, but this also triggers the system to check if you need to reopen) 3. The system will recognize you haven't requested payment recently and will guide you through reopening the claim 4. You'll need to provide: - Last day worked at new employer - Reason for separation (be careful how you word this) - Any wages earned in the last week After reopening, you'll get a confirmation number and instructions to request payment on your assigned day. However, because you were terminated for policy violations, your payment will likely be held pending an investigation. TWC will mail you a questionnaire about your separation - complete this IMMEDIATELY and return it. The investigation typically takes 2-3 weeks, but the current backlog might extend that to 4-5 weeks. Continue requesting payments on your assigned days during this time. Regarding eligibility - TWC will determine if the policy you violated was reasonable and if your violation constitutes misconduct. If they rule in your favor, you'll receive all held payments. If they rule against you, you can appeal within 14 days.

One more thing - while your claim is under investigation, make sure you're doing your work search activities (minimum 3 per week) and documenting them. Even if your payments are held pending the investigation, you still need to meet all eligibility requirements. If you don't do your work searches during this time and TWC eventually approves your claim, you could end up disqualified for those weeks anyway.

dont feel bad i got fired for stupid reason too...they said i was on my phone but EVERYONE uses there phones all day and they only fired ME!!! still fighting it 3 wks later

Based on your situation, here's what will likely happen: 1. You can reopen your claim and potentially receive the remaining benefits from your March claim 2. TWC will investigate your separation from the warehouse job 3. If they determine you were fired for misconduct, you'll be disqualified until you earn 6x your weekly benefit amount at a new job 4. If they determine it wasn't misconduct (like if the policy was unreasonable or inconsistently enforced), you can receive your remaining benefits The important thing is to be completely honest about your separation reason while highlighting any mitigating factors (like calling in properly for your absences). Don't say you were laid off if you were fired - that's fraud and can result in having to repay benefits plus penalties.

Yes, that's exactly what it means. If your weekly benefit amount was $300, you'd need to earn $1,800 at a new job before regaining eligibility. This is Texas's way of ensuring people don't immediately return to unemployment after being fired for misconduct. It's meant to be a significant hurdle. But again, this only applies if TWC determines you were fired for misconduct. Based on what you've described (missing only 2 days with proper call-ins), you may have a good case that this wasn't misconduct. Just make sure you clearly explain the circumstances of each absence during your TWC interview.

Absolutely save those text messages! Any documentation showing you followed proper procedures for reporting absences will be extremely valuable. Take screenshots and be prepared to submit them if requested. Also, if you have any performance reviews or feedback from your time there that was positive, have that ready too. Sometimes employers will retroactively claim performance issues to justify a termination, so evidence of good performance can counter that. One last thing - check your employee handbook if you have it. If their attendance policy specifically outlines a warning system that they didn't follow before firing you, that's another point in your favor.

Rita, I went through almost the exact same situation a few months ago - worked for about 4 months after reopening my claim, then got let go for what they called "policy violations" but was really just nitpicking. Here's my advice: document EVERYTHING about your termination right now while it's fresh in your memory. Write down exact dates, who said what, any witnesses present, etc. The fact that you only missed 2 days in 3 months and called in both times actually works in your favor - that shows you were trying to follow proper procedures. When you do your TWC interview (and you will have one), emphasize that you had legitimate reasons (sick child, car trouble) and followed their call-in process. Also, start your work search activities immediately even before your claim is approved. You need 3 documented job searches per week, and if you wait until after approval, you could lose those weeks retroactively. One more tip - try calling TWC early in the morning (like 7:30-8:00 AM) or late in the day. I had better luck getting through during off-peak hours. Good luck!

Just want to add one more thing that helped me when I reopened my claim after a similar situation. Make sure when you log into your TWC account that you click "Request Payment" first - don't look for a separate "reopen claim" button. The system is smart enough to detect that you need to reopen and will walk you through it automatically. Also, while you're waiting for the investigation to complete, consider reaching out to local workforce centers or career services. Some have emergency assistance programs that can help with rent or utilities while you're waiting for benefits to kick in. In Harris County, for example, they have short-term financial assistance specifically for people waiting on unemployment determinations. Keep your chin up - the fact that you followed proper call-in procedures and only missed 2 days in 3 months shows you were a responsible employee. TWC investigators can usually tell the difference between genuine policy violations and employers looking for excuses to terminate someone. Your case sounds like it has merit!

Rita, I'm really sorry you're going through this stress - losing a job is tough enough without worrying about rent! I went through a similar situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. First, definitely reopen your claim ASAP through your TWC account. Since you're still within your benefit year from March, you should be able to access those remaining weeks. The investigation into your termination is unavoidable, but based on what you've described, you have a solid case - only 2 absences in 3 months with proper call-ins shows you were following procedures. Here's something that really helped me: when I had my phone interview with TWC, I emphasized that I had legitimate emergency reasons (sick child, car trouble) and followed their notification process each time. The investigator told me they see a big difference between employees who just don't show up versus those who communicate properly when emergencies happen. Also, don't stress too much about the 2-3 week timeline - in my case, it was closer to 2 weeks because I had documentation and the employer couldn't really dispute that I'd followed their call-in policy. Keep those text messages handy and maybe try to get a copy of their attendance policy if possible. Hang in there - your situation sounds very defensible to me!

Hey Rita! I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - job loss is stressful enough without having to navigate the TWC system. I actually went through something very similar about 6 months ago, so I wanted to share what I learned. The good news is that you can absolutely reopen your March claim since you're still within your benefit year. When you log into your TWC account, don't look for a "reopen" button - just click "Request Payment" and the system will automatically detect that you need to reopen and guide you through it. Now here's the reality check: TWC will investigate your most recent separation regardless of which claim the benefits come from. BUT based on what you've described, I think you have a really strong case. Only missing 2 days in 3 months with proper call-ins shows you were trying to be a responsible employee. Sick child and car trouble are exactly the kinds of legitimate emergencies that TWC understands. Make sure you save those text messages showing you notified your supervisor - that documentation will be crucial during your phone interview. Also, if their policy required warnings before termination and you never got any, that's another point in your favor. The investigation will probably take 2-3 weeks, but keep requesting payments on your assigned days during this time. And definitely start your work search activities right away (3 per week minimum) even while waiting for approval. You've got this! Your situation sounds very defensible to me.