Can I still get TWC benefits with fluctuating part-time work while searching for another job?

Yes, you can definitely still receive partial unemployment while working part-time AND looking for another part-time job. This is actually quite common! TWC uses what's called a "partial unemployment" calculation where they deduct 30% of your weekly benefit amount, then subtract your earnings from that week. As long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive some payment. For example: If your WBA (weekly benefit amount) is $420, TWC doesn't count the first $126 (30% of $420) of your earnings. So you can earn up to $126 and still get your full $420. After that, each dollar reduces your benefit by a dollar. Regarding work search - YES, you still need to complete 3 work search activities each week when requesting payment. Being part-time employed doesn't change that requirement. Make sure you're documenting these properly in your payment requests.

I went thru this last yr. TWC system is SO confusing with part time work!!! Some weeks u get paid some weeks NOTHING even when ur hours are similar!! Make sure u report EXACTLY what u earned each week not wat u got paid. The week ends Saturday at midnight for TWC. I almost got hit with an overpayment bc I reported wrong!

Let me clarify a few things about your situation: 1. You can absolutely receive unemployment while working part-time AND searching for another part-time job. TWC doesn't require you to look for full-time work only. 2. The calculation works like this: TWC subtracts 30% of your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA), then subtracts your gross earnings (before taxes) for that week. Whatever remains is your payment. 3. Work search requirements: Yes, you must complete 3 work search activities EACH week you request payment, even if you already have part-time work. This is a common misunderstanding. 4. Important: Be very careful to report wages for the week you EARNED them, not when you got paid. The TWC week runs Sunday through Saturday. 5. Keep detailed records of all your work searches and hours worked. TWC can audit you up to a year later. Hope this helps clarify things!

This situation sounds familiar... I was working like 20ish hours at a restaurant last year while on unemployment. TWC actually stopped all my benefits for 3 weeks because they said I wasn't doing enough work searches even though I was already working! Had to call them to fix it and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through. Spent days just calling and getting busy signals.

The system is designed to FAIL US!!! I went through the exact same thing and TWC flagged my account for "inadequate work search" even though I was working 20 hours already! Then they DEMANDED I pay back $2100 in benefits! It took EIGHT WEEKS of appeals to get it resolved. They don't care about part-time workers AT ALL!!!! The entire system is broken!!!!

heya i work 2 part time jobs and still get unemployment sometimes. just make sure ur reporting both jobs when u do ur payment request thing. also they only care about what u made that week not how many jobs u have

Since no one has mentioned it yet - make sure you're using WorkInTexas.com for at least some of your work searches. TWC prefers this, and it automatically documents your work search activities. Also, any week you earn more than your WBA, you won't receive benefits, but you still need to request payment and report your work searches to keep your claim active. If you don't request payment for three weeks in a row, your claim becomes inactive and you'll need to reapply.

Just wanted to add one more important detail that might help - when you're working part-time with fluctuating hours like you described, TWC calculates your benefits based on your GROSS earnings (before taxes) for each specific week. So if you work 15 hours one week at $12/hour, that's $180 gross that week. If your WBA is $300, they'd subtract 30% ($90), leaving $210, then subtract your $180 earnings, giving you $30 in benefits for that week. The key is being super consistent with reporting. I've found it helpful to keep a simple weekly log with: dates worked, hours worked, gross pay earned, and work search activities completed. This way when you do your payment request, you have everything organized by TWC's Sunday-Saturday week format. Also, don't stress too much about finding that second part-time job affecting your benefits - as long as your combined earnings from both jobs stay under your WBA after the 30% deduction, you'll still qualify for partial benefits. The system is actually designed to encourage people to work while job searching!

I'm in a very similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned through trial and error. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track everything week by week. I have columns for: work dates, hours worked, gross pay, work search activities (with company names and dates), and then my actual TWC payment received. This has been a lifesaver because I can see patterns in my payments and catch any mistakes before they become bigger problems. For example, I noticed I was consistently reporting earnings in the wrong week because I was going by my payday instead of when I actually worked the hours. Also, don't forget that your work search activities can include things like updating your resume, attending job fairs, or even networking events. TWC accepts a pretty wide range of activities as long as they're legitimate job search efforts and you document them properly. The most important thing I've learned is to be absolutely consistent with your reporting and documentation. TWC can and will audit your claim, and having everything organized makes that process much less stressful if it happens to you.

One more thing to keep in mind - TWC has specific guidelines about what constitutes "suitable work" that might affect your job search strategy. Since you're already working part-time at a warehouse, they generally expect you to look for work that's reasonably similar to your skills and experience level, but they can't require you to only apply for full-time positions. I'd recommend keeping a mix in your work searches - some for additional part-time work (which is totally valid), some for full-time positions in case the right opportunity comes up, and don't forget about temp agencies! Registering with staffing agencies counts as a work search activity and they often have both part-time and full-time opportunities. Also, make sure you understand your "base period" wages that determined your WBA. If you've been working part-time for a while and your earnings increase significantly, you might want to consider filing a new claim eventually if it would result in a higher benefit amount. But definitely talk to TWC about this first since timing matters a lot with new claims. Good luck with finding that second part-time job! The partial unemployment system really can be a lifeline while you're building up more stable income.

I've been in a similar situation with fluctuating part-time hours and can share some additional insights that might help! One thing I learned the hard way is that TWC's online system sometimes glitches when you have irregular income patterns. If you notice your payment amounts seem off compared to what you calculated, definitely keep records and don't hesitate to call (even though it's a pain to get through). Also, regarding your work search requirements - I found it helpful to think of it as building a diverse portfolio of job search activities. Since you're already working part-time, you can count things like: updating your WorkInTexas profile, researching companies in your area, attending virtual career workshops, and even following up on previous applications. The key is variety and documentation. One tip that saved me: create a simple weekly checklist for your TWC requirements. Mine includes: 1) Track all work hours and earnings by date worked, 2) Complete and document 3 work searches, 3) Submit payment request on time, 4) Keep copies of everything. Having a routine made it much less overwhelming when juggling work and job searching. Best of luck with finding that second part-time position! The flexibility of partial unemployment really can help bridge the gap while you build more stable income.

Hey Isabella! I just went through almost exactly the same situation last year, so I totally get your confusion. The good news is that TWC absolutely allows you to receive partial benefits while working part-time AND searching for additional part-time work - you don't have to limit yourself to looking for full-time only. The key things that helped me navigate this were: 1) Set up a simple tracking system right away. I use a basic notebook where I write down each week (Sunday-Saturday) with my work hours, gross earnings, and 3 work search activities. This prevents the reporting mistakes that can cause payment delays. 2) Remember that TWC calculates benefits based on when you WORKED the hours, not when you got paid. This was my biggest mistake initially and it caused some overpayment issues that took weeks to resolve. 3) You absolutely still need to do 3 work search activities every single week, even with your current part-time job. But these can include a variety of things - job applications (part-time or full-time), updating your WorkInTexas profile, networking, following up on previous applications, etc. 4) The partial benefit calculation is: (Your WBA - 30% of WBA) - your weekly gross earnings = your payment. As long as this number is positive, you'll get something. Keep pushing forward - having fluctuating part-time work while job searching is totally manageable within the TWC system once you get the routine down!

I'm in a really similar boat right now! Working at a retail store with inconsistent hours (anywhere from 12-28 hours per week) and it's so stressful trying to predict when I'll get benefits and when I won't. One thing that's helped me is actually calling ahead to my manager when possible to get a rough idea of my schedule for the week. That way I can at least mentally prepare for whether it'll be a "benefits week" or not. Obviously schedules change, but having some advance warning helps with budgeting. Also, I've started treating my work search activities like appointments - I schedule specific times each week to do applications, update profiles, etc. Making it routine instead of scrambling at the last minute has reduced my stress a lot. The fluctuating income is definitely challenging, but reading through all these responses gives me hope that we can make this work! Good luck with finding that second part-time job - I'm searching for one too and it's tough out there, but we've got this! 💪

As someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago, I want to emphasize something that really helped me succeed with TWC partial benefits while working fluctuating part-time hours: CREATE A SIMPLE WEEKLY ROUTINE and stick to it religiously. Every Sunday night, I sit down for 15 minutes and: 1) Write down exactly what hours I worked the previous week (Sunday-Saturday) and calculate my gross earnings 2) Plan out my 3 work search activities for the upcoming week 3) Set reminders on my phone for when to complete each activity This routine has prevented SO many reporting errors and missed requirements. I used to be constantly stressed about whether I was doing everything right, but having a consistent system made it much more manageable. Also, don't underestimate the value of temp agencies! I registered with 3 different ones in my area, and not only did each registration count as a work search activity, but one of them actually found me a second part-time job that perfectly complemented my existing schedule. They understand flexible scheduling needs way better than most regular employers. The TWC system definitely has its quirks, but once you get into a rhythm with the reporting and documentation, it really can provide that crucial financial bridge while you're building up more stable income. Hang in there - you're asking all the right questions and clearly want to do this correctly!

I'm currently in almost the exact same situation! Working part-time at a grocery store with hours that bounce between 16-30 per week, and I never know which weeks I'll get TWC benefits until I submit my payment request. It's such a rollercoaster financially. One thing I discovered that might help you - when you're doing your work search activities, make sure to save confirmation emails or screenshots from job applications. I got randomly selected for a TWC audit last month and they wanted proof of every single work search I'd reported for the past 8 weeks. Having those confirmations saved me from a potential overpayment situation. Also, I've found that searching for "part-time" specifically on WorkInTexas.com actually brings up more relevant opportunities than just browsing all jobs. Since we're already working part-time, a lot of employers are more willing to work around existing schedules for another part-time position. The uncertainty is definitely stressful, but knowing that I can potentially add another part-time job and still receive some benefits (as long as my total earnings stay under my WBA) gives me hope for building more stable income. Keep us posted on how your job search goes - it sounds like several of us are in similar boats and could learn from each other's experiences!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share something that's really helped me stay organized with all the TWC requirements while working inconsistent part-time hours. I created what I call my "TWC Weekly Tracker" - it's just a simple table I keep on my phone with columns for: Work Date, Hours, Gross Pay, Work Search Activity, Company/Details, and Date Completed. Every day I work, I immediately log my hours and earnings. Every time I do a work search activity, I log it right away with screenshots saved to a specific folder. This has been a game-changer because when it's time to submit my payment request, everything is already organized by TWC's Sunday-Saturday week format. No more trying to remember what I did three days ago or miscalculating which earnings belong to which week. One thing I learned that might help - if you're looking for that second part-time job, try reaching out to businesses during their slower hours and explain your situation. I found that smaller employers are often more willing to work around existing part-time schedules, especially if you're upfront about your availability from the start. The partial unemployment system really can work as a bridge while you build more stable income. Just stay consistent with documentation and reporting - TWC rewards accuracy and penalizes mistakes, so developing good habits now will save you headaches later. You've got this! 💪

I'm going through something really similar right now and wanted to share a few things that have helped me navigate the TWC system with inconsistent part-time hours! First, the good news - you can absolutely continue receiving partial benefits while working part-time AND searching for another part-time job. TWC doesn't require you to only look for full-time work. The key is understanding their calculation: they subtract 30% of your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA), then subtract your gross weekly earnings. Whatever's left is your payment. A few practical tips that have saved me a lot of stress: 1) **Track everything by TWC's week** (Sunday-Saturday). I keep a simple note in my phone where I log my work hours and earnings by the dates I actually worked, not when I got paid. This prevents those confusing reporting errors. 2) **You still need 3 work search activities every week**, even with your current job. But these can be diverse - job applications, updating your WorkInTexas profile, contacting temp agencies, following up on previous applications, etc. 3) **Save proof of everything**. Screenshots of applications, confirmation emails, etc. TWC can audit you randomly and ask for documentation going back weeks. 4) **Try temp agencies** - registering with them counts as work search activities AND they often have part-time opportunities that work around existing schedules. The system definitely has its learning curve, but once you get into a routine with proper documentation and reporting, it really can provide that financial bridge while you build more stable income. Hang in there!