Can TWC approve unemployment if I left job for domestic violence safety concerns?
I need to know if I qualify for TWC benefits in my situation. I didn't renew my teaching contract that ends in early June because my soon-to-be ex-husband physically assaulted me (I ended up hospitalized) and I have a protection order against him now. Our divorce finalizes in August, and I can't risk him knowing where I work since my daughter attends the same school. I'm actively job hunting but worried about a gap in income if I don't find something before June. Does anyone know if TWC makes exceptions for domestic violence situations? I've heard there are special circumstances where you can still qualify even if you technically 'chose' to leave your job. Any experiences with this or knowledge about how protective orders affect unemployment eligibility? I'm desperate and scared about supporting myself and my daughter during this transition.
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Kennedy Morrison
Yes, Texas Workforce Commission does have exceptions for situations involving domestic violence. Under Texas law, if you leave your job due to documented family violence, it's considered "good cause" and you won't be disqualified from receiving benefits. Make sure you have documentation like the protective order, police reports, and medical records from your hospitalization ready when you file your claim. This falls under what TWC calls a "compelling personal reason" exception.
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Lily Young
•Thank you so much! That's a relief to hear. When I file, should I just explain this in the section where they ask why I left my job? I'm worried they'll automatically deny me if I check the box saying I didn't renew my contract.
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Wesley Hallow
Im so sorry your going thru this. My sister had something similar happen in 2022 and TWC approved her. She had to upload her restrainin order thing to prove it tho. Good luck!!
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Lily Young
•Thanks for sharing about your sister's situation - that gives me hope! Did she have to wait a long time for approval or did they understand right away? I'm trying to plan my budget and wondering how long I might need to wait.
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Justin Chang
I work as an employment counselor, and I want to clarify a few important points about your situation: 1. Texas Labor Code Section 207.046 specifically protects victims of family violence who need to leave employment for safety reasons 2. When you file, you'll need to clearly explain that your separation was due to documented family violence - this is critical because initially, the system may flag your case as a voluntary quit 3. You'll need to upload your protective order documentation when you file 4. Be prepared for TWC to potentially contact your employer as part of their investigation 5. You must still meet the other eligibility requirements: be able and available for work, and complete your required 3 work search activities each week If you receive a determination letter that denies benefits, immediately file an appeal - many domestic violence cases require additional review.
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Lily Young
•This is incredibly helpful information. I'm definitely still able to work and actively looking for positions at different schools. My concern is that my employer might not understand - I didn't tell them the full situation because I was embarrassed. Will that be a problem when TWC contacts them?
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Grace Thomas
make SURE you explain this during your initial application!!! TWC is notorious for auto-rejecting anything that looks like you left voluntarily. I got denied at first because I picked the wrong reason code when I filed. Had to wait 6 weeks for an appeal hearing before they fixed it. So frustrating!!!!!
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Justin Chang
•This is excellent advice. When filing, there's a section for additional comments - use this space to clearly explain your domestic violence situation even if there isn't a perfect category that fits your circumstances. Detail is important here.
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Hunter Brighton
This happened to my cousin and she ended up getting approved after like 2 months. But she had to keep calling them over and over to explain her situation. They were gonna deny her at first.
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Dylan Baskin
•Getting through to TWC on the phone is almost impossible these days. I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone when I had an issue with my claim last month. Always busy signals or disconnections after waiting forever. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have this service that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh With something as complicated as a domestic violence exception, you definitely need to speak with an actual agent, not just rely on the online system.
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Lauren Wood
I'm so sorry about your situation. Been there. Make absolutely certain you upload ALL documentation. Not just the protective order but also any police reports, hospital records, anything from a domestic violence counselor if you've seen one, everything. TWC can be really picky about proof for these special circumstances. Also start your work search RIGHT AWAY even before your job ends, and document all of it. They check that stuff!
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Lily Young
•Thank you for this advice. I've been keeping a folder with everything - medical records, the protective order, police report. I'll make sure to have it all ready. And I've already started applying for jobs at districts farther away from where we live now.
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Kennedy Morrison
One other important point - when you file, TWC will ask if you're able and available for work. Make sure you indicate that you ARE available to work immediately, just not at your previous workplace. If you put any restrictions on when or where you can work, it could complicate your claim. You can explain the safety concerns during the investigation phase if needed.
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Lily Young
•That makes sense. I am definitely able to work right away - I just need to find a position at a different school district where he won't know to look for me. I appreciate all this guidance so much.
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Wesley Hallow
how far along r u with the divorce? my friend had to file for emergeny custody stuff at same time as the restraining order. twc didnt care about that part but just thought id mention it if u havent already done that part
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Lily Young
•The divorce is filed and we have a court date in August. I do have temporary full custody right now because of the protection order. He's not allowed any contact with either of us until after the divorce, and then there will be supervised visitation with our daughter. It's all so overwhelming dealing with this while job hunting too.
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Justin Chang
Based on what you've shared, you have a very strong case for unemployment benefits under the family violence exception. Make sure you: 1. File as soon as your contract ends in June 2. Have all documentation ready to upload 3. Check your TWC correspondence inbox daily after filing 4. Complete your payment requests every two weeks even if your claim is under review 5. Keep detailed records of all your job search activities If you receive a determination letter approving benefits, great! If you receive a denial, file an appeal immediately (within 14 days) and clearly state that your separation was due to documented family violence as protected under Texas Labor Code 207.046.
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Lily Young
•Thank you so much for this step-by-step guidance. It really helps to know exactly what to do. I'll make sure to file right after my contract ends and follow all these steps carefully. I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's help and advice during this difficult time.
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