Can TWC deny benefits if I was fired over the phone? Just had my interview
So I just finished my TWC phone interview about 45 minutes ago and I'm super anxious waiting to hear the decision. My employer let me go over a phone call three weeks ago (didn't even have the decency to do it face-to-face), claiming 'performance issues' even though I'd never received any written warnings. During the interview, the TWC agent asked a TON of questions about the circumstances and why I was terminated. Now I'm wondering - does being fired over the phone vs in-person impact my eligibility for benefits? I've heard somewhere that employers are required to provide written notice or do terminations in person for unemployment to be valid? Is that true in Texas? Anyone dealt with a similar situation? I'm stressing out about bills already.
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Diego Rojas
The method of termination (phone, email, in-person) doesn't affect your unemployment eligibility in Texas. What matters is the reason for separation. If you were fired for alleged performance issues without prior written warnings, that actually works in your favor. TWC typically approves benefits unless the employer can prove misconduct, which usually requires documentation of warnings and improvement plans. Since you mentioned you never received written warnings, your chances are pretty good. The interview is standard procedure - they have to hear both sides. Watch your correspondence inbox on the TWC portal for the determination letter, which should arrive within 7-10 days.
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Chloe Martin
•Thanks for clarifying! That makes me feel a lot better. I kept thinking being fired over the phone meant they didn't follow proper procedure. The TWC agent did mention something about my employer needing to provide documentation of the performance issues. Fingers crossed the determination comes back in my favor!
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Anastasia Sokolov
I got fired over text message and still got approved lol dont worry
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Chloe Martin
•Over text?! That's even worse than my phone call. Glad to hear you got approved though!
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Sean O'Donnell
What if they DO have documentation though?? My boss said they'd send 'performance metrics' to TWC. But I'm wondering if this counts as documentation since they never actually SHOWED me any of these so-called metrics during my employment. Anyone know if that would still count against me?
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Diego Rojas
•For documentation to really count against you, TWC typically looks for evidence that you were aware of the problems and given a chance to correct them. If they never showed you the metrics or gave you formal warnings with a chance to improve, that weakens their case substantially. TWC tends to side with employees when employers can't show they followed progressive discipline procedures. Keep in mind, they have to prove misconduct, which is a high bar - simple performance issues don't usually meet that threshold.
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Zara Ahmed
same thing happened to me last year! got a random call on a friday saying i was terminated effective immediately for "not meeting expectations" even tho my last review was fine. TWC approved me no problem.
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StarStrider
THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! Companies fire people however they want with zero consequences while we have to jump through a million hoops to get the benefits we're entitled to! I waited SIX WEEKS after my determination letter for my first payment because my former employer contested it with LIES about my performance. Had to send 22 PAGES of documentation proving I was a good employee. Good luck getting anyone at TWC on the phone when your determination is delayed - I tried calling 47 TIMES in one day!!!
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Chloe Martin
•Wow, that sounds awful! Did you eventually get approved? I'm really hoping I don't have to go through all that. The waiting is already killing me.
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StarStrider
•Yes, I finally got approved after the appeal hearing. But it was EXHAUSTING. Make sure you save EVERYTHING - emails where your boss praised your work, performance reviews, ANYTHING that shows you weren't a bad employee. The system is designed to wear you down so you'll give up.
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Luca Esposito
I went through something similar a few months ago. Got fired during a "performance review" call that I didn't even know was coming. My advice: while waiting for the determination, make sure you're completing your payment requests on time (every two weeks) and documenting your three required work search activities each week. Even if your benefits haven't been approved yet, you want to have those payment requests in the system. Don't miss a single one. Also, if your determination gets delayed or you need to check on its status, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to TWC. I was getting nothing but busy signals for days, then a friend told me about this service. They got me connected to an actual agent in about 30 minutes. Their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh - totally worth it when you're in limbo waiting for a decision.
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Zara Ahmed
•yes! remember to do ur payment requests even before approval!!! i messed this up and lost 2 weeks of benefits :
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Chloe Martin
•Thank you for the reminder about payment requests! I was actually wondering if I should be doing those while waiting. And I'll check out that Claimyr service if I need to - the TWC phone lines are impossible to get through.
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Nia Thompson
My neighbor works for TWC (not in determination but in the call center) and she says phone firings are totally valid. But like others said, without documentation of prior warnings, you're in good shape. Also, make sure you're doing those work searches! They're checking those much more closely in 2025 than they were during the pandemic era.
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Chloe Martin
•Good to know, thank you! I've already started applying for jobs and keeping track of everything. Do you know how detailed the work search log needs to be?
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Nia Thompson
•My neighbor says to include full company name, date of application, position title, how you applied (online, in person), and contact info if you have it. TWC is randomly auditing work searches now, so be thorough!
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Anastasia Sokolov
dose anyone know how much they pay now? I heard it got increased
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Diego Rojas
•The maximum weekly benefit amount in Texas for 2025 is $655, up from $616 in 2024. But what you actually get depends on your past wages. TWC uses your base period earnings (roughly the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before your claim) to calculate your benefit amount. Everyone's amount is different based on their work history.
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Sean O'Donnell
Wait wait wait I'm confused about something... do we have to request payment BEFORE being approved? What if we get denied? I'm in a similar situation (fired last week, phone interview scheduled for next Tuesday) and I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing while waiting for the decision??
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Diego Rojas
•Yes, you should request payment according to your assigned schedule even before your claim is approved. If you get denied, nothing happens - you just won't receive those payments. But if you're approved and haven't been requesting payments, you could lose those weeks of benefits. Think of payment requests and claim approval as two separate tracks running simultaneously. Also make sure you're documenting your three work search activities each week starting from the date you applied for benefits.
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Olivia Martinez
Just want to add my experience to help ease your mind - I was terminated via email (not even a phone call!) about 6 months ago for "restructuring" that turned out to be performance-related according to their TWC response. Never got any formal warnings either, just vague feedback in meetings that I thought was normal coaching. My determination took about 8 days and I was approved. The key thing the TWC agent told me during my appeal hearing (my employer initially contested) was that Texas follows "at-will" employment but unemployment benefits have different standards. They look for willful misconduct or deliberate violations, not just performance issues. Since you mentioned no written warnings, you're likely in good shape. Also echoing what others said about payment requests - definitely keep doing those every two weeks even while waiting. I almost missed my first one because I thought I had to wait for approval. Hang in there!
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