Can u draw unemployment if fired? Texas TWC rules explained

That's a relief to hear. The 'productivity standards' thing felt vague to me too, like they never really defined what I was supposed to hit.

Exactly this. TWC asks both sides — what the employer says and what you say. Document everything you remember about that one verbal conversation and when it happened.

my old job fired me for "attendance" and i got approved so yeah it's not automatic denial just because you got fired

Wait, I already applied but haven't done a payment request yet. The letter I got in the mail says a date to start requesting — should I really just do it even though nothing is decided yet?

Yes, absolutely request on the date they give you. The payment request and the eligibility decision are separate tracks. TWC tells you to keep requesting regardless.

This tripped me up on my claim too. I waited thinking I had to get approved first and missed two weeks. Don't make that mistake.

Five weeks in adjudication sounds awful. Did they tell you what triggered it — was it just the employer disputing or something else?

The agent said my employer submitted a response saying it was for misconduct, so TWC had to review both sides before making a determination. Knowing that actually helped me prepare a written statement.

My claim is currently in adjudication after a firing too, been three weeks. Going to try that service to see what stage mine is at.

Adjudication just means they're still investigating, right? Like it's not the same as being denied?

Oh okay that makes more sense. So adjudication isn't bad news by itself, it just means they haven't decided yet.

Good to know the appeal option exists too. 14 days feels short though — does the clock start from when you get the letter or when they mail it?

From when it's mailed — the date printed on the letter, not when it shows up in your mailbox. That's why checking UBS daily matters so you don't lose track.

I almost missed my appeal window because of this exact thing. Mailed date, not received date. Keep checking UBS and your physical mail every day.

That's how I saw it too. I was never handed anything to sign, no PIP, nothing formal.

I work adjacent to HR and the documentation thing really does matter. An employer saying 'performance' without any paper trail is a weak basis for a misconduct claim.

Exactly. And TWC sends the employer a notice asking them to explain the reason for separation. If they say misconduct they have to back that up with something.

I haven't gotten that work search letter yet — should I just start doing activities anyway to be safe?

Definitely start. The requirement kicks in right away and TWC can ask for your log at any time. Better to have entries you don't need than to be missing ones they ask for.

Harris, Dallas, Travis, Bexar and Tarrant counties all require five activities a week. Everywhere else is fewer but check your letter when it comes since that's what's official for your situation.

Okay so my weekly amount would be based on my actual wages, not some flat rate. That's good to know.

Right. If you log into UBS after a few days you should be able to see your monetary determination which shows the base period wages TWC has on file and what your weekly amount would be.

Don't forget the maximum benefit amount caps out at the lower of 26 times your weekly benefit or 27 percent of all your base period wages. Most people hit the 26-week version but it's worth knowing there's a second cap.

Yeah it felt blindsiding. I really wasn't expecting it.

Document every single thing you remember. Dates, what was said, who was in the room. You'll want all of it if this goes to a hearing.

The appeal hearing is a phone call with a Hearing Officer who goes through the evidence. No lawyer required. Just have your facts organized and your documentation ready.

I had no idea about that requirement. Going to do it right now.

Good. UBS and WorkInTexas.com use the same User ID and password, so once you're set up in one you're set up in both basically.

Also each time you log in to UBS you need a one-time code, just so you're not caught off guard by that. It's part of their verification process.

Knowing someone got approved in a similar situation helps a lot. Did you do anything specific that you think helped your case?

Mostly I just answered TWC's questions honestly and in detail when they reached out. And I kept requesting payments on schedule even when I had no idea what was happening with the decision.

Two business days after processing is accurate for direct deposit. I'd recommend signing up for direct deposit in UBS instead of waiting for the debit card to arrive.

This is accurate. TWC isn't a court. They're making an administrative decision based on what both parties tell them.

Right, which is why giving TWC a thorough, honest account of what happened matters just as much as what the employer submits.

That makes sense. I'll make sure I respond to anything TWC sends me as fully as I can.

So I'll eventually get that first week paid, it's just held until those conditions are met?

Exactly. It's not gone, just delayed. And it's not released automatically if you return to work — you have to trigger it yourself.

Tele-Serv is 800-558-8321 for anyone who wants to do it by phone. Option 2 then Option 4 to request the waiting week after returning to full-time work.

Once a day, got it. I've been refreshing it like every hour which is probably pointless.

Completely pointless unfortunately, but everyone does it. Set a time each morning and check then, otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy.

That's exactly what I'd want to know about my claim. Going to try it today.

Did you have to do anything besides just getting connected to the agent, or did they handle everything in that one call?

One call was enough for what I needed. I had my Social Security number and claim info ready and the agent pulled everything up quickly.

No severance in my case, they just handed me the COBRA packet and that was it.

Then that's one less complication for your claim. The COBRA stuff doesn't affect your UI eligibility at all, it's just your health insurance option.

Filing an appeal is very much a real option. You write it up and submit within 14 days of the mailed date on the determination. Online through UBS, in person at a Workforce Solutions office, or by mail or fax. Can't do it by phone or email though. First level is a telephone hearing with a Hearing Officer.

The hearing packet usually comes six to eight weeks before the hearing date and they mail it five to ten days before it happens. Register your phone number 15 to 60 minutes before call time.

So you can appeal without a lawyer and do the whole thing by phone? That's more accessible than I expected.

No lawyer needed at all. Just your documentation and your account of what happened. The Hearing Officer reviews the evidence from both sides.

Good to know ahead of time. I'll probably set up the withholding.

You can set that up in UBS. Better to do it early than get a surprise when you file.

Consistency makes sense. I've been pretty clear in my own head about what happened, so I'll just stick to the facts.

That's really all it takes. Stick to the factual sequence of events and don't embellish. TWC just wants to understand what actually happened.

That's a good reminder. I do some occasional odd jobs and I wasn't sure if I had to report those.

All work counts — side jobs, gig work, anything. Report the gross amount for the week you did the work, even if you haven't been paid yet. Self-employed report net profit. Don't skip it.

The earnings reporting rule is you can earn up to 25 percent of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction. Above that it starts reducing your payment for that week. Worth running the math so you know your personal threshold.

This is basically the summary I needed. Applied, doing payment requests, starting work search log, will respond to any TWC notices. Feels manageable now.

That's exactly the right mindset. The waiting is the hard part but you've done everything you can do on your end.

And if a denial comes, appeal it. Many termination denials get reversed at the hearing level.