First TWC DUA appeal hearing tomorrow - is it intimidating?

I had my DUA appeal hearing about 3 weeks ago. It's really not that bad! The hearing officer was actually pretty chill. Just be organized and have all your documents ready to reference. Mine was over the phone and lasted about 25 minutes. They'll ask you to explain your situation, then ask specific questions about your evidence. If you have that email, make sure to submit it ahead of time through the portal, and be ready to explain the verbal agreement about the rate. Stay calm, be honest, and stick to the facts. Good luck!

they denied my rEgular ui claim last year and i appealed it. was so nervous i couldnt sleep the night before lol. but the lady who did my hearing was nice!! just asked me to explain my side. whole thing took maybe 20 min and i got approved the next week

I went through a DUA appeal last month. Here's what you need to know: 1. The hearing is formal but not scary. The officer will introduce themselves and explain the process. 2. For DUA specifically, you need to prove you were going to start work that was affected by the disaster. 3. Your email confirming the start date is good, but be prepared to explain the verbal wage agreement in detail (when discussed, with whom, specific amount). 4. The hearing officer might ask why you don't have the wage in writing - prepare a clear answer. 5. Have a calendar handy showing the disaster date and your planned start date. 6. Stay calm and don't interrupt when others are speaking. 7. Speak clearly and slowly since it's likely being recorded. Best of luck - I won my appeal by being organized and straightforward.

TWC hearings are TERRIBLE!!! My sister had one and they treated her like she was LYING about everything! They denied her claim even though she had proof her job was cancelled because of the storm. The whole system is designed to deny benefits and the appeal officers work FOR TWC so they're biased against claimants. Don't expect fairness!!!

I was in your exact situation with DUA after last year's tornado. You'll want to get a statement from your employer if possible confirming the wage. DUA has stricter proof requirements than regular unemployment. I kept getting busy signals when trying to call TWC to ask questions before my hearing, but I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent who gave me helpful tips on preparing my evidence. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works. The agent told me exactly what documentation would strengthen my case, which was super helpful. Made a huge difference in my confidence level going into the hearing.

my friend had a dua appeal and said just be honest and dont try to make stuff up or theyll see right thru it. also my aunt worked for twc before she retired and said they record everything so don't say anything you wouldn't want repeated back later lol. good luck!!

Preparation is key for these hearings. A few more tips: - Log in 10 minutes early if it's a phone/video hearing - Have a notepad to write down any questions you want to ask - If you don't understand something, ask for clarification - Be specific about dates and amounts - For DUA specifically, be clear about how the disaster directly prevented you from working - Avoid discussing unrelated issues or complaints about TWC Remember that the hearing officer handles many cases daily. They appreciate claimants who are organized and stay on topic. Your case is about whether you meet the specific legal requirements for DUA - focus on that.

i had a regular ui appeal not dua but just wanted to say GOOD LUCK!! let us know how it goes!!!

UPDATE: Had my hearing this morning and it went way better than expected! The hearing officer was professional but not intimidating at all. Asked me to explain my situation, then asked specific questions about the job offer. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. I explained that I had the wage agreement verbally and presented my email confirming the start date. They said they'll mail the decision in 7-10 days. Thanks everyone for your advice and support - it really helped calm my nerves!