How to file weekly unemployment claim with Texas TWC?

Yes I have the letter! It says a date about two weeks from when I applied. So I should just go ahead and do it even though they haven't told me if I'm approved yet?

Exactly right - keep requesting on schedule through the whole process. The system won't pay you for weeks you didn't request, period, even if everything else is approved.

This tripped me up too. I thought requesting payment before approval would mess up my claim somehow. It doesn't. TWC just holds the money until they finish reviewing everything.

That's actually really helpful, I've been going in circles trying to reach someone. I'll check that out tonight.

My sister used it when she had a question about reporting part-time hours on her payment request. Said the agent was actually helpful once she got through.

Good to know - I've been trying to get through about a different issue on my claim and might give that a try.

Oh that makes way more sense. So the letter date is when I do my FIRST one which covers my first two weeks?

Pretty much, yeah. The letter gives you the window to do your first request. After that you just stay on the every-two-weeks rhythm.

Just to add - you can do it on UBS online or call Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321 and hit Option 1. Some people prefer the phone if the website is being slow.

I did get something about work search but I live in a mid-sized county and my letter said three per week. Is a job application one activity or does it have to be more than that?

A job application counts as one activity yes. So does things like registering with a staffing agency, attending a job fair, that kind of thing. And make sure your WorkInTexas.com profile is set up - that's required too.

Wait I thought it was just two activities for smaller counties? Mine said three though so maybe I was wrong about that.

The range is one to five depending on the county and your Workforce Development Board sets it. The letter TWC sent you is what matters, not anything general people say online including me. Trust your letter.

Okay I had no idea about the Thursday-Saturday thing. So the whole week technically works, just the first part is the main window?

Right. Sunday to Wednesday is when you're supposed to file. Thursday to Saturday is there if something goes wrong but don't make a habit of it.

Good point - I always do mine on Sundays first thing so I never have to stress about timing.

Oh wow that's a big deal. I picked up a couple days of gig work last week - I would have reported it when I got paid. So I need to report it for the actual week I did the work?

Exactly. Report the week you did the work. And round down to whole dollars, that's what TWC wants.

Also worth knowing - you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without it reducing your payment at all. Above that it starts getting deducted but you still might get a partial payment for that week depending on how much you made.

Wait so the very first week I'll get paid for is week two not week one?

The waiting week isn't lost - TWC holds it. But yeah don't expect full payment right out of the gate. Yours might look smaller the first time.

This confused me too. I thought they underpaid me and filed a whole complaint before someone explained the waiting week to me. Read the determination letter carefully, it usually mentions it.

That actually sounds way less scary than I was making it in my head. Do I need any documents ready or is it just answering questions?

Just answer the questions honestly. Have a rough idea of any hours or earnings you need to report. No documents to upload unless TWC separately asks for something.

The UBS login uses the same account as WorkInTexas.com which threw me off at first - same username and password, and it sends a one-time code every time you log in so make sure your phone number is current on the account.

Good to know, I hadn't even thought about email but I might have tried that honestly.

Ha yeah it feels like it should work but TWC is very specific about the channels. Online or the automated phone line.

Two full mornings, that's brutal. I've only tried a few times and already feel like giving up on calling.

The hold times are worst in the middle of the week. Some people swear by calling right when they open but it's honestly a gamble either way.

Makes sense. What counts as full-time though, is it 40 hours?

TWC doesn't give a hard hour number in the rules I've seen - it's more about whether you're employed full-time at that job. If you're not sure you can call and ask a rep.

Generally if your new employer considers it full-time, that's how you should treat it for TWC purposes.

I did register there when I applied, the system kind of made me. But I didn't realize my UBS login worked there - that's convenient.

Yeah it's the same system basically. Keep your profile on WorkInTexas current because TWC can see it.

Okay yes I definitely was confusing these. So applying starts the clock but doesn't pay me anything on its own - I have to keep doing the payment requests every two weeks indefinitely?

Exactly, until you either find full-time work or use up your maximum weeks. The claim has a one-year window from when you applied and 26 weeks worth of payments maximum, whichever runs out first.

To be precise - 26 times your weekly amount OR 27 percent of everything you earned in your base period, whichever is the smaller amount. So not everyone gets the full 26 weeks.

Oh you're right, I oversimplified that. I should have been more careful. The two conditions both need to happen.

So practically speaking most people see that waiting week payment when they eventually go back to work or run out of benefits?

For most people yes. If you go back to full-time work while still in your benefit year, you can request that waiting week through UBS or by calling Tele-Serv.

Good tip, I was going to do it on my phone. I'll use my laptop instead.

I always do it on desktop. The phone version works but the desktop is way more reliable.

Also do it on a stable wifi connection and don't close the browser until you see the confirmation screen. That confirmation is important to screenshot or note down.

The filing window is Sunday through Wednesday so holidays falling on a Monday for example don't really affect it - you still have multiple days to file. TWC doesn't typically extend windows for holidays but having a multi-day window usually covers it.

My schedule has stayed completely consistent since I started. Same two-week rotation, never shifted.

Just keep an eye on UBS - it shows your next request due date right there on the main page once you're set up.

That's exactly the kind of question it's good for. I'd call and ask a live agent rather than guess - gig earnings are self-employment income and you report net profit, but the agent can confirm your specific situation.

Gig work is definitely reportable. Self-employed folks report net profit for the week the work was done, same timing rule as everyone else.

I did get an ID.me thing when I first applied and I completed it right away. Hopefully that's done and doesn't come up again.

Should be fine then. It's usually a one-time thing unless something flags your account again.

The ID.me step is so annoying but yeah don't skip it or delay it. I know someone who ignored the notice for a week and it set their whole claim back.

Good to know. I applied in late September so I have until roughly September next year before the year closes.

And you'd need new base period wages to qualify for a new claim at that point, so make sure you've worked enough in between if you do end up needing to refile.

Nice! First one is always the most nerve-wracking. It gets fast once you know the rhythm.

Glad it worked out. Keep that confirmation and do it again on schedule two weeks from now.

Remember to keep logging those work search activities every week in the meantime. That's the part people let slide and then scramble to remember when the request comes due.