How to know if TWC denied your unemployment claim - understanding rejection notices

That letter you received IS your determination notice. TWC doesn't typically mark your online account with a big

Thanks for clarifying. Yes, now that I'm looking at the letter again, it does mention something about

Check if there's a determination number or code on that letter you got. Thats how TWC tracks specific decisions about ur claim. If it mentions base period wages, that means u didnt work enough quarters to qualify for regular UI. The pending status online sometimes doesnt update for weeks even after theyve made a decision. Did you try calling the TWC Tele-Serv number at 800-558-8321? Sometimes the automated system has more updated info than the website.

There is a code at the top - it says \

the online status can be SUPER confusing 🙄 i was denied and mine stil said 'pending' for like 3 weeks after! the letters are the only official thing. if it says you dont have enough wages then ya your denied. u need to have worked for atleast 2 quarters in your base period which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calander quarters b4 u apply.

Ugh that's what I was afraid of 😞 So I basically applied too soon after starting work? I should have waited until I had more quarters of work history? This whole system is so confusing.

I've been through this exact situation. The determination letter is definitely telling you that your claim was denied due to insufficient wages in your base period. When you only worked 4 months, you likely didn't have enough wages spread across enough quarters to qualify. \n\nHere's what you need to know:\n\n1. The online status often stays as \

Thanks for breaking it down so clearly. Honestly, that job was my first one after finishing school, so there wouldn't be any other employment they missed. I guess I'll have to look into other assistance options for now.

mine said pendiing 2 but i had 2 call to find out what was going on. try the 800 number but its always busy busy busy never get thru. I heard about this service called Claimyr that can help u get through to TWC without waiting on hold for hours. worked for me when i was in the same boat! check out their demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh or go to claimyr.com - saved me days of busy signals! they got me through in like 20 min

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out. At this point I'll try anything because I really need to understand my options if I've been denied.

Hey, just to add another perspective - I didn't qualify for regular unemployment because I didn't have enough work history either. BUT you might want to see if you qualify for DUA (Disaster Unemployment Assistance) if your job loss was related to a declared disaster, or check if there are any special pandemic programs still available (though most have ended). \n\nAlso, the TWC determination letter should include instructions about reapplying later when you have enough wages in your base period. Sometimes just waiting a quarter and reapplying can make a difference if you're on the borderline.

DUA only happens when theres like a hurricane or something and the governor declares a disaster, its not for regular layoffs just fyi. and all the pandemic stuff ended ages ago. but the reapplying part is good advice!!

The TWC system is THE WORST!!! I got denied twice before finally getting approved on my third try. Their online system is ancient and confusing. Meanwhile bills are piling up and they just send these vague letters that make no sense!! My advice - APPEAL ANYWAY even if you think you won't win. Some people get approved on appeal because a different examiner looks at your case. The whole system is so broken that sometimes you win just by being persistent.

While I understand your frustration with the system, appealing without valid grounds can actually delay getting other types of assistance or being able to file a new claim when they do have enough quarters. Appeals should be based on factual errors, not just as a strategy to get a different examiner. That advice could potentially harm people in certain situations.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. I've decided not to appeal since I clearly don't have enough work history. I'm going to: \n1. Try using Claimyr to reach TWC to confirm what my options are \n2. Check if there's a date when I could reapply after I'd have enough quarters in my base period \n3. Look into other assistance programs in the meantime \n\nThis has been super confusing but I appreciate all the explanations!

Good plan! One last thing - make sure to check with TWC about exactly when you can reapply. Generally, you need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period, and your total base period wages need to be at least 37 times your weekly benefit amount. Since base periods shift each quarter, you may become eligible sooner than you think. Best of luck to you!

Mason, I went through something very similar when I first started working. The determination letter with insufficient wages is definitely a denial - I learned that the hard way. One thing that helped me was keeping track of my quarterly earnings after that so I'd know exactly when I could reapply. Also, while you're waiting to build up enough work quarters, don't forget to check if you qualify for SNAP (food stamps) or other local assistance programs. Many people don't realize these can bridge the gap while you're building eligibility for unemployment. Your local workforce center might have job training programs too that could help you find something more stable. Good luck with everything!

@Mason - I see you've gotten a lot of great advice here! Just wanted to add that when you do eventually reapply (once you have more quarters), make sure to apply during the correct filing week. TWC is very strict about when you can file - you can only file during your designated week based on the last digit of your SSN. Missing your filing week can delay everything even more. Also, keep all your pay stubs and employment records organized now so you'll have everything ready when you do qualify. The whole system is definitely confusing for newcomers to the workforce, but you're handling it well by asking questions and planning ahead!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's helped a lot of people navigate TWC denials - you're absolutely right that the determination letter is your official answer, not the online status. The "insufficient wages" denial is super common for people new to the workforce or returning after time away. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that you should double-check if TWC used the correct base period for your claim. Sometimes they use the wrong quarters, especially if you filed right at the beginning of a new quarter. Your base period should be the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. If they got this wrong, that's actually grounds for an appeal. Also, when you do become eligible later, remember that you need wages in at least 2 different quarters AND your highest quarter wages need to be at least 1.5 times your wages in the other qualifying quarter. It's not just about total wages - the distribution matters too. Keep your head up - building work history takes time but you'll get there!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got my first job out of college 6 months ago and got laid off last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I probably don't have enough quarters either. @Mason, thanks for sharing your situation - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one confused by this system! The advice about checking which base period TWC used is really smart. I'm going to dig out my determination letter when it comes and make sure they calculated everything correctly. One question for the group - if someone worked part-time during school (like 10-15 hours a week for a year), would those wages potentially count toward the base period quarters? Or do you need to meet a minimum earnings threshold per quarter for it to "count"? I had a campus job my senior year but wasn't sure if those small paychecks would make any difference. Also planning to keep better track of my earnings going forward so I'll know exactly when I can reapply. This whole experience is definitely a crash course in how unemployment works!