Moving to another state - should I file TWC unemployment in Texas or my new state?

Thank you! That makes sense, but I'm worried about the payment method. Will TWC still direct deposit to my bank account even though I have an Oklahoma address now? And do I need to do anything special when filling out the application since I'm not physically in Texas anymore?

This is a common issue, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand the concept of the "liable state." The state where you earned your wages during your base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) is considered your liable state. In your case, Texas would be the liable state and that's where you need to file your claim. However, you do need to inform TWC of your move and new address. They'll still process your claim, but you'll be subject to Oklahoma's work search requirements, not Texas requirements. And yes, they can still direct deposit to your bank account regardless of what state you live in now.

Thank you for breaking it down! This really helps. Do I need to call TWC to set this up as an interstate claim, or will that automatically happen when I put my Oklahoma address on the Texas application?

I had the same problem with the phones, but I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a TWC agent in less than an hour. It was worth it because I had specific questions about my interstate claim that the website couldn't answer. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh and their website is claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful about my interstate claim situation.

This is getting complicated! So I have to register with unemployment offices in BOTH states? Will I need to create online accounts for both Texas TWC and Oklahoma OESC?

This is EXACTLY what happened to me!!! but texas never told oklahoma about my claim and then my benefits got DELAYED for like a month bc of "work search non-compliance" even tho i was doing the work search every week!!!!! make sure u call and confirm they sent your info to oklahoma!!!

Good question about taxes. You'll pay income taxes based on your resident state (Oklahoma), not based on where the unemployment benefits come from. Texas doesn't have state income tax, but Oklahoma does. You'll need to report your unemployment income on your Oklahoma state tax return. Also, remember that unemployment benefits are subject to federal income tax regardless of which state pays them.

This is great information, thank you! I do have my lease agreement and updated driver's license that show when I moved, so I'll have those ready. I appreciate everyone's help with this complicated situation!

Thanks for sharing your Colorado experience! The point about different work search requirements is really important - I hadn't thought about how much stricter some states might be compared to Texas. 5 contacts per week versus 3 is a big difference! Do you know if there's an easy way to find out what Oklahoma's specific requirements are before I get too deep into this process? I'd rather know upfront what I'm getting into rather than be surprised later like you were with Colorado's stricter rules.

You can find Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at oesc.ok.gov - they have a whole section dedicated to work search activities. From what I remember when I helped my cousin through this last year, Oklahoma requires 2 work search contacts per week (so actually less than Texas!), but they're pretty specific about what counts as a "qualifying" contact. You have to document the employer name, contact method, position applied for, and date/time for each contact. They also accept things like attending job fairs, networking events, or completing skills assessments as work search activities. I'd definitely recommend checking their site now so you can start planning your approach before you even get the official instructions from OESC. Much better to be over-prepared than scrambling later!

You can find Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at oesc.state.ok.us - they have a whole section dedicated to work search requirements under their "Claimant Services" tab. From what I remember when I helped a friend through this last year, Oklahoma requires 2 work search contacts per week (not as strict as Colorado's 5, thankfully!), but they're pretty specific about what counts as a valid contact. They want you to document the employer name, contact method, position applied for, and date/time. They also accept things like attending job fairs, networking events, or skills training as work search activities. I'd recommend reading through their requirements thoroughly and maybe even printing them out since you'll be dealing with two different state systems. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling later!

You can find Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at oesc.state.ok.us - they have a whole section dedicated to work search activities. From what I remember when I helped my cousin with this last year, Oklahoma requires 2 work search contacts per week (so actually less than Texas!), but they're pretty specific about what counts as a valid contact. They accept things like job applications, networking events, job fairs, and even some online career development activities. I'd definitely check their site now while you're waiting for your TWC claim to process, that way you can start tracking activities right away once the interstate coordination kicks in. Way better to be prepared than scrambling later!

You can check Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at oesc.ok.gov - look for their "Claimant Handbook" or search for "work search requirements." From what I remember when I helped my cousin with his Oklahoma claim last year, they require 2 work search contacts per week (so actually less than Texas!), but they're pretty specific about what counts as a "qualifying contact." They want you to keep detailed records including company name, contact person, date, method of contact, and position applied for. They also accept things like attending job fairs, career workshops, or networking events as work search activities. Just make sure whatever you do is documented properly because they do audit work search compliance randomly. The good news is Oklahoma seems more reasonable than Colorado in terms of requirements!

You can check Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at oklahoma.gov/oesc. From what I remember, Oklahoma requires 2 work search contacts per week (which is actually less than Texas's 3!), but they're pretty specific about what counts as a valid contact. They want you to keep detailed records including company names, dates, contact methods, and position titles. They also have an online portal where you log all your activities. I'd definitely recommend creating your OESC account early and familiarizing yourself with their system before you start receiving benefits, so you don't scramble to figure it out later like I did with Colorado!

You can check Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at www.ok.gov/oesc. From what I remember when I helped a friend with this last year, Oklahoma requires 2 work search contacts per week (which is actually less than Texas's 3), but they're pretty strict about the documentation. You have to log specific details like company names, contact person, method of contact, and position applied for. They also accept things like attending job fairs, networking events, or career workshops as valid work search activities. I'd recommend looking at their work search handbook - it's pretty detailed about what counts and what doesn't. Better to know upfront like you said!

You can find Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) website at oesc.state.ok.us. From what I remember when I helped my brother with his interstate claim to Oklahoma last year, they require 2 work search contacts per week (so actually less than Texas!), but they're pretty strict about the documentation. You have to keep detailed records including company names, contact methods, dates, and specific positions applied for. They also accept things like job fairs and career workshops as work search activities. I'd recommend checking their website or calling them directly once your TWC claim is approved to get the most current requirements - sometimes these rules change and it's better to get it straight from the source!

You can check Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the OESC website at oklahomajobmatch.com - they have a whole section dedicated to work search activities and documentation requirements. From what I remember when I helped my cousin with her Oklahoma claim last year, they require 2 work search contacts per week (which is actually less than Texas!), but they're really strict about the types of activities that count. Things like just browsing job boards don't qualify - you need actual applications, networking contacts, or attending job fairs/workshops. They also require you to keep detailed records in their online system, not just a personal log. I'd definitely recommend creating your OESC account early and reading through their work search guide before you even file with TWC, so you know exactly what you're signing up for!

You can find Oklahoma's specific work search requirements on the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) website at oesc.ok.gov. From what I remember when I helped my cousin through this process last year, Oklahoma requires 2 work search contacts per week (not as strict as Colorado's 5!), but they're pretty specific about what counts as a valid contact. They want employer name, contact method, position applied for, and date - so keep detailed records. You can also call their customer service line at 405-525-1500, though like most unemployment offices, getting through can be challenging. I'd recommend checking their website first and then calling if you have specific questions about your situation.