TWC appeal hearing for 'quitting' seasonal preschool job while waiting for full-time position to start

Yikes, what a mess. Unfortunately, yes, you HAVE to be on the appeal call or it's automatically denied. The hearing officer needs to hear from you directly. I went through something similar with a retail job that ended their seasonal position, but because I told them I wouldn't be returning for the next season (even though there was a 2-month gap), TWC initially considered it a quit. It's ridiculous how they handle these situations!

The key factor in your appeal is going to be proving the preschool work was temporary/seasonal in nature and was ENDING regardless of your new job. Make sure to emphasize: 1) The predetermined end date shown on the school calendar 2) The gap where no work was available 3) That you informed them as a courtesy so they could hire someone new for when they reopened. This is NOT technically quitting - it's the natural end of a temporary assignment. TWC often misclassifies these situations initially. I've helped several people win similar appeals. Good luck!

u need to mention that exactly - that it wasnt u quitin but it was the NATURAL END of a seasonal position and school was literally closed! i had somethin similar with substitute teachin - they tried to say i quit but i was like how can i quit when theres no work? the hearing ppl are usually pretty reasonable if u explain clearly. just stay calm and stick to the facts, dont let anxiety make u say things differently.

This exact thing happened to my daughter last year with a daycare job! She actually won her appeal because she proved the position had a natural break in the schedule and she wasn't scheduled for any shifts after a certain date. Make sure to mention you were LAID OFF from your main job - you didn't create this situation. And focus on how you were trying to follow all the rules about reporting part-time work correctly. The hourly wage discrepancy might actually help you if you can show you specifically requested that rate to comply with TWC rules.

I want to point out something important: The fact that the preschool mentioned the wage discrepancy is actually good news. It shows they're not claiming you quit for some other reason - they're just clarifying details. Since this is a church preschool, they're probably just being thorough with their records, not trying to fight you. When the hearing officer asks them directly "Was there work available between March 24 and April 10?" they'll have to say no, which supports your case.

OH MY GOD the Texas unemployment system makes me SO ANGRY!! They always assume the WORST about people who are just trying to survive. Why would anyone CHOOSE to make less money on unemployment?? You were following the rules and they're punishing you for being honest and communicative with the preschool. It's ABSURD. You can't "quit" a job that's CLOSED!!

Hey, I used to work for TWC (not anymore thank goodness lol). Here's what's happening: when you told the preschool you wouldn't return, they had to report it as a separation when they responded to TWC's inquiry. The system automatically flagged it as a quit. But appeal hearings look at the REAL circumstances, not just the paperwork. Since school was out of session and no work was available, this should be an easy win for you IF you make that clear. Don't skip the call!

I've been trying to reach TWC for WEEKS about a similar issue. Always busy signals or getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through - they connected me to an agent in 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh. Totally worth it for how much stress it saved me. Maybe try reaching TWC before your hearing to get some clarity on what exactly they're claiming?

btw, during the appeal, DON'T say u quit even if they phrase it that way! always say "the position ended due to school calendar" or "there was no more work scheduled." words matter in these things!

I'm confused about one thing - you mentioned you "let them know" you weren't coming back. How exactly did you phrase this? Did you submit a formal resignation or just tell them you'd accepted another position starting after their break? The specific communication matters for your case.

When you have your hearing, have your evidence organized and ready to reference! Have the school calendar printed out with the dates highlighted, your job offer letter with start date, and your TWC payment history showing you reported all part-time income correctly. Speaking from experience, being organized makes a HUGE difference in these hearings.

Just curious - did they actually pay you the higher rate ($16.25 instead of $14.75)? If so, did you report the higher amount to TWC? That could be part of the issue too.

Update us after your hearing! I think you'll win this appeal based on what you've described. The temporary/seasonal nature of the position plus the fact that there was a predetermined break with no work available is the key to your case. Good luck!