TWC appeal hearing tomorrow - what to expect and who will be there?

I had my appeal hearing last month - here's what to expect: 1) It's a phone hearing with a Hearing Officer (like a judge) 2) Your former employer will likely be on the call (mine was) 3) Both sides get to present their case and the Officer will ask questions 4) You'll be sworn in under oath at the beginning 5) The whole thing is recorded Make sure you have ALL your documentation ready - emails about layoff, final paystub, anything that proves you didn't quit. Write down key dates and events so you don't get flustered. The Hearing Officer will give both sides time to speak without interruption. Stay calm and stick to facts. Don't get emotional or start arguing directly with your employer. Address all your responses to the Hearing Officer. Good luck!

make sure u have ur phone fully charged!! my hearing lasted almost 2hrs bc my old boss kept lying. they will ask u specific questions about ur last day and why u left. dont interrupt when the other side is talking or the judge will get annoyed

The most important thing is to be prepared with a clear timeline of events. I've been through this process twice (once with an ex-employer lying about my separation reason). Here's what to have ready: 1. Any written communication about your department restructuring 2. Names and contact info of anyone who can verify your account 3. Your final pay stub and separation paperwork 4. A simple written statement of what happened in chronological order 5. Dates of any relevant meetings or conversations The Hearing Officer will give specific instructions at the beginning. Follow them exactly. Answer questions directly and truthfully. If you don't know something, say "I don't recall" rather than guessing. You typically won't get a decision during the hearing. They'll mail the determination letter afterward, usually within 1-2 weeks. Be aware that your employer may bring multiple people to the hearing (HR, your former supervisor, etc.).

I HATE the appeal system!!! My hearing was a complete disaster because I couldn't get through to anyone at TWC to prepare properly. I kept calling and calling and getting busy signals or disconnected. Then during my actual hearing the TWC officer seemed to favor my employer from the start and barely let me explain my side!!

My appeal was over the same issue - employer said I quit, but I was actually laid off. I won my case by bringing these specific things: 1) A letter from a coworker confirming layoffs were happening (get this ASAP if you can) 2) I printed out LinkedIn posts showing my boss was hiring for new positions right after the "layoff" (to show it wasn't really about eliminating positions) 3) My work performance reviews showing I had no negative marks 4) Copy of the job listing that showed my exact position posted 2 weeks after they let me go The hearing officer was very fair and listened to both sides. Stay factual and don't interrupt. You'll do fine!

mine was soooo awkward cuz my old boss was on the line and kept trying to make me look bad. but the hearing person (judge??) was actually really nice and made sure i got to tell my side. just be honest and you'll be ok. oh and write down your employer's account number from your determination letter, they'll ask for it

One more important thing: make sure you understand the specific reason TWC denied your initial claim. The hearing will focus primarily on addressing that specific issue, not relitigating your entire employment history. Since your denial was based on "leaving without good cause," focus your evidence on proving you did not voluntarily leave. The burden of proof is generally on the employer in these cases to show you quit voluntarily. If you have any written documentation showing the restructuring was real (emails, meeting notes, layoff paperwork), that will be extremely valuable. Also, if you filed for unemployment immediately after separation, that strongly suggests you didn't voluntarily quit. Keep in mind that TWC appeals have a fairly high success rate for claimants who are prepared. The hearing officers genuinely want to get to the truth.

Forgot to answer your question - yes, I did win my appeal! The key was staying calm even when my employer started making things up. The Hearing Officer could tell who was being truthful. As for having coworkers on the call - you'd need to arrange that in advance with TWC, and today might be too late for tomorrow's hearing. However, written statements from coworkers who knew about the restructuring would still be useful. You can mention during the hearing that you have these statements if needed. One last tip: start the call in a quiet room with good reception. Have a notepad ready to write down any questions or points you want to address later. And remember to address the Hearing Officer as "Sir" or "Ma'am" - little things like that make a good impression.

the hearing notice should tell u exactly what time to call and what number. DON'T BE LATE or they might do the hearing without u. and make sure ur phone is gonna work cuz if they cant reach u its automatic lose

After your hearing (hopefully you win!), be aware that your employer can appeal the decision if they're determined enough. Mine did, and we had to go through another hearing. Also, your benefits won't start flowing immediately - it usually takes 1-2 payment request cycles after a successful appeal for the payments to start coming through. Just be prepared for that financially if possible. One more tip: your former employer probably has done this before and knows the process. Don't let that intimidate you. The Hearing Officers are used to individual claimants being nervous and will make sure you get a fair hearing.