TWC benefits after being fired for not working in-office despite remote job agreement - moved from Dallas to Austin

You should definitely file for unemployment! This sounds like the company may be trying to categorize this as you quitting or being unable to perform required duties, but if your job was truly remote (and you have documentation showing this), you have a strong case. When you file, be very clear in your application that: 1. Your job was designated as fully remote when hired 2. You have documentation proving this arrangement 3. You notified them of your move and received approval 4. At no point was in-office work mentioned as a requirement until termination If they try to deny your claim (which they might initially), you should immediately appeal and provide all your documentation. In my experience, TWC will side with you if you can prove your job was remote and the employer changed terms without notice. Also, make sure to save ALL communication about your termination. Don't delete any emails or texts that show your job was remote or that your move was approved.

they did this 2 me too!!! was working remote then suddenly said i had 2 come in 3 days a week with no warning. i live 45 min away and have no car, told them i couldnt do that & they fired me saying i refused 2 work. TWC denied me at first saying i refused available work. FIGHT IT!!!

yea i appealed and won!!! took 6 weeks tho and was broke af waiting. bring ALL ur proof to appeal hearing

When you file your initial claim, you'll get a call from TWC to discuss why you were separated from your employer. This is CRITICALLY important - they'll also be contacting your employer for their side. Be prepared to clearly explain that your position was remote, you had permission to move, and the termination reason is fabricated. I was in a somewhat similar situation where my employer tried to say I couldn't perform essential job functions after they changed my role without notice. What really helped me was having documentation from my original job description. One thing to know: getting through to TWC about your claim status can be nearly impossible. After waiting for weeks with no updates, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual TWC agent in about 20 minutes instead of days of redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh It was so worth it because I found out my employer was contesting my claim with false information, and I was able to address it immediately before a determination was made.

I'm a former HR professional who dealt with unemployment claims in Texas. Here's what you need to know: Your case is what TWC would consider a "substantial change in job duties" situation. If the employer suddenly requires in-office work for a position that was designated as remote, that's on THEM, not you. Your employer will likely argue one of two things: 1. That in-office work was always an essential function (which you can disprove with your job description and work history) 2. That business needs changed, requiring in-office presence (which doesn't automatically disqualify you if they never communicated this change or gave you reasonable time to comply) Keep in mind that if the employer can't prove they clearly communicated this change in requirements with reasonable notice, you should win any appeal. Texas is generally employer-friendly, but TWC doesn't look kindly on companies that change the rules without notice then fire employees. Do file your claim immediately - you have 14 days from termination to maximize your benefit period.

I went thru almost the exact situation last year! They denied me initially but I appealed and won. The key was proving that: 1) My job description never mentioned in-office work 2) I had been performing successfully from home for over a year 3) They never gave me any warning that I needed to be in-office 4) They never offered any accommodation like "come in once a month" or anything The judge at my appeal hearing specifically said that an employer can't change fundamental job requirements without notice and then fire you for not meeting them. It took about 5 weeks from appeal to hearing, then another 2 weeks to get backpay once I won. Make sure to request payment every two weeks even while your case is pending!!

One important thing to remember: when you file your claim and request payments, be 100% honest about the reason for separation. Don't try to guess what will get you approved faster. Select that you were discharged/fired and then explain exactly what happened - that you had a remote position, moved with notification/approval, and were then terminated for not being able to work in-office despite this never being a requirement. If TWC initially denies your claim (which happens in about 40% of cases where there's any dispute), you'll receive a Determination letter explaining why. You'll have 14 calendar days from the mail date on that letter to file your appeal. Do not miss this deadline! Also, be prepared that your former employer may falsely claim they told you the job required in-office work. This is why having documentation of the remote nature of your position is so important.

u might get denied at first dont panic!!!! most ppl get denied then win on appeal. my friend works at twc says they deny first then let the appeal judge figure it out for anything complicated

Keep track of ALL your work search activities starting immediately. Even if your claim is pending or denied initially, you'll need to show you've been looking for work (minimum 3 work search activities per week in Texas). If you win your appeal, you'll only get paid for weeks where you completed and documented your work search activities. Create a spreadsheet with dates, company names, positions applied for, application methods, contact info, etc. TWC can audit your work search records at any time.