TWC claim after bar closed suddenly - employer ghosted us with no termination notice

u can upload the screenshot when u file. my cousin had something similar happen at a restaurant and twc accepted the screenshot as proof. they'll probably try 2 contact your boss but when they can't reach him they'll go with what u said.

When an employer 'ghosts' employees like this, TWC typically sides with the employees. Make sure you provide any pay stubs you have and the screenshot in your claim documentation. TWC will attempt to contact the employer for verification, but when they're unresponsive, TWC generally accepts the employee's statement as factual. Be prepared that they may ask for additional proof of employment like bank deposits or tax documents. I'd gather those now just in case. Also, make sure you've listed accurate contact information for the business owner, even if he's ignoring everyone.

My boss did somethng similar last year just closed up shop and disappeared. TWC had me do a phone interview where they asked a bunch of questions about the situation and they approved my claim even though my boss never responded to them. It took about 3 weeks from filing to getting approved though.

SAME EXACT THING happened to me in 2023!!! The restaurant I worked at for 5 YEARS just put a sign on the door one day saying "CLOSED PERMANENTLY" and the owner wouldn't answer ANYONE'S calls!!! TWC kept saying my claim was "pending employer response" for WEEKS and I couldn't get through to anyone!!! SO FRUSTRATING!!! I kept calling that stupid TWC number over and over and just got busy signals or disconnected!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS AT ALL!!!

When I had trouble getting through to TWC about my claim last month, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they actually got me connected to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes after I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh. It was seriously worth it because the agent I talked to was able to push my claim through when it was stuck pending employer response.

Just to make sure everything is covered properly: 1) Continue requesting payment every two weeks even while your claim is pending. 2) Be ready for a fact-finding interview where they'll ask about the circumstances of the closure. 3) Gather pay documentation like bank deposits showing regular payments from this employer. 4) Make sure you're meeting your work search requirements - minimum 3 activities per week for Texas. 5) Document any attempts you've made to contact your former employer for proper termination paperwork. Regarding your screenshot - yes, TWC will accept this as preliminary evidence, especially in cases of business closure. Since the burden of proof will shift to the employer and they're not responding, your claim should eventually be approved.

had something similar last yr but it was a food truck not a bar lol. boss just texted 'truck sold, jobs gone' and that was it. make sure u keep answering ur phone even if u dont recognize the number cuz TWC will call for a interview and if u miss it they push everything back. took me 5 weeks to get paid cuz i missed their call the first time

To answer your question about work search activities: Applications, interviews, and networking activities all count toward your work search requirements. Here's a quick list of what counts: - Submitting job applications or resumes - Attending job interviews (phone, virtual, or in-person) - Creating a profile on WorkInTexas.com - Attending job fairs - Participating in job search seminars or workshops - Networking events related to your field - Taking skills assessments related to job searching Make sure to document everything with dates, company names, and contact information where possible. You can log these in your TWC account under the work search log section.

btw if ur stressing about money while waiting, once ur claim is approved they'll backpay u for all the weeks u requested payment during the waiting period. so make sure u keep requesting payment every 2 weeks even if its still pending

It's worth mentioning that your situation is classified as a "lack of work" separation, which is one of the clearest qualifications for unemployment benefits. When a business closes entirely, there's no question that the separation wasn't your fault. Your claim should be straightforward once TWC completes their verification process. The most important thing now is staying on top of your payment requests and work search activities while your claim is processing.