TWC demanding $8,000 overpayment repayment after giving me wrong info - appeal failed & Open Records Request ignored

I went through something similar last year, though my overpayment was smaller (about $3,400). Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. You can request a more affordable payment plan. TWC has some flexibility - I got mine reduced to $125/month after showing them my actual budget and expenses. Call the Collections department directly at 512-463-2624. 2. Even though it's frustrating, keep detailed documentation of EVERYTHING moving forward. Every call, email, letter - note the date, time, who you spoke with. 3. File a complaint with your state representative's office. This was what actually helped me. Their constituent services team contacted TWC on my behalf, and suddenly TWC was much more responsive. 4. Consider filing a formal complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division. Sometimes this internal pressure helps. The Open Records Request situation is particularly concerning. There are specific timeframes they're required to respond within. You might want to contact the Texas Attorney General's Office about that specific issue.

omg this happend to me to!!! they said i reported wrong but i swear i did exactly what they told me over the phone. ended up having to pay back like $5k and it totally screwed me. the whole system is rigged against regular people. they make the rules so confussing on purpose then blame us when we follow their wrong advice. good luck but they always win :/

I'm a former UI claims examiner, and unfortunately, I see this scenario play out too often. A few important points: 1. The burden of proof falls on the claimant in these cases, which is fundamentally unfair when the TWC fails to provide requested evidence. 2. You still have one more option before a lawsuit: you can request a hardship waiver. TWC can waive repayment if you can demonstrate that it wasn't your fault AND repayment would cause severe financial hardship. The form is available on the TWC website under "Overpayment Information." 3. For the Open Records Request failure - file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office Public Information Coordinator. By law, they must respond to your request within 10 business days. 4. If you decide to pay, definitely negotiate the monthly amount. Collections has significant discretion to reduce payments based on your financial situation. One thing to note: the statute of limitations on these collections is 10 years, but if you make any payment, even a small one, that 10-year clock restarts.

Just wanted to say I'm so sorry you're going through this. The TWC can be absolutely INFURIATING to deal with. The same people telling you how to file your claims are the ones who later decide you did it wrong! Make it make sense! Did you try contacting your state representative yet? That actually worked for my brother when he had issues with his claim (different problem, but still TWC being difficult).

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an actual TWC agent? I was dealing with a complex appeal situation and kept getting disconnected or waiting hours. Someone here recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it actually worked - got me connected to a TWC agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending all day calling. You might be able to speak to someone in the appeals or collections department who can actually help. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh In my experience, getting to an actual person who can see your full claim history makes a huge difference versus trying to handle everything through the portal.

You should deffintely pursue that hardship waiver the former claims examiner mentioned. My sister-in-law got her overpayment completely waived because she could prove she had followed the TWC rep's instructions exactly. The key was she had taken detailed notes during every call - dates, confirmation numbers, and rep names. Do you have anything like that? Even if you dont have the recordings, your own detailed notes might help.

theyve been doing this to TONS of people lately!!! its a total scam to balance their budget on the backs of working people. i know 3 different people dealing with overpayment notices right now. they tell you one thing then blame you later. the whole system is broken

I want to add something important about those payment plans - if your financial situation changes (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request a modification to your payment plan. Don't just stop paying if you can't afford it, as that can lead to more penalties. Also, regarding the Open Records Request - there's a specific form for appealing a denied or ignored request. It's called a Petition for Review of Denial of Access to Public Information, which you file with the Attorney General's office. The fact that they held your appeal hearing without providing the requested information is problematic and could potentially be grounds for reopening your appeal. Lastly, even though your attorney said litigation would be expensive, you might want to check with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid or Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas - they sometimes take cases like this pro bono if there's a clear procedural error by a government agency.

Thank you all SO MUCH for these responses! I feel like I have actual options now instead of just panicking. Here's my plan based on your advice: 1. Call the Collections department tomorrow to discuss a lower monthly payment 2. Apply for the hardship waiver using my detailed call notes as evidence 3. Contact my state representative's office 4. File a complaint about the ignored Open Records Request with the AG's office 5. Reach out to the legal aid organizations for possible free help I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your experiences and knowledge. This community has been more helpful than the actual TWC! I'll update once I've made some progress.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! The TWC system is absolutely broken when they can give you wrong information and then turn around and punish YOU for following it. One thing I wanted to add to all the great advice here - if you do end up having to pay, ask about whether they'll accept a lump sum settlement for less than the full amount. Sometimes if you can scrape together like 60-70% of what they're demanding, they'll call it even rather than deal with years of monthly payments. My neighbor did this with a $4,000 overpayment and settled for $2,800. Also, document EVERYTHING from here forward - every call, every letter, every interaction. The fact that they ignored your Open Records Request is a big red flag and could actually work in your favor if you end up needing to escalate this further. You've got a solid plan and this community has your back. Don't let them intimidate you into just accepting whatever they demand - you have rights and options!

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately way too common! I went through something similar in 2023 with a $4,200 overpayment that resulted from TWC's own mistake. Here's what ultimately worked for me: The hardship waiver is definitely your best bet - especially since you have those detailed call notes! I was able to get my entire overpayment waived by proving TWC gave me incorrect guidance. The key was being very specific in my waiver application about exactly what each rep told me and when. A few additional tips: - When you call Collections, ask to speak with a supervisor immediately. The front-line staff often can't make real decisions about payment reductions. - For your state rep complaint, include copies of your Open Records Request and TWC's failure to respond. That's a violation of state law and they take it seriously. - Keep pushing on that Open Records Request through the AG's office. Those call recordings are crucial evidence that you followed their instructions. The whole system is designed to make you give up and just pay, but don't let them wear you down. You have a strong case here, especially with your documentation. Stick to your plan and keep us updated - we're all rooting for you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's absolutely maddening when a government agency makes YOU pay for THEIR mistakes! I work in administrative law (different agency) and see this kind of thing way too often. A couple additional thoughts to add to all the excellent advice you've gotten: 1. When you file that AG complaint about the ignored Open Records Request, emphasize that TWC held your appeal hearing WITHOUT providing the requested records that were directly relevant to your case. This could potentially be grounds for procedural due process violations. 2. Consider requesting an "inability to pay" determination in addition to the hardship waiver. It's a slightly different process but can sometimes work when the hardship waiver doesn't. 3. If you have any email confirmations or reference numbers from your original unemployment applications or weekly certifications, include those with everything you submit. They help establish a paper trail. 4. Document your current financial situation thoroughly - bank statements, pay stubs, rent/mortgage, utilities, medical bills, etc. The more complete picture you can paint of genuine financial hardship, the better. The fact that you kept such detailed records of your calls is going to be your saving grace here. Don't let them intimidate you - you have more ammunition than you think!