TWC denied my claim after quitting for mental health reasons - need help with Commissioner Appeal

I'm really sorry about your sister. The TWC system is GARBAGE when it comes to mental health issues!! They denied me too when I had to quit because of severe anxiety that was making me physically ill. The Appeal Tribunal is a JOKE - they just rubber stamp whatever TWC says. I filed the Commissioner Appeal but gave up after waiting 3 months with no decision. The whole system is rigged against people with mental health issues. They basically want you to stay at a job until you completely break down.

I successfully won my Commissioner Appeal for a mental health-related separation in 2024. The key was having comprehensive documentation - not just from my therapist, but also from my primary care physician. For the Commissioner Appeal, you need to specifically address why the Appeal Tribunal's decision was incorrect based on law or fact. In my case, I documented: 1. My diagnosed condition (major depressive disorder) 2. How it made performing my job duties impossible 3. That I informed my employer about my condition 4. That I requested accommodations before quitting 5. Medical documentation stating work was exacerbating my condition The Commissioner looks at whether you had a medically verifiable condition that left you no reasonable alternative but to quit. Document any attempts to address the situation before quitting (requests for accommodations, FMLA, etc). Also, read Texas Labor Code § 207.045 and TWC Appeal No. 1852-CA-77 - they specifically address medical/mental health separations.

srry about ur sister thats awful. my cousin quit her job cuz of anxiety last yr and got denied too. twc doesnt care about mental stuff same as physical injuries. she said u gotta prove u told ur boss first and asked for different work or smthing. did u tell ur boss b4 quitting?

I help people with TWC appeals and you absolutely can win a Commissioner Appeal based on mental health issues. The key is connecting your mental health condition to why continuing work was impossible - not just difficult. For Commissioner Appeals, focus on these TWC precedent cases: - Appeal No. 2196-CA-77 (mental illness can constitute good cause to quit) - Appeal No. 86-05341-10-050587 (medical evidence must show work was detrimental) You need to submit ALL your evidence before the hearing. Include: 1. Detailed timeline of your sister's death and your mental health decline 2. ALL medical records showing diagnosis and treatment 3. Documentation of any work performance issues that resulted 4. Evidence you communicated with your employer Commissioner Appeals can take 3-6 months to resolve, but if you're still within appeal timeframes, it's worth pursuing. Having professional representation significantly increases success rates. When you're trying to reach TWC about your appeal status, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without spending hours on hold. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works. It saved me so much frustration when I was dealing with my appeal.

I don't know anything about commissioner appeals but just wanted to say I'm so sorry about your sister. That's terrible and TWC should be more understanding about mental health stuff. My friend went through something similar and she said the commissioners are actually more sympathetic than the regular appeals people. Hope it works out for you!

I work as an employment attorney in Texas, and I've handled several Commissioner Appeals involving mental health separations. Here's what you need to understand: TWC applies a "reasonable person" standard - would a reasonable person have quit under similar circumstances? For mental health cases, you must prove: 1. Your condition made continued work impossible or dangerous 2. You made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment 3. You had no reasonable alternative but to quit The Appeal Tribunal often misapplies the law regarding mental health separations. In your Commissioner Appeal, cite TWC Precedent Case 97-003189-10-022098, which established that medically verified mental health conditions can constitute good cause connected with work. Prepare a clear, chronological statement explaining: - How your sister's death affected your mental health - Specific job duties you could no longer perform - Communications with your employer - Why relocation was necessary for treatment/support Don't just restate what you told the Appeal Tribunal. Address specifically why their decision was legally incorrect based on TWC precedent cases.

OMG this happened to me!!!!! I had to quit my job last year after my dad died. I couldn't stop crying at work and kept having to leave early. My boss was getting mad at me. TWC denied me too saying I "voluntarily quit" but I appealed it and WON!!!! The key thing was I had documentation from both my therapist AND my regular doctor saying I was having physical symptoms from the depression (couldn't sleep, lost weight, etc). Also make sure you mention if your work performance was suffering - that helped my case. I didn't get a lawyer but I spent like 3 hours preparing what I was going to say. Good luck!!!

the commissioners take like 6-8 months to decide FYI. my friend was still waiting after 7 months and finally just got a job instead. the system is broken

One more thing that's critically important: make sure you continue to request payment every two weeks even while your appeal is pending. If you win your appeal, TWC will only pay for weeks you properly requested payment, even if you were eligible for those weeks. Too many people stop requesting payment during appeals and lose months of benefits they could have received retroactively.

To answer your follow-up question: For the Commissioner Appeal, you need BOTH strong legal arguments AND comprehensive medical documentation. They complement each other. For the legal argument, focus on how the Appeal Tribunal misapplied the law regarding mental health separations. Be specific about which precedent cases apply to your situation. For medical documentation, quality matters more than quantity. Get documentation that specifically addresses: 1. The severity of your condition 2. How it specifically impacted your ability to perform your job duties 3. Why relocation was medically necessary 4. Your treatment plan and prognosis Regarding hiring an attorney - while not required, representation significantly increases success rates for Commissioner Appeals, especially for complex mental health cases. The appeal process has specific legal procedures and precedents that attorneys familiar with TWC cases understand. And yes, definitely start requesting payments again immediately. Unfortunately, you likely can't recover the weeks you missed, but you should request for all future weeks while your appeal is pending.