TWC denied my claim for unreported Lyft earnings - can I appeal?

Yes u have to report ANY income no matter how small when claiming benefits. TWC considers that fraud when u don't report income. Even like $20. You shoulda read the instructions better when filing!!

You definitely can appeal, and you should do it right away! The appeal deadline is 14 days from the date on your determination letter. Your appeal should explain that you didn't understand the reporting requirements for gig work and that you weren't intentionally trying to defraud the system. They do sometimes show leniency for honest mistakes, especially if it's your first time on unemployment. Make sure to include documentation showing exactly how much you earned from Lyft each week. The TWC might reduce the overpayment to reflect the correct partial benefit amount you would have received (instead of treating it as a complete denial). Good luck!

i had kinda similar situation except with doordash. they said i was overpaid like $3200 but i appealed and they reduced it to like $1800 because they recalculated what i shoulda got with partial benefits. still sucked but better than nothing

The TWC is absolutley BRUTAL with these gig worker situations! They know perfectly well most people don't understand how to report this income correctly but they do NOTHING to make it clear in their instructions. Then they hit you with these massive overpayment notices months later when you've already spent the money!!! I had a similar situation with Instacart work. Definitely appeal and explain it was an honest mistake. The worst part is trying to get through to someone at TWC to explain your situation before the appeal. I spent DAYS trying to reach them on the phone.

This is actually a really common mistake people make with rideshare and delivery gigs. When you file your appeal, make sure you emphasize that you didn't understand the reporting requirements specifically for gig work (which is honestly confusing for many people). The TWC might classify this as a non-fraud overpayment if they believe it was an honest mistake. If your appeal is successful but you still have an overpayment, you can request a payment plan or even an overpayment waiver if repaying would cause financial hardship. In my experience working with clients in similar situations, about 40% get some form of relief through the appeal process. Do you have your determination letter in front of you? There should be a specific reason code that's important for your appeal strategy.

One time I forgot to report income from a one day job I did and TWC said I committed fraud lol. Had to pay back $400 and my claim was locked for like 3 weeks. Anyway just wondering did they catch this because Lyft reported your earnings to them or did you tell them about it? Because I've heard TWC has gotten way more aggressive about checking with gig companies for unreported income in 2025.

When you file your appeal, remember to submit it in writing and keep a copy of everything. You can submit through the TWC portal or by mail, but the portal is faster. In your appeal letter, I'd recommend: 1. Clearly stating you misunderstood the reporting requirements for gig work 2. Providing exact amounts earned each week from Lyft (with documentation) 3. Requesting that they recalculate your benefits as partial payments rather than denying eligibility entirely 4. Mentioning that this was your first time on unemployment and that you'll correctly report all income going forward If your appeal hearing is conducted by phone, be extremely prepared with all your documentation organized. Answer questions directly and honestly. Don't get defensive even if the hearing officer seems accusatory - that's just part of their job.

Did you finally get through to anyone at TWC yet? Curious if Claimyr worked for you because I'm in a similar situation with unreported income (mine was from tutoring).