TWC forcing me to attend in-person workforce training with 2-day notice - can they do this?

Oh they absolutley can do this! When ur on UI benefits, TWC owns ur time. My nephew went thru the same thing last yr & he tried to skip it and they cut off his benefits for 6 WEEKS!!! They call it 'failure to participate' and its a serious violation. Doesnt matter if u have kids or whatever, u have to show up. Sorry but thats how it works with them.

There's a bit of confusion here that needs clarification. TWC can require you to participate in reemployment services and training programs as a condition of receiving benefits. However, they typically must provide reasonable accommodation for legitimate barriers like childcare issues. I recommend you: 1. Immediately document your childcare situation in writing through your TWC correspondence portal 2. Request a reasonable accommodation due to childcare constraints 3. Ask for alternative training options (virtual participation or different scheduling) 4. Explain that you're actively seeking work that matches your previous remote employment While TWC can require training participation, they should work with you on reasonable barriers. Don't just not show up - this will likely result in benefit disqualification. Contact them proactively to address the situation.

Tbh sounds like you got a mean rep who was on a power trip. When i filed last year the rules were that you had to be available for suitable work, not ANY work. Suitable means work that matches your skills, experience and previous wage range. If you were doing remote work before, you should be able to search for remote work now. Call back and try to get a different person.

have u tried calling the twc customer service line for explination? when i had a similar issue i couldnt get thru for days and kept getting hung up on lol classic twc

this EXACT thing happend to me!!! they sent a letter Friday for monday morning training!! i went CRAZY trying to find someone to watch my kid. ended up paying my neighbor $75 for the day which was like half my UI payment that week. But i was too scared to miss it. the training was STUPID too just basic resume stuff i already knew.

After reading through this thread, I want to add some important legal context. Under Texas Workforce Commission guidelines, "good cause" for refusing to participate in required activities can include temporary childcare issues, especially with inadequate notice. However, how you handle this matters tremendously: 1. DO NOT simply no-show to the training - this will almost certainly result in benefits disqualification 2. Immediately contact your assigned Workforce Solutions office (not just general TWC) and explain your specific situation 3. Request a "Reasonable Accommodation" formally and in writing through your correspondence portal 4. Detail your childcare situation, the lack of notice, and your continued efforts to seek suitable employment 5. Ask for alternative arrangements such as virtual participation or a rescheduled date 6. Continue requesting payment and meeting all other UI requirements while this is being resolved Many claimants have successfully navigated similar situations when properly documented. The key is being proactive rather than reactive.

Anyone else notice how these "mandatory" trainings always seem to happen right after you get approved? It's like they're testing to see if they can disqualify you right away. My theory is they have some kind of quota system where they try to kick a certain percentage of people off benefits each month. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you!

I wanted to share the official TWC policy on this matter to help clarify: While TWC can require participation in reemployment activities, they must follow their own "Reasonable Accommodation" guidelines for claimants with legitimate barriers. Temporary childcare issues with insufficient notice often qualify for accommodation. However, it's critical to understand that the burden is on YOU to properly request this accommodation BEFORE the scheduled activity. A retroactive request after missing the training is much less likely to be approved. Also important: While dealing with this issue, continue meeting ALL other UI requirements including: - Completing your payment requests on time - Performing and documenting your minimum 3 work search activities each week - Remaining available for suitable work - Responding to any TWC correspondence within required timeframes I've seen many claimants navigate this successfully by being proactive and thorough in their documentation.

So glad to hear you got it sorted out! This is exactly why it's important to advocate for yourself with TWC - they have accommodations available but won't always offer them upfront. Your experience shows other people that it's worth pushing back respectfully when you have legitimate constraints. The virtual option sounds like a perfect compromise that works for both you and TWC's requirements. Hope the training goes smoothly for you!

This whole situation really highlights how important it is to know your rights when dealing with TWC. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - they wanted me to attend a job fair with 3 days notice, but I had a medical appointment I couldn't reschedule. I was terrified they'd cut my benefits, but when I called and explained the situation (and offered to provide documentation), they let me attend a different session the following week. The key seems to be communicating proactively rather than just hoping they'll be understanding. It's frustrating that the initial representatives aren't always aware of or willing to mention accommodation options, but don't give up if the first person you talk to seems inflexible. Sometimes calling back and getting a different rep makes all the difference!

As someone who's been through the TWC system multiple times over the years, I can confirm that the quality of service really depends on which representative you get. Some are helpful and knowledgeable about accommodations, while others seem to just read from a script without considering individual circumstances. The fact that @ea99f97eb184 got such a different response when she called back really proves this point. For anyone facing similar issues in the future, I'd recommend always asking specifically about "reasonable accommodations" - use that exact phrase because it triggers them to look at different options. Also, if you get an unhelpful rep the first time, don't hesitate to hang up and call back. It might take a few tries, but it's worth it to find someone who actually understands the policies and is willing to work with you. The system isn't perfect, but there are protections in place if you know how to access them.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on my first unemployment claim and honestly had no idea that TWC could require training with such short notice. The fact that @ea99f97eb184 was able to get a virtual option after properly requesting accommodations gives me hope that the system isn't completely inflexible. I'm definitely taking notes on using specific language like "reasonable accommodations" and being persistent if the first rep isn't helpful. It's unfortunate that you have to know these insider tricks to get fair treatment, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share these experiences. Definitely bookmarking this thread in case I run into similar issues down the road!

This entire thread is such a perfect example of why we need better transparency in TWC processes! I've been dealing with unemployment claims for over a decade (unfortunately had to navigate layoffs multiple times in my industry), and the inconsistency in how representatives handle identical situations is maddening. @ea99f97eb184 your experience perfectly illustrates how the first person you talk to can completely misinform you about your rights and options. The fact that you were told you have to be "free 100% of the time" is just wrong - that's not what the law says at all. What's really concerning is how many people probably just accept that first harsh response and either skip the training (losing benefits) or scramble to comply in ways that create real hardship. The accommodation process exists for exactly these situations, but TWC seems to train their front-line staff to discourage people from using it. For anyone reading this in the future: always ask about accommodations, always get a second opinion if the first rep seems unreasonable, and document everything in writing. The system works when you know how to work it, but it shouldn't be this hard to access basic protections that are already built into the program.