TWC investigator asking about school attendance - Will my benefits get cut?

They're asking because going to school can potentially affect your availability for work, which is a requirement for receiving unemployment benefits. Under TWC rules, you need to be able and available to work full-time. The good news is that attending school doesn't automatically disqualify you. Since you're only taking night classes and are available to work during regular business hours, you should be okay.\n\nMake sure you clearly communicate to TWC that:\n1. Your classes don't interfere with standard work hours\n2. You would quit school or adjust your schedule if offered suitable employment\n3. You're actively looking for work (completing your work search activities)\n\nI went through something similar last year and kept my benefits because I proved my limited class schedule didn't impact my ability to accept full-time work.

Thank you so much for explaining!! I did tell them I'm available during normal business hours and would take a job if offered, but I was so nervous I don't know if I made that clear enough. Should I call them back to make sure they understood? And yes, I've been doing my 3 required work searches every week and documenting everything.

OMG same thing happened to me!! I started taking online classes at ACC and TWC called me about it too. The lady was super nice but I was freaking out. They ended up sending me some form to fill out about my school schedule. I think as long as you're still doing your work searches and can prove you'd take a job over school you'll be fine. At least thats what ended up happening in my case!!

That's a relief to hear! Did they send you the form right after the call or did it take a while? I haven't received anything yet and I'm getting nervous about my next payment request.

TWC can be SUCH A NIGHTMARE about school!! When I was taking classes last year they cut my benefits for THREE WEEKS while they

Yeah the same BS happened to my cousin. TWC is always looking for reasons to deny benefits. The minute you check that education box they start the whole investigation process.

I work with TWC claims regularly, and this is standard procedure when a claimant reports educational activities. They're conducting a Training/School Investigation to determine if your educational pursuits affect your availability for work.\n\nThey'll evaluate:\n- If your class schedule conflicts with standard work hours in your industry\n- If you'd be willing to abandon or modify your educational pursuits for suitable employment\n- If your training might qualify for the TWC-approved training program\n\nKey point: Under Texas Unemployment Insurance law, you must be able and available for full-time work and actively seeking employment. Educational pursuits that don't interfere with these requirements generally won't disqualify you.\n\nIf they determine your schooling doesn't interfere with these requirements, they'll note it in your file and your benefits should continue uninterrupted. If they have concerns, they'll issue a determination letter with appeal information.

This is super helpful information! Would you recommend I upload my class schedule to my TWC portal as proof that it's only two evenings a week? Or should I wait for them to request specific documentation?

i started takign classes at lonestar while on unemployment and never told twc... nobody ever asked me about it and i got all my benefits 🤷‍♂️ maybe i just got lucky lol

This approach is risky. If TWC discovers unreported school attendance later (which they often do through cross-referencing educational institutions), you could face an overpayment determination and potentially be required to pay back all benefits received during that period. Always report any changes in your circumstances to avoid future complications.

Having trouble reaching TWC to follow up on my school investigation too. Been calling for days and just get the busy signal or disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent yesterday. They have this service that gets you past the busy signals and connects you to a TWC rep usually within an hour or so. Worked great for me - the agent confirmed my school attendance wasn't going to affect my benefits. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh\n\nMuch better than stressing for weeks waiting for a letter!

I've never heard of this service before! I might try it because I'm stressed about waiting for their decision. Did you have to provide any documentation about your school schedule when you talked to the TWC agent?

One more thing to be aware of: be consistent with your answers. If they call you again or if you have to complete a written questionnaire, make sure your responses match what you said in the first call. Inconsistencies can trigger further investigation.\n\nAlso, if it's been more than 7-10 days since the investigator called and you haven't received any determination, it might be worth following up. Sometimes cases get stuck in the system, especially with the backlog TWC is still dealing with after the July disaster declarations.

This! I said something slightly different on my form than what I told them on the phone and they called me AGAIN to clarify. So annoying.

Update: I finally got through to TWC this morning! The agent said my case notes show the investigation is complete and they determined my night classes don't interfere with my availability for work. My benefits will continue without interruption! Such a relief. Thanks everyone for the advice and support. For anyone else going through this, definitely make sure TWC understands your class schedule doesn't prevent you from accepting full-time work.

Great news! Thanks for updating us. This is helpful information for others who might face similar situations with TWC and school attendance.

So glad to see this worked out for you! I was following your situation because I'm actually in a similar spot - just started taking weekend classes at San Antonio College while collecting benefits after my retail job got eliminated. Your experience gives me hope that TWC will be reasonable about it. I've been documenting everything carefully just in case they call me too. It's reassuring to know they focus on whether school actually interferes with your work availability rather than just automatically cutting benefits. Thanks for sharing the outcome - it really helps the rest of us navigate this process!

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar boat - got laid off from my warehouse job in August and just started taking some certification courses online to improve my skills while I job hunt. Haven't heard from TWC yet but now I know what to expect if they call. It sounds like the key is being totally transparent about your schedule and making it crystal clear that work comes first. @Mikayla Brown congrats on getting it sorted out! And thanks @Sean Matthews and @Declan Ramirez for breaking down the actual TWC requirements - that really helps understand what they're looking for. I'm going to make sure I have my course schedule and availability clearly documented just in case they reach out. For anyone else dealing with this, it seems like as long as your classes don't interfere with normal work hours and you're still doing your job searches, you should be okay. The investigation sounds scary but it's really just them making sure you're still available for work.

Just wanted to chime in with some encouragement! I went through a very similar situation last year when I enrolled in evening welding classes while on unemployment after my construction company had major layoffs. TWC called me about 2 weeks after I reported the training on my weekly certification. The investigator was actually pretty understanding once I explained that my classes were only Monday/Wednesday evenings 6-10pm and that I was still actively job searching during regular business hours. Like others have mentioned, the key things they wanted to know were: 1) Would I drop classes for suitable employment? (Yes!) 2) Am I still available for full-time work? (Yes, except those 8 hours per week) 3) Am I completing my work search requirements? (Absolutely) They approved my continued benefits and even mentioned that skills training could potentially help my job prospects. The whole process took about 10 days from the initial call to getting confirmation that my benefits would continue. One tip: when they ask if you'd quit school for work, don't hesitate or sound uncertain. Be clear and confident that employment is your priority. That seemed to be the make-or-break question for them. Sounds like you handled everything correctly though - congrats on getting it resolved!

This whole conversation has been incredibly reassuring to read! I'm currently in a similar situation - got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant in Dallas last month and just enrolled in some evening computer classes at Dallas College to update my skills while I look for work. I've been nervous about reporting it to TWC because I wasn't sure how they'd react. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is being upfront about your schedule and making it absolutely clear that you'd prioritize work over school. My classes are only Tuesday/Thursday evenings 7-10pm, so I'm available during all normal business hours. I'm definitely going to follow @Yuki Kobayashi's advice about creating a document with my course schedule and availability statement before they potentially call. @Mikayla Brown congratulations on getting everything sorted out! And huge thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this thread is going to help so many people navigate this process. It's such a relief to know that TWC focuses on actual availability rather than just automatically penalizing people for trying to improve their skills during unemployment.

This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable for anyone dealing with TWC school investigations! As someone who works in workforce development, I can confirm that what everyone is sharing here aligns with TWC policy. The agency really does focus on actual work availability rather than just penalizing people for pursuing education. A few additional points that might help others: 1. **Timing matters** - If you're enrolled in an approved training program through TWC's Skills Development Fund or WIOA, different rules may apply and you might actually be encouraged to complete the training. 2. **Industry considerations** - TWC also looks at whether your training relates to your field or expands your job prospects. Technical certifications, computer skills, and trade training are generally viewed more favorably than unrelated degree programs. 3. **Documentation is key** - Keep copies of everything: your class schedule, correspondence with TWC, notes from phone calls with investigators, and evidence of your ongoing job search activities. The success stories shared here show that being honest, prepared, and clearly communicating your priorities makes a huge difference. It's refreshing to see people supporting each other through this stressful process rather than just complaining about the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread will definitely help future claimants navigate similar situations!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just got the dreaded call from a TWC investigator yesterday about my online business courses at UT Tyler. Like everyone else here, I was completely nervous and probably didn't explain myself as clearly as I should have. Reading through all these success stories is giving me so much hope! My situation is pretty similar - I'm taking two online courses (Marketing and Business Finance) that I can do completely on my own schedule, and I'm available for work 24/7 since there are no set class times. I made sure to tell the investigator that I'd drop the courses immediately if offered suitable employment, but I was stumbling over my words because I was so anxious. @Mikayla Brown your update about everything working out is exactly what I needed to hear! And @Sean Matthews @Declan Ramirez thank you both for breaking down the actual requirements - it really helps to understand what TWC is actually looking for rather than just panicking about losing benefits. I'm going to follow everyone's advice about documenting everything and being consistent with my answers if they call back. The fact that so many people here have successfully navigated this process while taking classes gives me confidence that as long as I'm honest and can show I'm prioritizing work, everything should be fine. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for so many people! I'm actually a TWC claims examiner (can't give specific case advice, but can share general info) and it's great to see accurate information being shared here. A few things I'd add based on what I see in investigations daily: **Be specific about your availability** - Instead of just saying "I'm available for work," tell them exactly when (M-F 8am-5pm, weekends, etc.). The more specific you are, the clearer your case becomes. **School schedule vs. work schedule** - We really do look at whether there's actual conflict. Evening classes, weekend classes, or flexible online courses rarely cause issues if you can demonstrate full availability during standard work hours. **Follow-up is okay** - If it's been 2+ weeks since your investigation call and you haven't heard anything, you can call to check status. Sometimes cases do get delayed in the system. The success rate for people who are honest about their limited class schedules and can show they'd prioritize work is actually quite high. The problems usually come when people aren't upfront or when their school schedule genuinely conflicts with available work in their field. Thanks to everyone sharing their positive outcomes - it really helps reduce anxiety for others going through this process!