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.