TWC only paying benefits for 3 months - is this normal or a mistake?

Texas regular unemployment benefits typically last for 26 weeks, not 12. There are a few possible explanations for why yours might be shorter: 1. You might have wages from only part of your base period quarters 2. You could be on a different benefit type (like partial unemployment) 3. There might be an error in how your wages were calculated 4. If you worked less than a full year before being laid off Check your determination letter carefully - it should explain how they calculated your benefit period. Look for the "base period" section that shows which quarters they used for the calculation.

THE SAME EXACT THING happened to me last year!!! I only got 14 weeks and it's because I didn't have enough wages in my "base period" which is some stupid calculation they use. It's NOT a mistake - they do this on purpose to save $$$ and hope you dont fight it. Call them ASAP but goodluck getting through!!!

This is normal and based on your earning history. The TWC calculates your benefit duration based on your total wages during the base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed). The formula is approximately 27% of your total base period wages divided by your weekly benefit amount. If you only worked for part of your base period, you'll qualify for fewer weeks. The maximum is 26 weeks, but many people qualify for less depending on their work history. You can calculate it yourself: 1. Add up all wages in your base period 2. Multiply by 0.27 (27%) 3. Divide by your weekly benefit amount That gives you the number of weeks you're eligible for.

my sister had this same problem and she said they forgot to count one of her jobs so her benefits got cut short. u should double check the wage info on ur determination letter to make sure all ur jobs r included

this happened to me too. i only got 19 weeks instead of 26. its all about how long u worked and how much u made. nothing u can do about it unless theres a mistake in ur wages

I know it's frustrating to get fewer weeks than you expected. If you need to talk to TWC about your specific situation (or if you find any errors in your wage calculation), try using Claimyr to get through to a TWC agent. I was in a similar situation with questions about my benefit period and kept getting busy signals for days. Claimyr got me connected to a TWC rep in about 30 minutes. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh I found it on their website (claimyr.com) after a friend recommended it. Worth it to get your questions answered directly by TWC instead of stressing about whether your benefit period is calculated correctly.

Just to add to what others have said - once your regular benefits are exhausted, check if you're eligible for Extended Benefits (EB). These kick in during periods of high unemployment in Texas, but they're not always available. EB can add up to 13 additional weeks, but the qualification criteria are slightly different. You'll need to continue your payment requests and work search activities while on regular benefits to potentially qualify.

I'm in the same boat! Only got approved for 14 weeks. What's really frustrating is that it feels like I'm being penalized for not having worked longer, even though the layoff wasn't my choice. Are you doing your work search activities? I've been applying to at least 3 jobs a week, but haven't had much luck yet.

One thing NO ONE mentioned yet - are you on REGULAR unemployment or some other type?? If you're on Disaster Unemployment or Trade Adjustment Assistance those have different rules and benefit periods. Just checking bc your post didnt say which type.

I'm going through something similar right now! Got laid off in February and my benefits are only for 16 weeks instead of the full 26. It's really stressful when you're already dealing with job hunting and then find out your safety net is shorter than expected. One thing that helped me understand it better was looking at the actual dollar amounts on my determination letter. The TWC calculates your maximum benefit amount (MBA) based on your wages during the base period, and that total gets divided by your weekly amount to determine how many weeks you get. So even though the weekly amount might look good, if you didn't work the full base period, your total MBA is lower. I've been trying to be strategic about my job search since I know I have less time. Maybe we can help each other out with job leads if we're in similar fields? What industry are you in?

I just wanted to add something that might help - if you're concerned about your shortened benefit period, you should also look into other resources while you're job hunting. Texas Workforce Solutions offices offer free career counseling, resume help, and job placement assistance. They also have training programs that might help you transition to a new field if needed. I was in a similar situation a few months ago (got 18 weeks instead of 26) and the local workforce center helped me polish my resume and connect with employers. Even though my benefits were shorter, having that extra support made a big difference in my job search timeline. Also, don't forget that you might qualify for SNAP benefits or other assistance programs while you're unemployed, especially with a shortened benefit period. Every little bit helps when you're stretching your resources. Good luck with your search!

I'm sorry you're going through this - the shortened benefit period can definitely be a shock when you're already stressed about finding work. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like your 12-week period is unfortunately correct based on your work history, but I wanted to mention a couple things that might help: 1. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your work search activities (job applications, networking, interviews, etc.) since you'll need to document at least 3 per week. The TWC can audit these at any time. 2. Consider expanding your search geographically if possible - sometimes looking at surrounding cities or even remote opportunities can open up more options, especially with the tighter timeline. 3. If you haven't already, update your LinkedIn profile and start networking actively. Many jobs aren't even posted publicly, so reaching out to former colleagues or industry contacts could lead to opportunities faster than just applying online. The shortened timeline is stressful, but 12 weeks is still enough time to find something if you stay focused and use all available resources. Wishing you the best with your search!