TWC requesting work search logs - Will they verify my out-of-state job contacts?

theyll def call to check sometimes. my cousin got busted for making up contacts lol

TWC does conduct random audits of work search activities, but they don't verify every single contact for every claimant. The bigger issue here is that Texas requires a minimum of 3 work search activities per week for most counties (some rural counties require fewer). Since you only listed 3 contacts and they were all out-of-state, you might have a problem. Texas work search requirements technically prefer in-state contacts, but out-of-state contacts can be acceptable if they're within a reasonable commuting distance or you can demonstrate willingness to relocate. Shreveport being 45 minutes away is probably fine, but you should document that these were actual work search activities - did you submit applications, resumes, or have formal conversations about employment? Just "checking if they're hiring" might not be considered a qualifying work search activity unless you can document it properly. For future weeks, I'd recommend making sure you have at least 3 SOLID work search activities that meet TWC's criteria.

Im in the same boat right now!! TWC requested my work search logs from last month and I'm FREAKING OUT because half my contacts were through Indeed quick-apply and I didn't save all the confirmation emails. Has anyone been through an audit and know what happens if they can't verify some of your contacts?? Will they cut off my benefits completely??

To answer your questions directly: 1. Yes, TWC does sometimes verify work search contacts, but they don't check everyone. They typically do random audits or check if something seems suspicious. 2. Out-of-state contacts CAN be acceptable, especially since Shreveport is within commuting distance as you mentioned. However, you need to make sure these were legitimate work search activities, not just casual conversations. What counts as a valid work search activity? Submitting applications, sending resumes, formal interviews, etc. Just calling to "see if they're hiring" might not qualify unless you followed up with a resume or application. Also, keep in mind that Texas requires a minimum of 3 work search activities per week. Since you only listed 3 and they're all out-of-state, I'd recommend increasing your activities for future weeks and including some Texas employers. If you're having trouble reaching TWC to discuss this, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a rep quickly instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P88?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works. Helped me resolve a similar work search issue last month.

I had this happen 2 months ago!!! I was TERRIFIED they would cut me off because one of my contacts was just asking a friend about openings at their company (didn't even apply formally). TWC did call 2 of my contacts but not the friend one thankfully. They ended up approving my benefits but sent me a warning letter about making sure future work searches meet their requirements. My advice: be SUPER detailed in your documentation. For each contact include: - Full company name and address - Name and title of person you contacted - Date and method of contact (phone, email, in person) - Position you inquired about - Result of contact This saved me when they questioned one of my contacts!

out of state contacts are fine as long as you're actually willing to work there. I had contacts in oklahoma (i live near the border) and TWC never had a problem with it. just be honest if they ask about it.

The REAL problem with TWC is they change what counts as "valid" whenever they feel like it!! I had 5 online applications and they told me that wasn't enough because I needed "varied methods" of job searching. Then my friend just had in-person inquiries and they said she needed some online applications too! It's like they WANT to deny benefits!!!!!

Update: I just called TWC (finally got through after 2 hours on hold!) and asked specifically about out-of-state work searches. The rep said they ARE acceptable as long as: 1. You're legitimately willing/able to work there 2. You can document the contact properly 3. You meet the minimum required number of work searches Since Shreveport is only 45 mins away and you have family in Texarkana where you could stay, those should count as valid activities IF you properly documented them. The rep did suggest making sure at least some of your weekly contacts are in Texas going forward though.

I went through a similar audit last year and can share what I learned. TWC does verify contacts, but not every single one - they focus on questionable entries or if your pattern looks suspicious. Your out-of-state contacts should be fine since you have legitimate reasons (previous employers and family connection for relocation). The key is documentation. Make sure you can prove these were actual work search activities - save those emails you sent with your resume, and for the phone call with your friend, write down the date, what positions you discussed, and his business info. Going forward, I'd recommend mixing in some Texas employers to show you're casting a wide net. Also, try to vary your search methods - online applications, direct employer contact, networking, etc. This shows you're making a genuine effort. Don't panic too much - if your contacts are legitimate (which they sound like they are), you should be okay. The people who get in real trouble are the ones making up fake contacts or not actually conducting any searches at all.

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been super helpful! I'm in East Texas and about half my work searches have been in Louisiana since there are more opportunities in my field there. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less worried about it. One thing I learned from my local workforce center is that they actually encourage cross-border job searching in areas like ours where the job market extends beyond state lines. They said as long as you're genuinely willing to work there and can document your efforts properly, TWC generally accepts it. For documentation, I've been keeping a simple spreadsheet with company name, contact person, date, method of contact, and outcome. Takes just a few minutes after each contact but gives me everything I need if they ask for logs. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really reassuring to know others have been through this successfully!

I've been through multiple TWC audits and can tell you that your situation sounds totally fine. The fact that you actually contacted real employers and have documentation (those emails with resumes) puts you in a much better position than a lot of people who get audited. TWC generally accepts out-of-state contacts when there's a legitimate reason - and yours are solid. Previous employers are always considered valid contacts, and having family in Texarkana where you could relocate shows genuine intent. The 45-minute commute to Shreveport is definitely within reasonable range too. The key things TWC looks for in an audit are: 1) Are the contacts real? 2) Did you actually make contact? 3) Were you genuinely seeking employment? Based on your post, you check all those boxes. Just make sure you have those email confirmations saved and can provide details about the phone conversation with your friend (date, what positions discussed, business name/location). Going forward, definitely mix in some Texas employers to show you're exploring all options, but don't stress too much about this particular week - sounds like you followed the rules.

I just went through a TWC audit last month and your situation sounds very similar to mine! I had mostly out-of-state contacts because I live right on the border and there are just more job opportunities in the neighboring state. TWC did call to verify a couple of my contacts, but they were totally understanding when I explained the geographic situation. The key thing they cared about was that I had legitimate documentation - which it sounds like you do with those email confirmations. One tip that really helped me: when I submitted my work search logs, I included a brief note explaining WHY I was searching out-of-state (proximity to my location, family connections for potential relocation, etc.). The TWC rep told me that context really helped them understand my search strategy wasn't just random. You should be fine since you have real contacts and documentation. Just keep doing what you're doing and maybe throw in a few Texas employers for future weeks to show you're exploring all options. Good luck!

I'm a newcomer here but have been following this conversation closely since I'm dealing with a similar TWC audit situation. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I'm also in a border area (near Oklahoma) and have been worried about my out-of-state job contacts. It's really encouraging to see that so many of you have successfully navigated these audits with legitimate out-of-state searches. The tips about documentation and providing context in your submissions are gold - I never would have thought to explain the geographic reasoning but it makes perfect sense. For those still going through audits, it seems like the main takeaway is: as long as your contacts are real, documented, and you have legitimate reasons for searching out-of-state, TWC is generally reasonable about it. The people who run into trouble seem to be the ones making up contacts or not actually conducting real searches. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be pinned for anyone else going through TWC audits!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be worried about this! I went through a TWC audit about 6 months ago and had a mix of in-state and out-of-state contacts. What I learned is that TWC really focuses on whether your job search efforts are genuine and well-documented rather than just the geographic location. For out-of-state contacts, the key things that helped me were: 1) Having a clear rationale (commuting distance, family connections, industry concentration in that area), 2) Proper documentation (saved emails, application confirmations, detailed notes), and 3) Showing that I was actually willing and able to work there if offered a position. Your situation with Shreveport (45 min commute) and Texarkana (family connection) sounds very reasonable. The fact that you sent formal emails with resumes to previous employers shows genuine effort, not just casual inquiries. One thing that really helped during my audit was creating a simple log format with: Date, Company, Contact Method, Contact Person/Department, Position Sought, and Outcome. Having everything organized like this made it easy to provide information when TWC requested it. Don't stress too much - from everything shared in this thread, it's clear that TWC is generally fair with people who are making legitimate job search efforts, even when those efforts cross state lines for valid reasons.

I'm new to this community but have been dealing with TWC for a few months now. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea that out-of-state job searches could be acceptable - I've been limiting myself to Texas employers only because I was afraid TWC would reject anything else. Reading about everyone's experiences with audits is both nerve-wracking and reassuring. It sounds like the key is really about being genuine in your search efforts and keeping good records. I live near the New Mexico border and there are actually more opportunities in my field across the state line, but I've been avoiding them out of fear. Based on what I'm reading here, it seems like I should start expanding my search as long as I can document everything properly and have legitimate reasons (which I do - better job market and I'm willing to relocate or commute). Does anyone have advice for someone who wants to start including out-of-state searches but hasn't been doing them yet? Should I gradually mix them in, or is it okay to suddenly start including them in my work search logs?

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first TWC work search audit request. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was panicking when I got the letter asking for my logs, but reading everyone's real experiences has shown me that TWC is generally reasonable as long as you're being honest and can document your efforts properly. I'm in a similar situation with some out-of-state contacts - I live in East Texas and have been searching in Louisiana where my industry has more opportunities. I was terrified this would be a problem, but seeing so many successful audit outcomes with legitimate out-of-state searches gives me confidence. The documentation tips shared here are gold - I'm definitely implementing the detailed log format with company name, contact method, dates, and outcomes. I've also learned the importance of providing context about WHY you're searching out-of-state rather than just submitting bare-bones contact info. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This thread should definitely be a resource for anyone facing their first TWC audit!

I'm completely new to this community but stumbled across this thread while researching TWC work search requirements after getting my own audit letter yesterday. I can't tell you how much reading everyone's experiences has helped calm my nerves! I'm in a very similar situation - I live in Houston but work in the oil industry, and honestly the best opportunities right now are in Louisiana. I've been afraid to include those contacts in my work searches because I thought TWC would automatically reject out-of-state activity. Seeing so many people successfully navigate audits with legitimate out-of-state contacts is incredibly reassuring. The documentation strategies everyone has shared are amazing. I've been keeping pretty loose records, but I'm definitely implementing the detailed log format with company info, contact methods, dates, and outcomes that several people mentioned. The tip about including explanatory context about WHY you're searching out-of-state seems especially valuable. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences - this thread is honestly worth its weight in gold for anyone dealing with TWC audits for the first time!

I'm brand new to this community and just received my first TWC audit request yesterday - finding this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I was completely panicking about my out-of-state job contacts, but reading everyone's real experiences has given me so much hope. I'm in a situation very similar to many of you - I live in Dallas but work in tech, and honestly some of the best opportunities are in Austin or even across the border in Oklahoma where several major companies have regional offices. I've been terrified to include these in my work searches because I thought TWC would automatically flag anything out-of-state as problematic. The documentation strategies shared here are incredible - I had no idea how important it was to provide context about WHY you're searching out-of-state rather than just listing contacts. The detailed log format with company names, contact methods, dates, and outcomes that multiple people have mentioned seems like it would make the whole audit process so much smoother. One question for those who've been through this - when you provided that explanatory context about your search strategy, did you include it as a cover letter with your logs, or did you add notes directly in the log entries themselves? I want to make sure I format everything in the most helpful way possible. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing!

I'm completely new to this community but just found this thread while frantically googling about TWC audits after receiving my own request letter today. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - I was convinced I was going to lose my benefits because most of my work searches have been out-of-state! I'm in South Texas near the border and work in healthcare administration. The job market here is pretty limited in my field, so I've been applying to positions in San Antonio, Austin, and even some in New Mexico where there are several large hospital systems. I was terrified TWC would see these out-of-state contacts as invalid, but it sounds like they're actually reasonable about it when you have legitimate reasons. The documentation advice in this thread is invaluable. I've been keeping pretty basic records, but I'm definitely going to implement that detailed log format everyone's mentioned - company name, contact person, method, date, outcome, plus explanatory context about why each search makes sense for my career. Has anyone dealt with healthcare industry searches specifically? I'm wondering if TWC understands that healthcare systems often span multiple states and regions. Either way, this thread has given me so much more confidence about the audit process. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences!

I'm brand new to this community and just got my own TWC audit letter yesterday - this thread has been an absolute godsend! I was completely freaking out because about half of my work search contacts have been in Arkansas and Oklahoma (I'm in Northeast Texas where the job markets kind of blend together). Reading everyone's experiences has been so reassuring. It sounds like TWC really does understand geographic realities, especially for those of us living in border areas where it makes total sense to search across state lines. The key seems to be having legitimate reasons and solid documentation. I'm definitely implementing all the documentation strategies shared here - the detailed log format with company info, contact methods, dates, and outcomes, plus that crucial explanatory context about WHY you're searching out-of-state. I had no idea how important it was to provide that reasoning rather than just submitting a bare list of contacts. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully got through audits, how long did the whole process take from when you submitted your logs to when you heard back from TWC? I'm trying to manage my anxiety about this and it would help to know what kind of timeline to expect. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this community is amazing for people navigating TWC for the first time!

I'm completely new to this community and just received my first TWC audit letter this morning - I can't believe how perfectly timed finding this thread has been! I was in full panic mode about my out-of-state job contacts until I read through everyone's experiences here. I'm in a very similar situation to many of you - I live in El Paso and work in engineering, so naturally a lot of the opportunities in my field are across the border in New Mexico or even in other major Texas cities like Austin and Dallas that require relocation. I've been avoiding including my New Mexico contacts in my work search logs because I was terrified TWC would automatically reject them, but it sounds like I've been unnecessarily limiting myself. The documentation strategies everyone has shared are incredibly helpful. I've been keeping pretty minimal records, but I'm definitely going to start using that detailed log format with company names, contact methods, dates, outcomes, and most importantly - the explanatory context about WHY each search makes sense. I had no idea how crucial it was to provide that reasoning rather than just submitting contact information. For my upcoming submission, I'm planning to include a brief explanation about the engineering job market spanning the El Paso/Las Cruces region, plus detailed entries for each contact showing genuine effort and willingness to work across state lines. Thank you all so much for sharing your real experiences - this thread has transformed my anxiety into confidence that I can handle this audit successfully!