TWC scheduled my appeal hearing 1.5 YEARS later - what should I expect?

Yes, you should absolutely attend the hearing! Even though you're working now, if you win your appeal, you'll be entitled to back benefits for the weeks you claimed while unemployed. The TWC hearing officer will only review the period when you were filing payment requests, not your current employment status. Long delays like this unfortunately aren't that uncommon, especially since the pandemic backlog is still being processed in some cases.

happened to me too! got a hearing date 14 months after i stopped claiming benefits. ended up getting like $3900 in back pay for the 6 weeks i was claiming before i gave up. def go to the hearing

TYPICAL TWC INEFFICIENCY!! This is exactly why so many people give up on getting what they deserve. The system is DESIGNED to make people abandon legitimate claims. I waited 8 months for my hearing in 2024, and by that point I had already found work too. But I showed up anyway and got over $5,200 in backpay. The most INFURIATING part was that the hearing only took 25 minutes! They could have resolved it in a phone call a year earlier!!! Definitely attend the hearing - don't let them win by making you give up.

I'm an employment attorney who handles TWC cases. These delays are frustrating but not uncommon. Here's what you need to prepare for your hearing: 1. Documentation of your work separation (termination letter, emails, texts) 2. Records of all payment requests you submitted 3. Any determination letters from TWC 4. Proof of job search activities during your claim period 5. Any correspondence with TWC about your claim Even though it's been delayed, the hearing will only focus on your eligibility during the period you were requesting payments. Your current employment is irrelevant to the case. If you win, you'll receive all benefits you would have received during that period.

i had my appeal after a year delay and they hung up on me when i tried to join the call!! then marked me as a no-show!! had to request ANOTHER hearing and wait another 3 months!!! make sure u test the number they give u ahead of time

If you're struggling to reach TWC to confirm hearing details or ask questions, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. When I had my delayed appeal hearing last year, I couldn't get through to TWC for days. Claimyr got me connected to an actual agent in about 20 minutes who helped me understand exactly what to expect and how to prepare. Really reduced my anxiety about the whole process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works and their website is claimyr.com if you're interested. Definitely worth it for something this important with potentially thousands in back benefits at stake.

One more important tip: Request a copy of your appeal file ASAP. It contains all the evidence TWC has for your case, including statements from your former employer. You're legally entitled to review this before your hearing, but you need to specifically request it. Call the Appeals Department number on your hearing notice and ask them to email you the appeal file. This will help you prepare your testimony effectively.

Just curious - what was the reason for your original denial? That helps determine how to prepare. Like if it was a job separation issue vs. availability issue vs. reported earnings issue?

my mom works at twc and says the backlog is still nuts from covid plus they had that big computer system change in early 2024 that messed everything up for months

One final suggestion - when you attend the hearing, keep your answers brief and directly responsive to the questions asked. Don't volunteer extra information unless specifically asked. The hearing officer is looking for clear facts related to eligibility requirements, not a detailed narrative. And be sure to mention those emails showing your position was eliminated - that's strong evidence for your case. Good luck!

I went through a similar situation last year - appeal hearing scheduled 13 months after I filed! The frustrating part is that by the time they finally schedule these hearings, people have often moved on and found new jobs, which is probably what they're counting on. But definitely don't skip it! I almost didn't go because I thought "what's the point" but ended up getting $4,200 in back benefits. The hearing itself was only about 20 minutes by phone. Just make sure you have all your original documentation ready - they'll ask about the specific circumstances of your job separation and want to see any proof you have. The delay doesn't affect your eligibility for the original claim period at all.