Where do I enter work search activities for my son's new TWC claim?

Work search activities are reported when he requests payment every two weeks. He'll log into the TWC website or call Tele-Serv and answer a series of questions - one of them will ask if he's completed his required work search activities (minimum 3 per week in Texas). He'll just answer yes if he's done them. He should keep detailed records of all work search activities though, as TWC can audit him randomly. As for payment calculation, TWC uses his base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before his claim). They typically pay about 60-70% of his average weekly wage up to the maximum benefit amount (currently around $654 per week). Hope this helps!

The TWC system is so confusing when you first start!! I went thru this last year and was totally lost. One thing - make SURE he keeps detailed work search logs with dates, company names, contact info, position applied for, etc. They WILL check and if he cant prove he did the searches they'll make him pay everything back!!! Also the payment amounts are a JOKE compared to what you actually made. I was making $25/hr and got like $425 a week. Barely covered my rent!!

Just to add to what others have said - your son won't actually enter the work search activities details into the system during regular payment requests. Here's the process: 1. He'll request payment every two weeks through ui.texasworkforce.org or by calling 800-558-8321 2. During the payment request, he'll just answer YES to completing required work searches 3. He needs to keep his own detailed records of all work searches 4. If TWC selects him for a work search audit (which happens randomly), then he'll need to submit details For the payment amount, they use his highest paid quarter in the base period and divide by 25 to get a weekly benefit amount. Maximum is $654/week in Texas for 2025. Also important: he needs to register with WorkInTexas.com as part of his requirements!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your son probably won't see any money for 3-4 weeks minimum. TWC is TERRIBLE about processing new claims quickly. My daughter applied in February and it took almost 6 weeks before her first payment!! They also put everybody on a "waiting week" where you don't get paid for your first week. It's basically their way of stealing a week of benefits from everyone. And if there's ANYTHING unusual about his employment history (like if he had multiple jobs or worked out of state), expect delays and probably having to talk to an actual person at TWC... which is basically impossible because their phone lines are always busy.

i applied for twc last month. u dont put work searches anywhere just say YES when they ask if u did them when u request payment. keep ur own records tho cuz they check sometimes. they pay u based on how much u made before. my payment is $534 a week but i was making like $1100 a week at my job so its way less.

When I was struggling to reach TWC about my claim status last month (kept getting busy signals for DAYS), I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a TWC agent in about 25 minutes instead of fighting the busy signals for hours. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh It was a lifesaver because I had a question about my work search requirements that nobody on forums could answer clearly. The TWC agent was able to see my specific account details and give me the exact information I needed. Might be worth checking out if your son runs into any issues that require talking to an actual person.

One important thing nobody has mentioned: If TWC approves your son's claim, he'll receive a "Statement of Benefits" letter that shows his weekly benefit amount, total benefits available, and base period wages they used to calculate his benefits. Have him check this carefully! If any wages are missing from his base period (some employers forget to report properly), he should immediately request a wage investigation. This could significantly increase his benefit amount. Also, for the first payment request, he'll need to wait until the assigned day based on the last digit of his Social Security Number. TWC will include this information in his approval notice.

To answer your follow-up question about timing: Once your son's claim is approved (which typically takes 2-3 weeks if there are no issues), he'll be able to request his first payment. He won't get paid for the first week (the waiting week), but he still needs to request payment for it. After that, he'll request payment every two weeks on his assigned day. The money usually arrives 2-3 business days after a successful payment request via direct deposit, or 5-7 days if he's using the TWC debit card. Regarding work search documentation, a spreadsheet is perfect! He should record: - Date of activity - Employer name/contact information - Type of work search activity (application, interview, networking, WorkInTexas.com activity, etc.) - Position applied for - Method of contact (online, in person, email) - Results/follow-up TWC doesn't audit everyone, but when they do, having organized records makes it much easier.

For your last question about what counts as work search activities - it's more than just job applications. Here's what TWC accepts as valid work search activities: - Submitting job applications/resumes - Attending job interviews - Creating a profile on WorkInTexas.com - Attending job fairs - Participating in job search seminars or workshops - Taking skills assessment tests - Registering with a staffing agency - Networking events related to job search He needs at least 3 of these activities each week. And regarding the wage investigation deadline - he should request it within 14 days of receiving his Statement of Benefits letter. Also, once he starts receiving benefits, he should set a reminder to request payment every two weeks. Missing a payment request can create real headaches!