Will my TWC claim be approved if I apply 2 weeks before my job contract ends?

You need to wait until you're actually unemployed to file your claim. If you file while still employed, your claim will likely be denied. The day after your last day of work is when you should file. Contract ending is considered a qualifying job separation as long as you didn't choose to end it early. Make sure you have documentation showing the contract end date and that it wasn't renewed.

There's a waiting week for Texas unemployment. After you file, the first week is unpaid - it's called the "waiting week" and you'll get paid for it only after you've received benefits for 3 weeks. Make sure you request payment every two weeks even during that waiting period. Also, start doing your work search activities immediately (minimum 3 per week) and document them carefully.

this happened to me last year with my IT contract. ended up being no problem at all for approval because contract ending is considered a layoff basically. make sure you have EXACT dates of employment though, twc checks everything!!

DON'T FILE EARLY!!! I made that mistake and it messed up EVERYTHING. TWC flagged my account for fraud investigation because I was still technically employed when I filed. Took me ELEVEN WEEKS to get it sorted out and get my first payment!!! By then I'd already found another job but was so behind on bills! The system is DESIGNED to find reasons to deny you.

When I needed to reach TWC about my claim status after my contract ended, I was going crazy with busy signals for days. Then someone told me about Claimyr.com which got me through to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes after trying for DAYS on my own. They have a demo video if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Definitely wait until your contract officially ends before filing though. Contract ending is considered a qualifying job loss, but you have to be actually unemployed when you apply.

hey just so u know my brother works contract jobs all the time and he always gets unemploymet between them. the key is answring the separation question carefully. make sure u select "LAYOFF DUE TO LACK OF WORK" not "CONTRACT ENDED" when it asks why u separated. trust me this makes a big difference!

One more important tip: Once you file, you'll need to request payment every two weeks even if your claim is still pending. If you miss a payment request period, you might lose benefits for that period. Set calendar reminders for your payment request days. Also, make sure you're ready to list all your work search activities - Texas requires at least 3 per week, and they do occasionally audit these.

when i finished my contract last yr it took about 10 days from filing to getting determination letter saying i was approved. first payment came like 3 days after that. not too bad actually!

Since you mentioned your contract is ending due to budget cuts, make sure you get something in writing from your employer stating this. It could be an email or formal letter. This documentation will be helpful if TWC contacts your employer to verify the reason for separation. Sometimes employers dispute unemployment claims, even for contract endings, to avoid increases in their unemployment insurance rates. Having written proof that the separation wasn't your fault will strengthen your claim.

Another thing to keep in mind - since you've been at this contract job for 9 months, you should definitely meet the earnings requirements for TWC benefits. Texas requires you to have earned at least $3,822 in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). With 9 months of work, you're likely well above that threshold. Also, make sure you have your most recent pay stub and any tax documents ready when you file - TWC will need to verify your wages. The online application asks for detailed employment history, so having all your dates and employer info organized beforehand will make the process much smoother.

Also worth mentioning - since you know your exact end date 2 weeks in advance, use this time to prepare everything you'll need for your claim. Create accounts on WorkInTexas.com and other job boards now so you can start your work search activities immediately after filing. Download the TWC mobile app and bookmark the website. Having everything ready will help you file quickly the day after your contract ends and start your benefit weeks without delay. The preparatory work you do now will make the actual filing process much smoother when the time comes.