Has anyone ever had luck filing an appeal with the Texas Workforce Commission? (unemployment, transfer)

[CATXTransplant]

My husband was denied 4 weeks of unemployment when he was unemployed because they say he didn't call in to request payment. He called in several times and each time the recording said, "Our system can not handle your call, please try again on the next business day." Even now as we are trying to sort it out, we still get that message. The appeals officer is pretty condescending and says that if we can't find precedence, we probably won't win. Any tips would be appreciated.

[AGA]

Keep trying....I think it depends on who answers your call that day! Seriously!I missed 1 or 2 request dates and they gave me the option of requesting it (but had to have all my documents in order for those periods) or just skipping it and starting it again. I chose the later because my recordkeeping was less that stellar and I feared because of the issue, they might actually want to see them.I was doing my requests online, but I don't see that it would make a difference.Good Luck!

I did have to call several times to get through AND call any number you can find because they can get you through if you get a real person!
OR go to your center and speak to someone living and breathing!!!!

[twange]

I'm trying to remember as it was last year when I filed but I think I had similar problems. If I recall, there were two different numbers to call: one was local, the other was regional/statewide. I think that's the one that produced results as the local one was always "unable to handle my request". Also, once I was able to set everything up online, things went smoothly.

[mickey65]

There's an email address somewhere on the webpage you can use. I emailed them a question and got an immediate response to my questions.

I myself am waiting on a decision on my second appeal with the TWC Commission.

[suncityswkr]

I had a similar experience several years ago, be persistent. The system is set up to avoid paying out benefits as much as possible.

[LindaGrace]

My husband got that message literally for a week. I found an email address for their "customer service". I emailed them a scathing letter. I didn't curse and I didn't call names but I made it clear that their "customer service" was HORRID.

We also got immediate results.

Good luck to you - sometimes you have to raise some hell with them.

[LindaGrace]

I just DMed you with the email address we used.

[the minx]

This has been a real problem for quite a while. There were even news reports on TWC and how frustrated people were getting with the busy signals and recorded messages. They are completely under-staffed and overloaded with calls, as you can imagine.

Your best bet is to request online. Why are you not doing that to begin with? It's really simple.

Also, I had to call on a weekend once and I got through immediately. There were two numbers that I had and one had operators working on the weekend - she transferred me to whomever I needed to talk to and I was done in a few minutes.

[AGA]

Call whatever numbers you can get your hands on, no matter what dept they say they are!!! It is the only way to get a live person!

[HappyTexan]

It's not just Texas; many states are overwhelmed with unemployment applications, extensions and numerous questions from folks who have never been on unemployment before.