by PearlyredTexas

Created on: February 23, 2010   Last Updated: February 25, 2010

Unfortunately I have had to file for unemployment with the other millions of Americans and right now with unemployment being the highest it has ever been it makes me sad that I have to depend on Uncle Sam to help me pay my bills. I was married for over 17 years and always had a spouse to depend on. Now with the economy being in dire straits you need two incomes in a household to pay your bills, unless one spouse makes enough to cover all the bills.

The best way to file for unemployment is the day you are fired or laid off from your job is go to: www.twc.state.tx.us. You can also file through the telephone number posted on their website but because the telephone line usually has high call volumes and your wait is very long, it might benefit you more to do it online. Once you do it online if for some reason it can not be done, the online site well, tell you to call them.  If you can get through on the phone a customer service professional will ask you for information such as date of hire and dates of discharge. They will also ask you for the reason why you were laid off or fired and if you were that you were given any notice for your termination.   Once you go through the process you will then received documentation in the mail on what days you are to call in your two week claim but a customer service person will also give you the date to start filing your claims.  You will receive documents in the mail telling you what  you qualify for as you weekly pay.   It will also give you documents on how to keep your work search claims. You have to keep a minimum of 3 work searches a week.  I always kept a journal of my work searches so that if I need them for a referral I have them.  You will receive information in the mail on how to keep Texas Workforce Commission posted on your work search status. If you are not hired anytime soon, then for faster service you need to go online and apply for your payment claims. You should received a debt card in the mail that can be used at a bank that honors that card.  When you submit your information on line make sure that all your information is truthful because if  you lie there are penalties that could lead to jail time and that is not an option when you are trying to job hunt.

Once you file your claims on that specific week you can go online and check the status of your claim on Texas Workforce Commissions  website. You can also go to the cardholders website, sign up as a cardholder so you can check when your claims are paid to your card. Texas does not mail unemployment checks anymore because it eliminates them getting stolen in the mail, which use to happen years ago. Usually the payments are received on your debt card within two business days but if there is a holiday then they are delayed one business day. Continue filing for unemployment claims until you get a job once you get a job then cease filing your claims or you can call them and tell them where you are working so they will know that you are working.  If your unemployment runs our before you find a job you might be eligibile for emergency unemployment for which they will notify you by mail.

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