When Will I Know If I Can Receive Benefits?

It can take three to four weeks after you file to know if you can receive benefits. The amount of time depends on things such as whether we need more information about your job separation or eligibility issues. Remember, to receive payment you must continue to meet the ongoing requirement listed in What are My Ongoing Eligibility Requirements?, beginning on the date you file your claim, and also file your payment requests as instructed when you file your claim.

Qualification Based on Job Separation: When you file your claim for UI benefits, TWC will notify your last employer in writing of the reason you give for no longer working there. If the employer gives us new information that could prevent you from qualifying for benefits, we will tell you what the employer said and ask you to tell us in your own words what happened. We will use information from both you and the employer to determine whether you are qualified.

If you quit your last job or your employer fired you, we will send you a decision in writing once we determine whether you are qualified based on your job separation. The written decision is on a Determination on Payment of Unemployment Benefits form.

If your employer laid you off or you are working reduced hours, we will send you a written decision only if your employer contacts us to confirm your layoff. Your employer has 14 days to send a response. If your employer laid you off but does not respond to the notice we sent, the employer's lack of response would not prevent you from receiving benefits; in that situation, you will not get a written decision about your qualification based on your job separation.

Other Eligibility Issues: When you first apply for UI benefits, and at any time during your benefit year, there may be eligibility issues on your claim related to the ongoing ability, availability, and work search requirements. If so, TWC will investigate as necessary, and we will mail a written Determination on Payment after we determine whether you are eligible based on the result of each investigation.

What Does the Determination Form Tell Me?

The Determination on Payment form will tell you if we can pay you based on the specific issue named on that form. You may have more than one issue on your claim, and you will receive a separate Determination for each issue. To be paid benefits, all the Determinations you receive must say we can pay you benefits for the period you are claiming. If even one Determination says that we cannot pay you, then you will not receive benefits for that period. (You can find Appeal information in How Do I File An Appeal?) later in this information. You may check the status of your claim through Tele-Serv, TWC's automated telephone voice response system described in What is Tele-Serv?

Each Determination form has the following parts:

1. The "Decision" section tells you the issue, the decision, our reasoning, and the law supporting the decision. The beginning and ending dates tell you the dates this decision is in effect. If there is a beginning date but no ending date, the decision will stay in effect until your situation changes; however, you will not receive a notice for each week you file.
2. The section titled, "Determination of Potential Chargeback for the Employer," tells if we will charge your last employer for your benefits. The chargeback decision does not affect your claim.
3. The section titled, "If You Disagree With This Decision," tells the last day you can file an appeal to the determination. It also gives you the address and fax number of the Appeals Department. There is more information about appealing a determination on the back of the form. There is a section How Do I File An Appeal later in this information.

When Will I Receive My First Payment?

If you are eligible, we will issue your first payment during the third or fourth week following your initial claim. The first payment will be for the second payable week. The Act requires us to hold the payment for the first payable week as the "waiting period week." We will pay you for the waiting week once we have paid you three times your weekly benefit amount for other benefit weeks. If you have no earnings or deductions, and remain eligible for each two-week period, your payments will be like this:

1. File for the first and second weeks and be paid for one week.
2. File for the third and fourth weeks and be paid for three weeks.
3. File for other two-week periods and be paid for the two weeks.

How Do I Receive Payment of Benefits?

If you qualify, you receive a TWC UI Visa® Debit Card in a plain white envelope from JPMorgan Chase Bank.  When you receive your debit card:

• Keep your card and read all of the instructions that Chase sends you.
• Call Chase customer service toll free at 1-866-865-1273 to activate the debit care.  Remember to select a PIN.

If you have further questions, call Chase toll-free at 1-866-865-1273 or go to the Chase cardholder site at www.myaccount.chase.com.

Are UI Benefits Taxable?

Yes, benefits are taxable.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires you to report your UI benefits as income.  TWC mails statements in January that tell the total amount of benefits paid to you during the calendar year.  You can also call Tele-Serv for the amount.  We report this amount directly to the IRS.

You may choose to have a portion of your benefits payment withheld for your taxes. If you wish to do so, then complete and return the tax withholding form we send to you by mail.

What Is the Status of My Claim?

Call Tele-Serv, our automated voice response system, and press option 2 to hear specific information about your claim.

Can I Speak to Someone in Person About My Claim?

TWC handles all UI claims by telephone or Internet. You can speak with a customer service representative by calling a TWC Tele-Center. If you used Apply for Benefits on the Internet, you should allow a few days before calling your local TWC Tele-Center to speak to someone about your claim.