Texas

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has been fielding anywhere from 60,000 to 1 million calls a day as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To accommodate this volume, the TWC launched a new automated virtual assistant to help claimants apply for benefits. This virtual assistant is named Larry and can instantly answer many of the most common questions about the unemployment process. Larry is expected to greatly relieve the pressure on the TWC website and call centers.

For more information, please visit www.texasworkforce.org.

Our office will monitor COVID-19 updates closely and will send out additional announcements as we become aware of any these updates. You can also review these updates on our website at https://thomas-and-company.com/covid-19/ too.

Please reach out to your representative with any questions.

The state of Texas is working on ways to respond to the challenges COVID-19 has brought to its workforce. One way the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is supporting its economy at this time is releasing $40,000 to be dispersed towards child care for Essential Workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The financial aid distributed by the Workforce Development Boards will cover children of Essential Workers that are under 13 years old, through Workforce Solutions offices. The amount of funds will range from a portion to the entirety of those costs, depending on different eligibility requirements and service areas. Another way the TWC is jumping in during this time is attempting to streamline the process of eligibility so that the enrollment process is quick and easy for those needing aid. They are awaiting responses to a federal waiver on this request.

With varying levels of quarantine orders and child care center closures, may Texans enrolled in the child care subsidy program are struggling to pay their Parent Share of Cost (PSOC). It is important to note that the Workforce Development Boards will be assisting these folks as well. Details on this assistance is awaiting approval by the Office of Child Care on a federal level.

Please note that the TWC will be waiving the waiting week and job search requirements for UI benefits during this time of crisis. If you have questions, the TWC can be reached by phone with expanded hours by calling 512-463-8942. To practice proper social distancing, please call ahead before visiting offices. The links below are offered for guidance on information updated daily.

Resources:

TWX Workforce Development Board Page

Texas Workforce Commission

Child Care Center information

Email updates from the TWC regarding programs and services

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will temporarily waive their waiting week and work search requirements for unemployment benefits effective immediately. These measures support the state’s effort to address the impact of COVID-19 on the state economy and workforce.

Historically, a waiting week is the first payable week of an individual’s claim for benefits. Under normal circumstances, the TWC does not pay for the first week of a claim until an individual receives two times their weekly benefit amount, returns to full-time work, or exhausts their benefits. Also, individuals are typically required to register for work search on www.workintexas.com and meet minimum number of work search activities per week. The TWC can ensure individuals have access to needed resources by waiving these requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals can apply for benefits through the TWC. To apply, individuals will need their last employer’s business name and address, first and last dates (month, day, year) they worked for their last employer, number of hours worked and pay rate if they worked in the week they filed (including Sunday), information related to their normal wage, and alien registration number (if not a U.S. citizen or national). Individuals can apply for benefits at any time through the TWC’s website: www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/unemployment-benefits-services.

The TWC also encourages employers to enroll in the Shared Work program as an alternative to layoffs. This program was developed to help Texas employers and employees withstand a slowdown in business, such as the slowdown caused by COVID-19. Shared Work allows employers to supplement their employees’ lost wages because of reduced work hours with partial unemployment benefits. With this program, employers can reduce normal weekly working hours for employees in an affected unit by at least ten percent but not more than forty percent. Shared Work benefits are payable to employees who qualify for, and participate in, an approved Shared Work Plan. Employees who qualify will receive both wages and unemployment benefits. More information on this program can be found at https://twc.texas.gov/businesses/shared-work.

For additional information about the TWC, please visit their website: www.texasworkforce.org.