TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION

Governor Greg Abbott appointed a retired Border Patrol agent from Harlingen to take over a vacated seat within the Texas Workforce Commission.

Governor Greg Abbott appointed a retired Border Patrol agent from Harlingen to take over a vacated seat within the Texas Workforce Commission.

Governor Greg Abbott appointed a retired Border Patrol agent from Harlingen to take over a vacated seat within the Texas Workforce Commission. Abbott announced the appointment of Albert Treviño on Monday to the position of commissioner representing labor, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. He has an Associate Degree in criminal justice from Texas Southmost College and a combined 33 years serving in law enforcement and Border Patrol. When he worked for the police department in Harlingen, Treviño held positions ranging from a police instructor, to a background investigator and a patrol officer. Treviño’s resume also includes working to represent his colleagues as treasurer for the National Border Patrol Council and, previously, as the executive vice president for the Local 3307 of the National Border Patrol Council, the Border Patrol union in the Valley.

The state added 33,600 jobs in November to reach another all-time employment record of 13,672,900, Texas Workforce Commission officials said.

The city’s school district and fire department proudly unveiled a new shared training facility Monday that will allow high school students to work toward certification as firefighters, as well as helping city firefighters with training.

Alvarez served as Commissioner Representing Labor since his appointment by Gov. In an interview Thursday, Alvarez noted that he was the first Valley native to serve in the position on TWC. Abbott appointed somebody from the Rio Grande Valley like me to actually serve as the commissioner representing labor,” Alvarez said. After his service with DPS, Alvarez was director of college information for Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. “Commissioner Alvarez, the Texas tornado, continuously traveled the great state of Texas to champion the needs of the world-class Texas workforce,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson.

The Texas Workforce Commission provides a variety of resources to job-seekers and employers, including training, unemployment benefits and hiring fairs.

Texas added 49,500 non-farm jobs in October as the state’s jobless rate continued at 4% for the month, the Texas Workforce Commission reports.

The Texas economy continues to shore up job losses incurred during the pandemic, adding 40,000 non-farm jobs in September and continuing a string of 11 straight months of record employment.

HARLINGEN — A local cold storage facility embroiled in a major recall of frozen meals has filed notice with the Texas Workforce Commission of the permanent layoffs of 64 employees. Valley International Cold Storage filed a WARN notice dated Oct. 4, saying the layoffs were effective Sept. 15. On Sept. 17 the food company was forced to recall 22,061 pounds of frozen beef products due to “misbranding and undeclared allergens,” the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Food and Safety Inspection Service said. “The frozen products are labeled as Korean-Style Beef, but contain a chicken sausage and pepper product, which contains milk. cartons are labeled as “Healthy Choice POWER BOWLS Korean-Style Beef” with lot code “5246220320” and a “best if used by” date of 04-18-2023.

Texas agencies say they are being hammered by a historic staffing crisis, particularly when it comes to those in the trenches serving the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Julian Alvarez, commissioner representing labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, on Wednesday presented a $1.7 million check to DHR Health and Workforce Solutions Cameron at a ceremony held at the soon-to-open DHR hospital in Brownsville.

Registered apprenticeships like those offered at SouthTexasCollege provide industry-driven, customized training that empowers Texas employers to fill any skills gaps in their markets while developing their own future workforce. Registered apprenticeships are typically partnerships between employers, local education agencies, local workforce development boards and apprenticeship committees. Employers investing in apprenticeship programs experience improved recruitment and reduced turnover, and they gain a pipeline of skilled employees and future managers. While jobs are booming in Texas today, it is employers who hold the key to filling any skills gaps in their workforce for tomorrow. The state of Texas, in partnership with TWC, offers a comprehensive toolbox of customized skills development programs, including the Registered Apprenticeships program, Skills Development Fund, Skills for Small Business and more.

La Joya ISD is about to boost its career training efforts thanks to a $316,000 grant that will go toward its welding program. The Texas Workforce Commission announced Thursday that it awarded the school district $316,407 to support career training and will be presenting the check to La Joya ISD officials at Juarez-Lincoln High School on Tuesday. The funds will support the school district’s welding program, helping the school purchase and install welding equipment. The new supplies will be used to train a cohort of 130 students along with future students in the welding program. Through the program, the students are prepared for an industry-recognized credential or certification, according to a TWC news release.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services Counselor Lorena Vega and Vocational Rehabilitation Services Transition Counselor Alejandra Fernandez speak to visiting families at the Texas Workforce Commission booth Friday at an event providing free school supplies for students ahead of the new school year at the Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)BCFS Health and Human Services volunteer Lupita Arteaga hands a backpack to student Martiza Cervantes and her grandmother Rebecca Cervantes Friday at an event providing free school supplies for students ahead of the new school year at the Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Students Darwin and Genesis sport new backpacks Friday at an event providing free school supplies for students ahead of the new school year at the Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Families walk through different organization booths to pick up supplies and information Friday at an event providing free school supplies for students ahead of the new school year at the Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)

The Texas Workforce Commission will add new apprenticeship opportunities with a $3.66 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Three work-search websites in Texas were offline Wednesday following the national internet outage of a major contractor.

The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation hosted its first “Inquieta” women’s conference Wednesday at the Brownsville Events Center. GBIC hosted the event, “Inquieta: Women Maximizing their Impact,” in partnership with the city of Brownsville, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR), the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions Cameron. Helen Ramirez, GBIC executive director and assistant city manager, introduced the conference and its speakers, Brownsville City Commissioner and GBIC Vice Chair Nurith Galonsky, TWC Commissioner Julian Alvarez, WSC Executive Director Pat Hobbs, DHR Chief Operating Officer Aida Coronado-Garcia, and Brownsville City Commissioner Dr. Rose Gowen. “All girls in my class were told don’t talk about getting married, don’t talk about wanting children, and definitely don’t talk about wanting children during the year that you’re going to be in the residency,” she said. “Under the leadership of the Brownsville chamber you have provided essential services to the business community,” Gowen said.

Laredo College trustees, executives and faculty were honored to host Julian Alvarez,...

Laredo College students pursuing a certificate through the Laredo College Diesel Engine...

Tribune energy and economy reporter Mitchell Ferman moderated a conversation with labor and economic development experts who discussed how COVID-19 has affected Texas’ economy and how businesses, workers and government have responded.

Texas added 50,000 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 19 of the...

The Texas Workforce Commission reports the number of unemployed workers in the state dropped from 5.2% in November 2021 to 5% in December.

The Texas labor market exceeded the previous pre-pandemic high in February 2020 by hitting just under 13 million nonagricultural jobs in November, the Texas Workforce Commission reported last Friday.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

Texas Southmost College and the SteelCoast Company celebrated a $283,325 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission on Thursday that will be used to create 170 new jobs at the ship-breaking company at the Port of Brownsville and upgrade the skills of 80 additional SteelCoast workers.

Texas added 56,600 jobs in October as the unemployment rate in the state dropped from 5.6 percent to 5.4 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reports.

The Texas Workforce Commission announced it has approved one-time funding of $2.45 billion to support the state’s child-care industry.

The job fair is coming to local Texas Workforce Solutions offices, some of which are having early admission for veterans and their families.

The Texas Workforce Commission Hold Music Project is an album of ambient synth stuff performed by Justin Sherburn, with some cello played by his wife, Sara Nelson.

Texas job agencies are partnering with the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities to raise awareness of the benefits of hiring the disabled.

Families facing financial hardships and need the required construction trade skills for employment can rely on Texas Southmost College for training, thanks to a Self Sufficiency Fund Grant recently awarded to the college by the Texas Workforce Commission.

The Texas Workforce Commission has announced an enhanced free child-care subsidy for low-wage workers.

And “do that” STC did, creating a program heavy on the science and chemistry behind brewing. When STC announced the start of the program, the pair took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about their new industry. “It did not prepare me at all for the scientific or the mathematical part of brewing,” Joseph said of the business degree he earned prior to becoming a brewer. The brothers christened the variety “Julian’s Jungle Juice” in honor of Labor Commissioner Julian Alvarez III, with the Texas Workforce Commission. Alvarez, who was on hand to congratulate the brothers, smiled when he learned of the new name for the drink.

Cientos de miles de tejanos han presentado una solicitud de desempleo desde que la pandemia llegó a Texas en marzo de 2020. En esta entrevista la Comisión de la Fuerza Laboral de Texas respondió las preguntas más frecuentes.

The Greater San Marcos Partnership and San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce are set to host the 2021 State of Education and Workforce Summit on Wednesday.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

As “Now hiring” signs fill windows and line roadways in New Braunfels, the effects of growing demand for services and a slim available workforce has caused challenges for local businesses. Though unemployment claims have ticked downward, many industries are still struggling to fill vacancies.

The Texas Workforce Commission has announced it will stop paying extended benefits to jobless Texans on Sept. 11, a move triggered by the state’s unemployment rate dropping below 6.5 percent.

Texas will soon stop paying extended benefits because of a decline in the state’s unemployment rate, the Texas Workforce Commission announced Thursday.

The Texas Workforce Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Labor notified the commission that the state’s unemployment rate fell below the threshold needed to continue the benefits.

Composer Justin Sherburn drew on his own experience to write ‘Texas Workforce Commission Hold Music,’ which the agency officially adopted this week.

Texas added 80,900 jobs in July as the unemployment rate in the state dropped to 6.2 percent from 6.5 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reports.

Texas Southmost College Workforce Training and Continuing Education is preparing the workforce of tomorrow with in-demand technical programs that produce skilled workers to meet the needs of local industry, the region and the state.

The Texas Workforce Commission has been awarded $10 million in federal grant funds to expand its apprenticeship programs in the state.

The Texas Workforce Commission released June employment figures that showed Texas employers added nearly 56,000 jobs in June, while the unemployment rate dropped to 6.5%.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

The Texas Workforce Commission has pledged $9 million to end what it calls the “middle-skills gap” for Texas workers who have some post-high school education but lack a four-year degree.

Allison Garcia of Baytown is looking for answers after someone stole her personal information and used it to bilk the state out of nearly $30,000.

Here are some resources for those affected by federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits coming to an end, including help for North Texas job-seekers.

The Texas Workforce Commission has passed a waiver to allow unemployed individuals to enroll in the child-care subsidy program.

Texas Southmost College was awarded $100,000 by the Texas Workforce Commission to host a summer youth camp that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) through the Governor’s Summer Merit Program.

Jobless Texans who refuse work offers because they feel like the job isn’t safe during the pandemic won’t be able to receive unemployment benefits as of June 26, the Texas Workforce Commission announc[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

The state's unemployment agency is ending that exemption June 26, when out-of-work Texans will also stop receiving an extra $300 in federal jobless benefits.

The Texas Workforce Commission, in league with the Texas Restaurant Association, is launching a series of free videos aimed at helping eateries recover in a post-pandemic lockdown world.

Many Texas mothers are ready to return to work, but a lack of child care is keeping them at home. Alicia Reed worries how she will provide for her four children after her federal unemployment benefits are cut at the end of June.

The state jobless rate is slowly righting itself after a year of pandemic-related turmoil, but Valley unemployment numbers for April still rank among the state’s highest.

The unemployment rate in Texas was 6.9% in March, which is more than double the record low of 3.4% in May 2019. The extra $300 federal benefit will end June 26 for jobless Texans.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told the U.S. Department of Labor on Monday that Texas will opt out of further federal unemployment compensation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective June 26, 2021.

Effective June 26, unemployed Texans will no longer be eligible to receive the $300 weekly unemployment supplement from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.

Officials with the Texas Workforce Commission report an increase in false claims.

The Texas Workforce Commission said the number of suspicious unemployment claims reached hundreds of thousands last year.

HOUSTON – Harris County business owners said scammers filed for unemployment benefits in their name. Pauline Edgar has kept an extensive log of the countless times hackers tried to access her husband’s online business account. Edgar says their bank, Frost Bank, first contacted them last week after spotting unusual activity. “The first thing they tried to do was take money out of the company’s bank account through Zelle,” she said. We’re sitting here in Houston, Texas.”AdThe TWC told KPRC 2 that they cannot comment on a person’s claims for privacy reasons.

Fortunately, there are some COVID tax breaks and credits for people who fall into those categories. The form is for folks who earned money but didn’t pay taxes on those earnings. AARP volunteer tax preparer Bart Hatfield says those workers should have put aside some money to pay those taxes. AdYou will owe taxes on your unemployment benefitsLook out for your 1099 if you collected unemployment. You will owe taxes.

HOUSTON – If you collected unemployment benefits that ran out within the last few months, check your email. Congress approved the funding in December, but it has taken the Texas Workforce Commission time to let people know it is available. You can begin requesting payments again,’” explained TWC’s James Bernsen. “When people stop requesting payments, they’re essentially telling us ‘I don’t need payments. I have a job or don’t need payments anymore,’” said Bernsen.

Question: I’m still waiting on my additional $300 through the CARES Act Extension. Will I get benefits for the time that I’ve been waiting? Answer: According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), those who qualify for the additional $300 through the CARES Act Extension will have those benefits backdated. If you qualify for the add'l $300 through the CARES Act Extension, you will get those benefits backdated. pic.twitter.com/cljp1rbJMe — Texas Workforce Commission (@TXWorkforce) January 26, 2021According to its website, TWC will automatically enroll all Texans who are eligible for benefits under the CARES Act.

The news comes just days after the Texas Workforce released new unemployment numbers indicating that Texas lost more jobs in 2020 than at the height of the Great Recession. On Friday, Texas Workforce Commission released new unemployment numbers indicating that Texas lost more than 430,000 net jobs and Greater Houston lost about 140,000 in 2020. The Houston region gained 10,600 jobs across most industries in December and Houston’s unemployment rate went down to 8%. Considering Greater Houston creates 60,000-70,000 jobs in a typical year, the Greater Houston Partnership estimates it will take the region at least two years of normal growth to return to pre-pandemic employment levels. Subscribe to Today in Houston Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.

Regular unemployment benefits:This traditional unemployment program provides assistance for up to 26 weeks per year. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA):If you apply for unemployment and the workforce commission finds that you do not qualify for regular benefits, the agency should automatically consider you for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and enroll you if you are found eligible. Here, under the claim information section, you will see your claim type listed as: Regular Unemployment Benefits, Disaster Unemployment Benefits (for now, this is the same as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance), or Temporary Unemployment Benefits (extensions). If you have exhausted your Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and have not recently been on regular unemployment, you don’t qualify for any kind of extension. Unless Congress takes action to extend the pandemic unemployment benefits in the CARES Act, two programs will expire after Dec. 26: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC.

disqualifiedIf you receive notice that you’ve been disqualified from unemployment benefits, it means something has prevented you from receiving them. In Texas, DUA has become synonymous with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, during the coronavirus pandemic. Temporary Unemployment BenefitsPrograms that temporarily extend unemployment benefits are housed under this classification, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB) and High Unemployment Period (HUP). Programs that temporarily extend unemployment benefits are housed under this classification, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB) and High Unemployment Period (HUP). UI, UC, UA, UEUnemployment insurance, unemployment compensation, unemployment assistance, unemployment.

HOUSTON – Big changes are coming for the 5.6 million Texans who have filed unemployment claims since mid-March. It’s called the “work search” requirement. You can find a list of all approved work search activities here. Keep a log of all of your work search activities so you can show it to the state when asked. When the new work requirement takes effect, it will free up space for those children whose parents are working and need some help.

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The Texas unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in September, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday, a sharp increase from the August unemployment rate of 6.8%. The announcement also shows that a lot of Texans are jobless seven months into the pandemic despite widespread business reopenings across the state. “What we saw with companies like the airlines and others is happening throughout the economy,” Rodriguez told The Texas Tribune. A spokesman for the workforce commission said next week’s release from the labor department will also show Texas' unemployment rate in September was 8.3%.

The Texas Workforce Commission says it overpaid $214 million in unemployment aid and sent out about 260,000 notices to people in hopes of recouping that money. A Texas Workforce Commission notice that the agency has determined someone was overpaid benefits. “I didn’t have a job.”Ahead of her initial hearing, Stevens was not told what she had done wrong. The workforce commission also ordered him to repay $5,210 in benefits it determined he should not have received. The judge was interested in discussing the University of Michigan’s involvement, but Stevens’ job loss concerned the college in Dallas.

HOUSTON – Imagine being laid off and finally receiving notification that your unemployment insurance claim has been approved. For the millions of Texans who have been unemployed due to the pandemic, that approval is great news. RELATED LINK: Texas unemployment numbersBut what if you didn’t file that claim, and someone else is using your name to commit unemployment insurance fraud and receive your benefits? First, filing unemployment is done virtually -- either over the phone -- and that has created an opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of victims like Smith, by using their identity to file unemployment insurance claims. RESOURCES: How to report unemployment insurance fraud | Fraud hotline: (800) 252-3642 | Email: TWC.fraud@TWC.state.tx.usBernsen said the agency’s main focus is getting legitimate claims paid, so representatives can’t call back every fraud case reported.

When Christine Brill’s unemployment benefits from the Texas Workforce Commission suddenly plummeted this summer, she tried calling the agency to find out what happened. Nearly 350,000 Texans didn’t initially qualify for that extra money, including some who failed to originally indicate they had lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Brill is too anxious to do anything, but takes it one day at a time while Congress sits in a stalemate. In April, during a monthlong statewide shutdown, Texas’ unemployment rate ballooned to more than 13% — four-times what it was in January. With potential evictions and utility cut-offs looming in the coming months, Rodriguez is worried this fall could be devastating.

HOUSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency ended the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program, which provided an additional $300 a week to qualified unemployment recipients impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release. FEMA previously approved TWC funding requests for the benefits weeks between Aug. 1 to Sept. 5. Recipients will continue to receive normal weekly benefit amounts for any benefit weeks for which they are eligible. The Lost Wages Assistance Program was a temporary provision established after the expiration of the $600 Federal Pandemic Assistance Program, a part of the CARES Act. For more information on eligibility requirements, available benefits and questions about the unemployment process, visit TWC’s COVID-19 FAQ page.

HOUSTON – Hundreds of thousands of Texans are now receiving $300 a week in addition to their unemployment benefits from the state. These are federal FEMA funds used in the Lost Wages Assistance program passed by President Trump after the $600 weekly boost from the feds expired at the end of July. Q: Who qualifies for the Lost Wages Assistance program and the weekly $300 benefit? A: If you are already receiving unemployment benefits, you do NOT need to do anything to receive the extra $300 dollars from the Lost Wages Assistance program. To start or stop federal tax withholding for unemployment benefit payments:• Choose your withholding option when you apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefits Services.

Here are things you need to know for Tuesday, August 25:1. Tracking the tropics: Laura strengthens to hurricane as it enters Gulf of MexicoThe Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts are watching the tropics closely, as Hurricane Laura churns through the Gulf of Mexico. Right now, coastal areas between Houston and Southwestern Louisiana are the most likely to get a direct hit. Neighbors who live there were not happy to see Maliyahs mother and boyfriend return to the property with Houston activist Quanell X. Those Texans could change their status when filling out future payment requests, Gamez said, and could then qualify for the extra $300 payments.

More than 1.7 million Texans are receiving unemployment benefits during the recession, but more than 347,000 don't qualify for an extra $300 a week that could start this week. Those Texans could change their status when filling out future payment requests, Gamez said, and could then qualify for the extra $300 payments. In total, about 1.7 million Texans are currently receiving unemployment benefits, Gamez said, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend businesses across the state. Since Trump announced the extra weekly payments in early August, Texans have said theyve been confused about whether, and when, they will receive the money. But for the approximately 347,700 Texans who do not qualify, they will continue to see the same unemployment payments theyve been receiving in August, after the extra $600 weekly payments expired.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Would I qualify for unemployment if I quit my job due to school being virtual this year? Answer: According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), workers who choose to quit their job for personal reasons, such as staying home with a child, are ineligible to receive unemployment benefits. KPRC 2 recognizes working parents are challenged by school districts decisions to start the year only offering virtual instruction; here are some resources that we hope can help. Many daycares have created learning pods offering help with virtual instruction.

(TEXAS TRIBUNE) – The Texas Workforce Commission paid out over $20 million in benefits Thursday to those who are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. The federal program allows people who are self-employed, freelancers or seeking part-time employment to be eligible for benefits. This week, the commission converted 145,000 unemployment claims to the PUA program, comprising about 40% of the more than 365,000 new claims this week, commission spokesman Cisco Gamez said at a media briefing Friday. Workers eligible for PUA must submit their 2019 tax forms to the commission by Dec. 26. Once the tax forms are received, the Texas Workforce Commission verifies past wages, and workers might become eligible for more weekly benefits, which can be backdated, Gamez said.

If Congress doesn’t extend the $600 benefit, that will leave many Texans getting anywhere from $69 to $521 per week in unemployment benefits. Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz opposes extending the weekly $600 payments. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s office said the Texas senator supports extending unemployment assistance but did not specify whether he supports extending the weekly $600 payments. “And that's not good.”Economists say the end of the weekly $600 payments will lead to Texans with less spending money to fuel an economic recovery. Mason fears what will happen if the weekly $600 payments end Saturday and he is still working reduced hours.

HOUSTON – One week from this Saturday, the amount of money many Texans on unemployment get will go way down. Texans collecting unemployment get an average of $349 from the state each week. If you don’t fall into one of those categories, but you refuse to return to work, you will likely lose your benefits. Online, the Texas Workforce Commission is asking employers to report employees who have refused to return to work. Texas Workforce Solutions hosts virtual job fairs frequently.

Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneWorkers who lost their jobs and received overpayments from the Texas Workforce Commission wont have to pay back those unemployment benefits if it was the states mistake, commission officials now say. The agency is seeking $32 million in unemployment benefits back. If TWC finds unemployment fraud in a case, the person has to give back the benefits and pay a 15% penalty. More than 117,244 people applied for unemployment claims last week, an increase of 21.4% compared to the week before. Since mid-March, nearly 2.8 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in Texas.

HOUSTON – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seen a spike in pandemic-related unemployment claims filed using stolen personal information. A Friendswood man is among the victims. Jason Holter received letters from the Texas Workforce Commission about an unemployment benefits claims he never filed. “It said, ‘here’s what you’re eligible for per week.‘”The TWC fraud department told Holter to file a police reporter, and he did with the Friendswood Police Department. “Meantime, I sent an email to HR and just said hey, I just got this stuff in the mail and I assume someone is trying to file unemployment,” Holter said.

HOUSTON Texas is attempting to recoup unemployment payments after mistakenly sending them to thousands of Texans amid the pandemic. The Texas Workforce Commission, an agency that oversees unemployment benefits, estimates that it overpaid by $32 million, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday. The commission has sent 46,000 notices to people, saying they were overpaid or ineligible to receive benefits. But she received a notice in June, saying she has to pay back $1,800 because teachers are not eligible to receive unemployment during summer break. The commission also noted that it is not deducting over payments from claimants benefits during the pandemic.

Here are things you need to know for Tuesday, July 7:1. The overpayments, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, are estimated to be more than $32 million in total since March. The nurses protested outside Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital as they marched along McKaye Avenue. Metallica donating $50,000 to Lone Star College students who will take part in high-demand programsMetallica is donating $50,000 in scholarship money to Lone Star College students in high-demand programs. This is the second year in a row Metallica has provided scholarships to students attending Lone Star College.

Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneMore than 46,000 Texans who lost their jobs in recent months are having portions of their unemployment benefits clawed back after the Texas Workforce Commission found that they were initially overpaid. State law requires TWC to recover all unemployment benefits overpayments, Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the state agency, said in an email. If TWC finds unemployment fraud in a case, the person has to give back the benefits and pay a 15% penalty. "We cannot pay you benefits if you have an overpayment," Gamez said. There is no statute of limitations on debts owed to the state, Gamez said on an email.

FORT BEND COUNTY A Fort Bend County man is one of possibly thousands of Texans caught in unemployment limbo. Some residents, who were working outside of the state before COVID-19, are struggling to apply for unemployment insurance in the state where they were employed. Since hes been unable to file with Georgia, he also cant apply for federal unemployment, which is predicated on enrolling in and receiving state unemployment. Nearly 58,000 Texans have filed for out of state wages since March 1st, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. This story is bigger than me.The Texas Workforce Commission said anyone who has worked out-of-state can contact them to inquire about their filing options.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Workforce Commission announced Tuesday the job search requirement for those collecting unemployment benefits has been paused again. Officials announced last week that the requirement would be reinstated on July 6. However, on Tuesday they announced the requirement would again be paused while they reevaluate policies regarding reinstatement. “Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Texas, TWC has decided to pause the return of work search requirements at this time,” said Ed Serna, executive director of TWC. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make further recommendations in late July.”The number of coronavirus cases has been increasing for the past couple of weeks.

The Texas Workforce Commission Building in Austin on March 30, 2020. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneThe Texas Workforce Commission decided Tuesday to postpone reinstating a work-search requirement for out-of-work Texans receiving unemployment benefits. The requirement that Texans be actively searching for a job in order to receive benefits was initially slated to go into effect Monday. Gamez originally defended the July 6 reinstatement of the work-search requirement, noting that the searches can be performed remotely in order to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Work search activities can be completed at home without potential exposure to COVID-19, he wrote in a June 16 email to the Texas Tribune.

HOUSTON – As Texas continues smashing unemployment records, many people who are out of work are still struggling to find jobs, file claims, and collect benefits. Since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Texas in March, the Texas Workforce Commission says it’s helped more than 3.4 million Texans file for unemployment insurance and paid out $14.4 billion in benefits. Scott Leonard, 60, of Seabrook is a former petrochemical project manager who has been waiting six weeks for benefits. “Oh I’ve called at least a hundred times or more, every day, different times of the day,” he said. A spokesperson tells us while the agency is still slammed with applications, the unemployment crisis in Texas is improving.

HOUSTON The Texas Workforce Commission is reinstating the work search requirement for those receiving unemployment benefits. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, there are more than 530,000 jobs available in Texas on WorkInTexas.com. Unemployed workersIn order to continue receiving benefits, unemployed workers must show an active effort to obtain new employment. The work search requirement does not mean workers must accept their first job offer. Self-employed workersThose who are self-employed do not need to register on WorkinTexas.com nor complete work search requirements.

The Texas Workforce Commission decided Tuesday to restore its work search requirement beginning July 6. The TWC also noted that work search is federally required for unemployment benefits, and that such benefits are intended to provide temporary relief, rather than a permanent solution, to jobless individuals. The work search requirement does not mean workers must take the first job available, according to a TWC press release. Keep good records and save your work search documentation, the Commission wrote in a Tuesday press release. Three work search activities could be going on WorkinTexas.com and searching for jobs three different times, he said.

Consumer expert Amy Davis is answering some of the most common questions she’s getting about the application process. A: Usually in Texas, you can only collect unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. A: When a claimant applies for unemployment benefits TWC sends the last employer a “Notice of Application for Unemployment Benefits” that asks the employer to provide information regarding why the claimant lost their job. If an employer does not respond or does not respond on time, they can lose their right to appeal any decision TWC makes about the claim. TWC does not reach out to the employer if they do not respond on time or at all.

More than 2.2 million Texans have filed unemployment claims as the economy is being battered by limited statewide commerce during the pandemic and a downturn in the states massive energy industry. On Thursday morning, the TWC is expected to release the number of people who filed unemployment claims last week. Esther Griffins unemployment claim was approved shortly after she filed in early April. Griffins employer reopened, but she couldnt return to work because she didnt have the money needed to send her youngest child to day care since she went weeks without a paycheck or unemployment benefits. Without unemployment benefits, they might have to defer payments for April, May and June to the end of their 30-year mortgage.

The U.S. Department of Labor notified the Texas Workforce Commission on Monday that the state triggered what's called State Extended Benefits, which provides 13 additional weeks of unemployment aid. That comes after a federal coronavirus relief bill previously extended some unemployment benefits for 13 weeks under what's called Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. The first week Texans could start receiving these newest extended benefits is the week ending July 4, which is 13 weeks after the PEUC extension took effect in the state. People must first exhaust the standard 26 weeks, plus the additional 13 weeks under PEUC, before receiving the additional 13 weeks of extended benefits, said Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the commission. PEUC is also what allows Texans to receive an additional $600 in benefits per week for up to 13 weeks.

Another 134,381 Texans filed for unemployment last week. Since the week ending March 14, just shy of 2.1 million Texans have filed for benefits. This week’s claims are down 5.1% from the week ending May 9, when just over 140,000 Texans filed for unemployment. But as some Texans return to work, it’ll likely take some time before the economy rebounds. The Texas Workforce Commission, which handles the state’s unemployment claims, voted Tuesday to phase out child care subsidies for low-income and essential workers.

If your application was denied, you may need to resubmit it with additional information about yourself and your past employers. You may also have to file an appeal and back up your claim with documents if needed. You quit your job for non-COVID-19 reasonsFilers won’t be penalized if they had to quit due to COVID-19 concerns or exposure. You left important information out of your applicationMaybe you left out certain job history in your application, or miscounted the earnings you reported. This can conflict with unemployment benefits and will result in a denied application, The Motley Fool reported.

The Texas Workforce Commission paid out over $20 million in benefits Thursday to those who are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. The federal program allows people who are self-employed, freelancers or seeking part-time employment to be eligible for benefits. This week, the commission converted 145,000 unemployment claims to the PUA program, comprising about 40% of the more than 365,000 new claims this week, commission spokesman Cisco Gamez said at a media briefing Friday. Workers eligible for PUA must submit their 2019 tax forms to the commission by Dec. 26. Once the tax forms are received, the Texas Workforce Commission verifies past wages, and workers might become eligible for more weekly benefits, which can be backdated, Gamez said.

For more than a month, Kay has made this trip hoping to find her unemployment check in the mail. The numbers of people calling the TWC and applying for unemployment benefits are staggering. On Tuesday, the latest figures show over 2.2 million Texans have now applied for unemployment through the agency. Just Monday, in one day, the TWC received 43,963 claims for unemployment through its online portal. As for Kay, she is just going to continue to call and monitor her online TWC account and hope she will see her unemployment claim approved soon.

We are posting those answers here in hopes of clearing up confusion on the process of applying for and receiving unemployment benefits. First, if you need to file for unemployment benefits, there are two ways to do that. If you want to know how much you will receive if you are approved for unemployment benefits, you can use the TWC’s Unemployment Benefits Estimator. If you are already signed up and qualified for Texas unemployment benefits, no action is needed from you. If you are already signed up and qualified for Texas unemployment benefits, no action is needed from you.

HOUSTON – The Texas Workforce Commission is continuing to see an unprecedented number of unemployment claims. Edward Serna, the TWC executive director, said the number of claims in March surpassed Hurricane Harvey's 60,000 unemployment applications, which at the time was the highest number of unemployment claims the state had seen. This is incredible in the history of the state," Serna said. Serna said the commission has turned to the federal government for help with its unemployment fund. Workforce Solutions offices across the state are holding virtual job fairs and working on matching employers with job seekers.