Are you trying to apply for unemployment in Texas? Coronavirus has swamped the system.
Courtney Trettel was stunned to get the news last week.
The 29-year-old Burleson woman was laid off from her position as a quality control specialist — possibly on a temporary basis, possibly permanently — because of the coronavirus. She was told to file for unemployment.
“This whole thing is mind-blowing to me,” she said, adding that she just bought a new house. “Companies don’t have to be there for employees. ... Everybody is laid off, nothing is being communicated.
“People are scared. It’s just insane,” she said, adding that she filed for unemployment this week and hopes it will help her pay her bills.
But she and others said they’re having problems filing for benefits because so many others are also trying to do the same, swamping the Texas Workforce Commission’s online and telephone system.
Unemployment numbers are going up in Tarrant County and Fort Worth — and across the state and country — particularly in areas where officials have declared that nonessential businesses must temporarily close their doors, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Among the businesses deemed nonessential in Tarrant County: hair and nail salons, malls, retail stores, massage parlors and tattoo shops.
Fort Worth attorney Jason Smith said he’s getting a number of calls from people asking if they can file for unemployment.
He said more people are now eligible for unemployment benefits under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s disaster declaration, due to the coronavirus.
Those who may be eligible include people who work for a company that shut down because of the pandemic, a company that stayed open but laid off some employees and those who must be quarantined or are caring for someone who is quarantined, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
Smith also said people who saw their hours reduced — from dog walkers to Uber drivers to lawn workers — may be eligible under Abbott’s disaster declaration.
“My No. 1 piece of advice to anyone who lost their job, was laid off or has had hours cut because of COVID-19 is to file for unemployment benefits immediately,” he said.
How to apply
Workforce Commission spokesman Cisco Gamez said there’s a spike in the number of people trying to file for unemployment benefits and that’s making it harder for some to file.
He said staffers are working extended hours and on weekends to help those filing for benefits. And he asked Texans to keep trying to file and to be patient.
“We recognize the inconvenience this is causing for our customers and are working quickly to resolve issues for Texans trying to connect online or over the phone,” Gamez said. “We are working with our agency partner, the Texas Department of Information Resources, to resolve website issues and accommodate the increased number of users.”
He said Texans may apply for benefits, or check the status of claims, at any time online at ui.texasworkforce.org. Anyone without internet access may call 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Among the information needed to apply: Social security number; last employer’s business name, address and phone number; the first and last dates you worked for your most recent employer and the number of hours you worked and your pay rate.
The workforce commission is waiving work search requirements for unemployment applicants as well as the waiting period for people who file for unemployment because of coronavirus.
There’s a link on the TWC’s website that gives more information on how to apply for unemployment benefits.
“The Texas Unemployment Insurance program pays benefits to those individuals who lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” according to the commission website. “TWC determines benefit eligibility based on past wages, why someone lost their job, and ongoing eligibility requirements.”
Gamez said the commission has more than 1,000 employees working to help Texans with unemployment claims.
“We are committed to helping Texans in need,” he said. “People that qualify for unemployment insurance will receive benefits.”
Problems filing for unemployment
Kristen Nelms, a local cosmetologist who works in a hair salon, is among those whose work isn’t deemed essential and has to stay home.
She and her coworkers have spent this week trying to file for unemployment benefits.
Nelms said one coworker was able to get through and file for benefits after making 186 calls to the commission.
“Another coworker and I are still having trouble getting through to create accounts and apply for benefits online or via phone,” she said.
Trettel also said she had a hard time getting through, but was finally able to file for benefits online after resetting her password a number of times.
TWC Executive Director Ed Serna held a Facebook Live Town Hall Wednesday on the commission’s Facebook page to try to answer questions from those filing for unemployment benefits.
“Texas faces a situation unlike any other in modern history, and the solution is we come together — Texans helping Texans,” he said in a statement. “The Texas Workforce Commission is here to assure that all Texans get all the employment benefits to which they’re entitled.
“Unemployment Insurance is a promise to Texans and it is a promise we will keep. Our number one priority right now is helping Texans manage this situation.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 11:23 AM.
