I was instructed it was ok to file for unemployment benefits they day after my "garden leave" was over. I was on unemployment for 9 weeks. Today I receive notice from Texas Workforce that they have determined I was not eligible and they want me to pay back the money I received.
Has anyone else had this experience? Should I not have filed? I did receive several weeks severance based on my tenure, but was told it was not considered qualifying severance according to TWC rules.
Thoughts?
Log into twc and check your inbox. You might have a message asking you to verify your identify via a 3rd party site. Once you do that they should resume payment maybe a week later. Also keep filing while they process your verification and they will back pay.
Two things I am glad I am done with:
ExxonMobil and Texas.
Regardless of 'garden leave' you could not apply for unemployment until you were off payroll. You would not be considered laidoff till February 1, 2021. That was the earliest date you could apply for unemployment. In that case XOM would not contest anything.
I received 2 weeks worth, then the direct deposit severance hit the day I filed again. The following filing I declared that I had a severance. They have made me pay back 1 week's worth, then have to wait until next week to be eligible. Make sure you keep filing each pay period, though, otherwise they will close the account and make you refile all over again.
OP, same thing happened to me, it's not exxon-mobil, it was because I didn't "verify my identity " call them and its a quick fix
Call a friend that is an attorney for advice. At least they can refer you to an attorney that specializes in unemployment matters.
XOM set you up for a fall when they chose the words, "We would not contest the applicaition for unemployment."
I am confident that there are many other former employees in similar situations.
The company never said you were OK to file. They said they wouldn’t contest if you did. That’s two different things.