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Hundreds of thousands of Texans have filed or attempted to file for unemployment since mid-March of 2020. The unprecedented number of those seeking unemployment benefits has left the Texas Workforce Commission struggling to keep up. According to the TWC, it may only take weeks for the number of unemployment claims to surpass all those filed in 2019.

To help smooth the filing process over, as much as it’s possible, the TWC has implemented new rules for when Texans should contact them based on their area codes. Use the table below to find out which area codes correlate with the designated times.

If your area code . . .
Begins with 9 – Call Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Begins with 3, 4, 5, or 6, - Call Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Begins with 7 or 8 – Call Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Begins with 2 - Call Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The TWC hopes this system helps alleviate the pressure on their phone systems. According to KHOU.com, the TWC is working on expanding their phone system infrastructure by adding two third-party call centers, increasing the amount of traffic their website can handle, and transferring 250 additional staff members to their unemployment claims department.

If you need to file for unemployment in Texas, call the TWC at 800-939-6631 or visit their website.

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