Beware of UI Rip-offs!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Ann Hatchitt DATE: March 13, 2009 PHONE: (512) 463-8556 TWC Cautions UI Claimants to Avoid Fee-for-Filing Scams AUSTIN —The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) warns Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants to be aware of unscrupulous business operators who may try to charge as much as 30 percent of unemployment benefits to process UI claims. UI filing through TWC is, and always has been, available at no cost to claimants. “While the Texas Workforce Commission is very busy helping people navigate the filing process, there is no need to pay someone to file your claim,” said TWC Commissioner Ronny Congleton. “Unemployment benefits claim filing, job-search assistance and all the services TWC provides are always at no cost. We want to ensure that deceitful businesses do not take advantage of people during this difficult economic time.” TWC is concerned claimants may sign up for such services only to later discover unemployment claims were never filed on their behalf and that they may have given their Social Security numbers to these businesses believing they were dealing with state agencies. Claimants may receive UI information online through www.texasworkforce.org or by using our e-mail form at UI_Info@twc.state.tx.us. A TWC staff member will call back within 48 hours. Claimants may also contact a UI Tele-Center listed below.