Open Records Requests

The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) makes some of the information in the possession of a governmental body available to the public. "Public information" or "open records" refers to information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental body during the conduct of business. 

We are committed to upholding the Public Information Act and ensuring public access to our records. All TWC records are available to the public unless an exception to disclosure listed in the Public Information Act or other law applies. You may find more detailed information on the Public Information Act on the Office of Attorney General (OAG) website.  If you have questions regarding the Public Information Act, call the OAG's Open Government hotline at 512-478-6736 or 877-673-6839.

Note that information may be confidential by law and TWC may not be authorized to release such information. Some TWC records are confidential by law and can be released only to specific people based on their role in a claim or file. Generally, you must have been directly involved in the claim or case, and in some cases, the claim or case must be closed to get a copy of a TWC investigation record. Examples of our confidential records include unemployment benefits claimant files, employer tax account information, employment discrimination complaint files, housing discrimination complaint information and wage claim investigations files.

TWC complies with all laws and rules on the release of confidential records, including who is and is not entitled to certain information and whether some information must be redacted (removed) from the record before it is released. If the record you are seeking exists and you are entitled to it, then we will review and redact it to ensure its release complies with applicable laws and rules. The review process may include removing specific personal and identifying information. However, members of law enforcement agencies and certain other entities including those with subpoena authority may get records without redaction.

Records come from various operations in TWC:

• Unemployment Insurance (UI Claim Records)
• Wage Records
• TWC Civil Rights Employment Discrimination Investigation Records
• TWC Civil Rights Housing Discrimination Investigation Records
• Employer Tax Records
• Payday Wage Claims
• Vocational Rehabilitation Records
• Other 

Unemployment Insurance (UI Claim Records)

The following documents are available UI file components:

• UI Claims History
• Statement of Wage & Potential Benefits & Determination Letters
• Tele-Serv
• Appeal File
• Appeal Hearing Audio Recordings
• Investigation Notes
• Employer Response
• Overpayment Records
• UI Payment History
• 1099-G Information

TWC Civil Rights Employment Discrimination Investigation Records

Examples of documents in this category include the following:

• Employment discrimination complaints
• Complaint Forms
• EEOC Skeleton Documents
• Complainant's and/or Complainant's Representative’s Correspondence
• Complainant Evidence/Witness Statements
• Respondent's and/or Respondent's Representative's Correspondence
• Respondent Evidence/Witness Statements/Position Statements

This category does not include unemployment claim information, wage history information or tax information. Some items in this category may be confidential or subject to an exception to disclosure.

TWC Civil Rights Housing Discrimination Investigation Records

Examples of documents in this category include the following:

• Housing discrimination complaints
• Case investigative file and information derived from investigations
• The Final Investigative Report (FIR)

This category does not include unemployment claim information, wage history information or tax information. Some items in this category may be confidential or subject to an exception to disclosure.

Employer Tax Records

Examples of documents in this category include the following:

• Quarterly Tax Reports
• Miscellaneous Tax Reports

This category does not include individual unemployment claims, payday claims or wage history information for individuals. Some items in this category may be confidential or subject to an exception to disclosure.

Payday Wage Claims

This category includes documents associated with a Payday Wage claim. Examples of documents in this category include the following:

• Texas Payday Law Wage Claim files
• Texas Payday Law Wage Claim appeal hearings

This category does not include unemployment claim information, wage history information or information on other types of complaints (such as employment or housing discrimination).

Cost of Copies

TWC uses the public information cost rules set by the OAG in determining the charges for providing copies of public information or for making public information available for inspection under the Public Information Act. Information may be requested in paper or electronic format. Postage charges may apply. Common charges for requests are:

• Standard paper copy:  $0.10 per one-sided page
• Personnel time:
  • Programming:  $28.50 per hour
  • Manipulation of data:  $15.00 per hour
  • Other staff labor:  $15.00 per hour
• Overhead charge:  20% of personnel time charge

If costs are estimated to exceed $40.00, the requestor will be provided with an itemized estimate of charges and required to accept the charges in writing before the request is completed. TWC requires payment before the information is provided. If actual costs differ from estimated costs, overpayments or amounts owed will be reimbursed or billed as appropriate.

Consider using the optional form to help TWC expedite the handling of your records request.

To obtain your own records, you will need to provide proof of identification in the form of your government-issued photo ID.

For records of someone you represent, provide a signed authorization from the person or entity to obtain their records, proof of your legal representation, a court order authorizing TWC to release the records or an explanation of your authority to obtain confidential records.

For records regarding a person other than you, that information may be confidential by law and TWC may not be authorized by law to release such information without a signed authorization.

If you are requesting a copy of your own wage records showing reported quarterly gross wages going back five years, you can go in person to your local Workforce Solutions office. You will be asked to present your state or government-issued photo ID, such as your Texas driver’s license, and your social security number. For wages beyond five years, go to your local Social Security Administration office.

If, after reviewing the information on this page, you have questions regarding how to make a request to TWC for public information, call our Public Information Coordinator at 512-463-2422.

Technical Reminders

If you are having trouble downloading a file, you may need to disable your pop-up blockers.

For Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the Chrome menu in the top-right corner (three small dots).
3. Click "Settings."
4. Click "Advanced" at the bottom of the screen.
5. Under "Privacy and security," click "Content settings."
6. Next to "Blocked," click the slider to the right, which will change the setting to "Allowed."

You may also disable pop-ups for our site only.  Follow these instructions:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the Chrome menu in the top-right corner.
3. Click "Settings."
4. Click "Show advanced settings."
5. Under "Privacy," click the "Content settings" button.
6. Under "Pop-ups," click "Manage exceptions."

For Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click "Tools" (gear widget at top right).
3. Click "Internet options."
4. On the Privacy tab under "Pop-up Blocker," clear the "Turn on Pop-up Blocker" check box.
5. Click "OK."

For Firefox:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Select the Privacy & Security panel.
3. Click on Exceptions. This opens a dialog box with sites that you want to allow to display pop-ups.
4. Enter the website address.
5. Click the “Allow” button.
6. Click “Save Changes.”

For Safari:

1. Click "Safari."
2. Navigate to the website you are trying to access.
3. Click on Preferences, then click Websites.4. Click “Pop-up Windows."
4. In the pop-up menu for the website, choose Block, Block and Notify, or Allow.