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For hearings conducted by telephone, the Notice of Hearing gives
you the toll-free number to call. You must make the first call
to participate in your hearing. Call the toll-free number during
the 30 minutes before the scheduled start of your hearing. You will
need to give the receptionist who answers the telephone a phone
number where you can be reached for the hearing. At the time of
the hearing, the hearing officer will call you back and connect all
parties and witnesses to a conference call. The hearing will begin
when everyone is connected.
It is very important that you call in for your hearing before
the scheduled hearing time and that you take part in your appeal
hearing. The hearing officers make their decision based entirely
on the evidence given at the appeal hearing. If you do not call
in on time, you may not be allowed to participate in the hearing.
Special note: All of the hearings are scheduled for the Central
Time zone. If you live in a different time zone, you should remember
to call at the appropriate Central Time zone time. If you have any
questions about when you should call, please call your hearing officer.
If you find you cannot participate in the hearing for any reason,
call the hearing officer as soon as you can. The TWC rules only
allow hearing officers to delay or reschedule hearings in specific,
limited cases. If you do not participate in the hearing and the
decision is against you, you may request that the case be reopened.
Your request to reopen the hearing must be in writing and you must
sign it. The request must be made no later than fourteen (14)
days after the date we mail you the Appeal decision. We may
reopen the case and grant a new hearing if you can show that you
had a good reason for not participating in the first scheduled hearing.
Employers who are not parties of interest (designated as NPI above
the employer’s name on the Notice of Hearing) do not have
appeal rights to any appeal decision. If they fail to participate
in a scheduled hearing, they cannot request another hearing.
Please let us know if you do not have a private phone, need a fax
machine to send information, or need a speakerphone to present witnesses’
testimony. TWC can make sure you have access to these machines
if you have an appeal hearing. If you need help operating the
equipment, we have people who can help you. We will give you as
much privacy as we can for your hearing.
When you receive your hearing notice, if you and/or your witness(es) need access to any equipment but you did not request accommodation
in your appeal letter:
- Call the TWC Tele-Center handling the claim.
- Explain that you are scheduled for an appeal hearing.
- Tell them the specific time and date of your hearing.
- Tell them the specific accommodation you need.
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