LawHelp State Frequently Asked Questions

Home > Employment > Wage Claims

Making a Claim
by: Legal Aid of Northwest Texas (Dallas Office)
Q.	What can I do if my current employer or a former employer has refused to pay me?

A.	If you are a member of a union and were employed on a union job, you should go to the union and make a complaint. If you are not a member of a union or if your union will not assist you, you have two options: You can file a Wage Claim with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or You can file a lawsuit in a Texas court.

Q.	Do I have to file a Wage Claim with TWC before I can file a lawsuit?

A.	No, you have the right to pursue either option at your choice.

Q.	How do I file a Wage Claim with the TWC?

A.	You can apply in person at your local TWC office or you can apply by mail.

Q.	How do I apply at my local TWC office?

A.	First, find your local TWC office by one of the following methods: Look in the telephone book or call TWC (1-800-832-9243 (within Texas only), or contact TWC?s main switchboard at (512) 837-9559) or look on the following website of Texas Workforce Commission: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/dirs/wdas/wdamap.html Second, go to the office and inform them that you would like to file a wage claim for wages that your employer has refused to pay you and tell them that you need the proper forms and instructions to file the claim. Third, follow the instructions exactly and complete the forms as instructed and turn them in to the TWC officials in the office.

Q.	How do I apply by mail?

A.	First, go to the TWC website (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/lablaw.html) and look under the section titled ?TEXAS WAGE LAW?. Second, go to the document ?How to File a Wage Claim? (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/wageclaim.pdf) and read it and follow it and fill out the ?Form for Filing a Wage Claim?) (English (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/LL-1(0103).pdf)and Spanish (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/LL-1S(0103).pdf) versions available). Third, review the document titled ?Wage Claim Process? (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/wcproc.html) for an explanation of what happens after you file your claim.


	Search

	Search Tips


	LiveHelp for Disaster Relief

Find Legal Help On Wage Claims

Related Resources

Instructions for Texas Payday Law Hearings (Separate Website)
By: Texas Workforce Commission

How to File A Wage Claim This link opens a PDF file in a new window. If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.

This link opens a PDF file in a new window. If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.

(Separate Website)
By: Texas Workforce Commission

FAQ's about the Texas PaydayLaw This link opens a PDF file in a new window. If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.

(Separate Website)
By: Texas Workforce Commission

more...

	Last Reviewed On: 03/07/03

Information Not Legal Advice. This web site has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this web site is not legal advice. Legal advice involves the application of legal knowledge and skills by a licensed attorney to your specific circumstances.

Also, laws vary from state to state, so some information on this web site may not be correct for where you live. Laws also change frequently so the information contained in this web site is not guaranteed to be up to date.

Therefore, the information contained in this web site cannot replace the advice of a competent attorney licensed in your state.

Lawyer Advertising. In some jurisdictions this web site may be considered lawyer advertising. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Any listing of an attorney does not constitute a recommendation of the attorney. Before hiring any attorney, you should investigate the attorney''s reputation and qualifications.

Links. This web site contains links to other resources on the Internet. Those links are provided as citations and aids to help you identify and locate other Internet resources that may be of interest, and are not intended to state or imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons or entities who created such site, nor are the links intended to state or imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.

E-mail. Viewing this Web site , or transmitting an e-mail message through this Web site, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Sending e-mail to an attorney mentioned in this site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship between you and the attorney. Unless you are already a client of the attorney, your e-mail may NOT be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Moreover, unless it is encrypted, e-mail can be intercepted by persons other than the recipient. Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not hire an attorney immediately to advise you. Many people do not check their e-mail daily, and some attorneys do not respond to unsolicited e-mail from non-clients.

If you are in need of legal assistance and you are not low-income, please contact your local lawyer referral service or call the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Information Service, Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-252-9690 or 1-877-9TEXBAR.

TexasLawHelp.org is sponsored by our partners: the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation, the Texas Access to Justice Commission, Legal Services Corporation, Texas Legal Services Center, the Travis County Law Library, and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas.