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.

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 and 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 your 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.