How to File For Unemployment Insurance in Texas

In Texas, unemployment benefits are issued via debit card.

Unemployment benefits for the state of Texas processed by the Texas Workforce Commission. Most employees who lost their jobs without cause, or through no fault of their own, are eligible to collect unemployment benefits. You can file a request to receive unemployment benefits either online or on the phone.

Instructions

1. Determine that you qualify for unemployment benefits. The workforce commission looks at your past wages in the first four of the past five business quarters, meaning they do not use the current quarter to calculate whether you are eligible. You must have received wages in two of those four calendar quarters, and your total wages during the base period must be at least 37 times that of your weekly benefits. Furthermore, you must be able to prove the extent of your unemployment, showing that you didn't have any control over or fault in the termination from your last job.

2. Gather your Social Security Number, your previous employer's business name and address, the exact dates you worked for your previous employer, the wages you received from your previous employer. If you aren't a citizen of the United States, you will need your Alien Registration Number as well.

3. File a claim. This can be done online (twc.state.tx.us/ui/uiclaim.html) or via the telephone (twc.state.tx.us/ui/bnfts/teleserv.html). To file a claim online, you will first have to sign up for a user ID with the Unemployment Benefits Services website.

4. Within three days of your initial claim, you must have registered for work at a Texas workforce center or online at WorkInTexas.com. In order to keep collecting benefits, you must be actively seeking work every week and be available to take a job whenever one becomes available to you. Cooperate with these institutions in looking for work, as a minimum number of job search hours are required to be paid benefits. The workforce commission will ask for evidence of your job search history so keep detailed logs of your attempts to get hired!

5. In the meantime, wait for your Texas unemployment claim to be processed. This could take three to four weeks. The workforce commission will mail you a letter informing you of whether your claim has been accepted, and if so will outline how much you will receive in benefits every week for the next year, or until you find employment.

References

• Unemployment Insurance Benefits Information
• How to Request Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Resources

• TWC Unemployment Benefits Services