Unemployment benefits in Texas help people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. These benefits can provide money to help pay for basic needs while looking for a new job.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) decides who can get these benefits and how much they will receive, following specific rules.
Who Qualifies?
To receive unemployment benefits in Texas, you must meet certain requirements:
- You need to have lost your job for reasons that were not your fault.
- Your eligibility also depends on the wages you earned in the past. TWC looks at your work history to decide if you qualify and how much support you get.
How Is the Benefit Amount Decided?
The amount you receive from unemployment benefits is based on your previous wages. TWC calculates your benefits using something called a "base period." The base period is a one-year time frame used to examine your taxable earnings from your job.
To qualify, you must:
- Have earned wages in more than one of the four quarters during the base period.
- Have made total base period wages that are at least 37 times your weekly benefit amount.
- If you have previously applied for unemployment, you must have earned six times your new weekly benefit amount since your last application.
Current Benefit Amounts
As of October 2024, unemployment benefits in Texas ranged from a minimum of $74 per week to a maximum of $591 per week.
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Read more: Is There A Fourth Stimulus Check Planned Amid Ongoing Financial Relief Discussions?
