Texas Unemployment Benefits
To receive Texas unemployment benefits, displaced workers must meet three qualifications: they must have earned enough wages during the base period; they must be out of work because of circumstances that were not their fault; in almost all circumstances, they must be able to work and search for week every week. Workers who meet these standards will be entitled to receive from $58 to $392 each week. The total Texas unemployment benefits a worker can receive is equal to 27% of the wages earned during the base period. Once qualified, workers should expect to receive their first checks three to four weeks from their initial claims.
Workers who apply for Texas unemployment benefits will receive a Statement of Benefits. The Statement will tell the workers the base period that was used to figure their eligibility for payments. The notification will also tell them the amount of wages they earned during that period as reported by their employers. Finally, the statement will inform them whether they qualify to receive benefits. An additional information packet will be mailed on the same day that the Statement of Benefits is mailed.
A person who receives Texas unemployment benefits has certain responsibilities which much be fulfilled to continue receiving payments; primary among these responsibilities is registering with the state's work search service. Registration with work search must be completed within three days of filing a benefits claim. Workers who fail to complete this registration will be considered ineligible to receive benefits and must return any benefits they may have received up until that point.
In addition to registering for work search, workers must also be able to work and must be available for work assignments. Workers must also diligently look for work during every week in which they receive benefits. Workers must also respond to any inquiries from the Texas Work Commission, report in person if so requested, and participate in any Commission studies. Every two weeks, workers must also request their unemployment insurance payments. This request may be made either through the Texas Work Commission website or through the telephone service operated by the Texas Work Commission. Workers receiving Texas unemployment benefits should carefully document their job search activities and be prepared to produce this documentation if asked.