What Texas Unemployment Pays You

Texas unemployment insurance pays a weekly amount that depends on how much you earned in the year before you lost your job. The state calculates this by looking at your highest quarter of earnings and dividing by 26. The minimum weekly payment is $47, and the maximum is $901 per week as of 2024, though this maximum amount changes each year.

You receive this weekly amount for up to 26 weeks in most cases. If you exhaust those 26 weeks and the state unemployment rate is high enough, you may be able to receive extended benefits for an additional 13 weeks, though this is not automatic and depends on economic conditions at the time.

Key Takeaways

  • Your weekly payment is based on your highest quarter of earnings in the year before you lost your job, divided by 26.
  • The minimum weekly amount is $47 and the maximum is $901 per week, though the maximum increases each year.
  • You can receive payments for up to 26 weeks, with a possible extension to 39 weeks if the state unemployment rate is high enough.
  • The Texas Workforce Commission calculates your exact amount and tells you what it will be when they send your information letter.

How Texas Calculates Your Weekly Amount

The Texas Workforce Commission uses a specific formula to find your weekly benefit amount. They take your total wages from the highest-earning quarter in the 12 months before you filed your claim, then divide that number by 26. This becomes your weekly payment amount, as long as it falls between the state minimum and maximum.

For example, if you earned $15,600 in your highest quarter, the calculation would be $15,600 ÷ 26 = $600 per week. If your calculation comes out to less than $47, you receive the minimum of $47. If it comes out to more than the current maximum, you receive the maximum instead.

The Texas Workforce Commission sends you a information letter that shows exactly how they calculated your amount and what your weekly payment will be. This letter arrives after you file your claim and is the official record of what you will receive.

The Maximum and Minimum Amounts Change Each Year

Texas updates its maximum weekly benefit amount every January based on changes in average wages across the state. The minimum amount of $47 has stayed the same for many years, but the maximum has risen as wages have increased. In 2023, the maximum was $893 per week; in 2024, it became $901.

If you are near the maximum or minimum when you file, your actual payment may be different the following January if the state adjusts these amounts. The Texas Workforce Commission website shows the current year's maximum, and you can check there if you need the exact figure for the year you are receiving benefits.

How Long You Receive Payments

In Texas, you can receive unemployment payments for up to 26 weeks from the week you file your claim. This is the standard benefit period. You must file a claim for each week you want to receive payment, and you must meet the state's work-search requirements — typically looking for work and reporting your job search activities.

If you exhaust your 26 weeks of benefits and the state's unemployment rate is 6.5 percent or higher for 13 consecutive weeks, you may be able to receive Extended Benefits for an additional 13 weeks. This is not automatic; the Texas Workforce Commission determines whether the rate qualifies and notifies you if you are may be able to access. During recessions or periods of high unemployment, this extension may be available, but in normal economic times it is not.

What Affects Your Actual Payment Amount

Several situations can change the amount you receive each week. If you earn wages from part-time work while receiving unemployment, Texas allows you to earn up to $100 per week without any reduction to your benefit. Anything you earn above $100 reduces your weekly payment dollar-for-dollar. This is called "partial unemployment" and allows people to work part-time while collecting benefits.

If you receive other income — such as severance pay, vacation pay, or sick leave paid out by your former employer — this may delay or reduce your benefits for the weeks you receive it. You must report all income when you file your weekly claim. Failure to report earnings can result in overpayment, which you will be required to repay.

If you are disqualified for misconduct or quit without good cause, you receive no benefits at all. If you are partially disqualified — for example, if you were fired for a minor rule violation but not serious misconduct — your weekly amount may be reduced rather than eliminated.

How to Find Out Your Exact Amount

The most reliable way to know your exact weekly payment is to file your claim through the Texas Workforce Commission website or by phone. After you file, the commission sends you a information letter within two weeks that states your weekly benefit amount, the total you can receive, and the weeks you are may be able to access to collect.

You can also call the Texas Workforce Commission at 1-800-939-6631 to speak with someone who can calculate your estimated amount based on your earnings history. Have your Social Security number and information about your recent employment ready when you call. The phone line can be busy during high-unemployment periods, so calling early in the morning or on weekdays other than Monday often results in shorter wait times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I worked in multiple states before I lost my job?

If you worked in more than one state in the year before you filed, you may be able to combine wages from all states to calculate your benefit amount. This is called "combined-wage filing" and usually results in a higher weekly payment. The Texas Workforce Commission can file this for you, but you must request it when you file your claim.

Does Texas unemployment include federal pandemic payments?

No. Federal pandemic unemployment programs ended in September 2021. Texas now pays only the regular state unemployment amount, which is the weekly benefit calculated from your earnings. There are no additional federal payments available.

Can I receive unemployment if I was laid off but my employer says I quit?

You can file a claim regardless of what your employer says. The Texas Workforce Commission investigates the reason for separation and makes the final decision. If you were laid off, you should receive benefits even if your employer disputes it. File your claim and provide details about the layoff in your process.

What happens if I turn down a job offer while collecting unemployment?

If you refuse an offer for suitable work without good cause, you can be disqualified from benefits. "Suitable work" means a job in your field at comparable wages. If the job is unsuitable — for example, it pays far less or requires you to relocate — you can refuse it without losing benefits. The Texas Workforce Commission makes this information if your employer reports the refusal.