Texas unemployment benefit amounts
Texas unemployment insurance pays between $70 and $901 per week, depending on your recent earnings. The state calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on the highest quarter of wages you earned in the past 12 months, using a formula that replaces roughly 37% of your average weekly wage. The minimum is $70 per week; the maximum is $901 per week as of 2024. Your actual amount falls somewhere in that range based on what you earned.
The state recalculates the maximum benefit amount each January, so the $901 figure changes yearly. You can find the current maximum on the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) website. If you earned very little in your best quarter, you may receive the $70 minimum. If you earned enough to hit the state's wage cap, you receive the $901 maximum.
Texas does not add extra federal payments on top of the state benefit during normal times. During periods when Congress authorizes federal pandemic unemployment compensation (as happened in 2020–2021), those payments stack on top of your state benefit, but that is temporary and not part of the regular program.
Key Takeaways
- Your weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the past 12 months, calculated at roughly 37% of your average weekly wage.
- The minimum weekly benefit in Texas is $70; the maximum is $901 as of 2024, and the maximum amount changes each January.
- The Texas Workforce Commission calculates your exact amount when you file your claim, based on wage records from your employer.
- You receive only your state benefit during normal times; federal add-ons are temporary and only occur when Congress passes them during economic crises.
How Texas calculates your weekly amount
The TWC uses your highest quarter of earnings from the 12 months before you file your claim. A quarter is three consecutive months: January–March, April–June, July–September, or October–December. The state divides that quarter's total wages by 13 to get your average weekly wage, then multiplies by 0.37 (37%) to arrive at your weekly benefit amount.
For example: if your highest quarter earnings were $5,200, your average weekly wage is $400 ($5,200 ÷ 13). Your weekly benefit would be $148 ($400 × 0.37). That amount is then checked against the $70 minimum and $901 maximum. If your calculation falls below $70, you receive $70. If it exceeds $901, you receive $901.
The TWC pulls wage data directly from your employer's quarterly tax filings, so you do not need to provide pay stubs yourself. However, you should verify the earnings information when you file your claim. If your employer reported incorrect wages, you can dispute it and provide your own documentation.
Maximum and minimum benefit amounts by year
Texas updates its maximum benefit amount each January based on changes in average wages across the state. The maximum has risen gradually over the past decade as wages have increased. The minimum of $70 per week has remained unchanged for many years.
| Year | Maximum Weekly Benefit | Minimum Weekly Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $901 | $70 |
| 2023 | $901 | $70 |
| 2022 | $901 | $70 |
| 2021 | $823 | $70 |
If you are filing a claim now, use the current year's maximum ($901 for 2024). The TWC website displays the current amounts in the "Unemployment Insurance" section under "Benefit Amounts."
How long you receive benefits
Texas unemployment insurance typically pays for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year. A benefit year runs for 52 consecutive weeks starting the week your claim is filed. You can receive payments for any week you are unemployed and meet the program's requirements during that 52-week period, up to a total of 26 weeks of payments.
If you exhaust your 26 weeks of state benefits and remain unemployed, you may be able to extend benefits through a federal program called Extended Benefits (EB). Extended Benefits are only available during periods of high unemployment, as determined by federal law. When EB is active, it can provide up to 13 additional weeks of payments at your same weekly rate. The TWC announces when EB is active on its website.
What affects your benefit amount
Your weekly benefit amount is locked in when your claim is filed and is based solely on your earnings in that highest quarter. It does not change week to week based on job search activity, how many hours you work part-time, or other factors. However, your may be able to access to receive a payment in any given week can change if you work, refuse suitable work, or commit fraud.
If you work part-time while receiving benefits, Texas allows you to earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount without reducing your payment. Earnings above that threshold reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar. For example, if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $100 (25% of $400), you receive the full $400. If you earn $150, your benefit is reduced by $50 to $350.
Wages reported by your employer are verified through state wage records, so unreported work will be caught during audits or when you file taxes. Misreporting earnings is considered fraud and can result in overpayment demands and penalties.
Checking your benefit amount before you file
You cannot know your exact weekly benefit until the TWC processes your claim, because the agency must verify your earnings with your employer. However, you can estimate your amount using the formula: take your highest quarter earnings from the past 12 months, divide by 13, multiply by 0.37, and compare to the current maximum ($901).
If you do not know your highest quarter earnings, you can review your own tax return or pay stubs from the past year. Your W-2 form shows total annual earnings broken down by quarter, which makes estimation easier. Keep in mind this is only an estimate; the TWC's official calculation may differ slightly if your employer reported different figures.
Once you file your claim through the TWC website or by phone, you will receive a notice showing your calculated weekly benefit amount. You have the right to request a hearing if you believe the amount is wrong due to an error in wage reporting.
Federal pandemic payments (when active)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized temporary federal unemployment payments that stacked on top of state benefits. These included a $600-per-week supplement (2020) and a $300-per-week supplement (2021). These payments are not part of the regular Texas program and only exist when Congress passes them during national emergencies.
As of 2024, no federal pandemic supplements are active. If Congress authorizes new federal unemployment payments in the future, the TWC will announce them on its website and explain how they are added to your state benefit. Do not assume federal add-ons will be available; they are temporary measures, not permanent features of unemployment insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get more than $901 per week in Texas?
No, $901 per week is the maximum for state benefits as of 2024. If your earnings would normally result in a higher amount, you still receive only $901. Federal supplements (when Congress authorizes them) can add to this, but state benefits alone are capped at the maximum.
What if my employer reported my wages wrong?
You can dispute the wage information on your claim notice. Contact the TWC with documentation such as pay stubs, W-2 forms, or tax returns showing your actual earnings. The TWC will investigate and recalculate your benefit if an error is found. You have the right to request a hearing if you disagree with the agency's decision.
Do I get paid for the week I file my claim?
No, there is a one-week waiting period in Texas. You file your claim in week one but do not receive payment for that week. Payments begin in week two if you meet all other requirements. This waiting period applies to all claims unless you are in a federally declared disaster area.
Does my benefit amount change if I work part-time?
Your weekly benefit amount stays the same, but your actual payment is reduced if you earn more than 25% of your weekly benefit. Earnings up to that threshold do not reduce your payment. Anything above it reduces your benefit dollar-for-dollar. The TWC verifies all earnings through employer wage reports.
What happens after I use all 26 weeks?
If you exhaust your 26 weeks and remain unemployed, you may be able to receive Extended Benefits (EB) if the federal government has activated the program due to high unemployment. EB provides up to 13 additional weeks at your same weekly rate. The TWC announces when EB is active on its website. If EB is not active, your benefits end.