Texas Unemployment Payment Amounts

Texas unemployment insurance pays between $70 and $901 per week, depending on your recent earnings. The Texas Workforce Commission calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest quarter of earnings in the 12 months before you filed. The state divides that quarter's total earnings by 25 and rounds down to the nearest dollar — that is your weekly payment.

The minimum payment is $70 per week if you earned anything at all. The maximum is $901 per week as of 2024, though this amount adjusts annually on January 1. If you earned less than $1,750 in your highest quarter, you will receive the $70 minimum.

Your payment does not change week to week. Once the Texas Workforce Commission calculates your amount, you receive the same sum every week you remain unemployed and continue to meet the program's requirements — mainly that you are actively searching for work and report your job search efforts when asked.

Key Takeaways

  • Your weekly payment is one-twenty-fifth of your highest quarter's earnings, rounded down, with a floor of $70 and a ceiling of $901.
  • Texas pays unemployment for up to 26 weeks in most cases, though the duration can extend during periods of high unemployment.
  • You must report your job search activities when the Texas Workforce Commission requests them, or your payments stop.
  • The maximum weekly amount increases each January 1, so the amount you receive today may differ from what someone filed for last month.

How Texas Calculates Your Highest Quarter

The Texas Workforce Commission looks back 12 months from the week you file and identifies which three-month period (quarter) had your highest total earnings. That quarter determines your payment amount. The quarters are January–March, April–June, July–September, and October–December.

If you worked for multiple employers during that 12-month window, the commission adds all earnings together. Self-employment income does not count toward unemployment insurance in Texas — only wages from employers who paid into the system.

Bonuses, commissions, and overtime all count as earnings for this calculation. So do severance payments and vacation payouts if your employer included them on your final paystub. The commission uses the gross amount before taxes.

How Long You Receive Payments

Texas pays unemployment for up to 26 weeks during normal economic conditions. That is roughly six months of weekly payments. If you receive the maximum of $901 per week, your total benefit over the full period would be $23,426.

The number of weeks you can draw does not depend on how long you worked or how much you earned — everyone gets the same 26-week window. What changes is the amount per week, based on your earnings history.

During periods when the state's unemployment rate is very high, the federal government may fund an extension that adds more weeks. These extensions are temporary and require Congress to authorize them. Texas has not had an active extension since 2021.

When Your Payments Start and Stop

Texas has a one-week waiting period. You file your claim, and if you meet the basic requirements, your first payment covers the week after you file. You do not receive payment for the week you file itself.

Your payments stop when you reach 26 weeks of benefits, when you return to work, or when you fail to report your job search activities. If you find a job that pays less than your unemployment benefit, you can report your earnings and receive a partial payment for that week — the commission subtracts 25 percent of your weekly wage from your benefit.

If you stop searching for work or miss a required report, the Texas Workforce Commission will deny your next payment and may require you to requalify before payments resume.

Taxes on Your Unemployment Payment

Texas does not tax unemployment benefits, but the federal government does. Your weekly payment is subject to federal income tax. When you file your claim, you can choose to have the Texas Workforce Commission withhold 10 percent of each payment for federal taxes, or you can pay the tax when you file your annual return.

If you do not withhold taxes during the year, you will owe the full amount when you file in April. Many people find it simpler to have the 10 percent withheld each week rather than face a large bill later.

Partial Unemployment and Work-Share Programs

If you are working part-time or have had your hours reduced, you may still draw unemployment for the weeks you are not working. You report your weekly earnings to the Texas Workforce Commission, and they subtract 25 percent of what you earned from your full weekly benefit amount.

Texas also runs a Work-Share program that allows employers to reduce employee hours instead of laying workers off. The state pays partial unemployment for the hours not worked. This program is less common but can help you keep your job while drawing some income during slow periods.

What Reduces or Disqualifies Your Payment

You lose your payment if you quit your job without good cause, if you are fired for misconduct, or if you refuse a suitable job offer. "Good cause" means circumstances beyond your control — a significant change in pay, hours, or working conditions, or a health or safety issue. straightforward wanting a different job does not count.

If you are disqualified, the Texas Workforce Commission will send you a notice explaining why and how to appeal. You have 15 days to request a hearing. Many people win on appeal because the employer's reason for termination does not meet the legal definition of misconduct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and still get unemployment in Texas?

Yes. Report your part-time earnings each week, and the Texas Workforce Commission will reduce your benefit by 25 percent of what you earned. If you earn enough, your benefit may drop to zero for that week, but you remain on the program and can draw again when your hours drop.

Does my unemployment payment change if I find a new job?

No. Your weekly amount stays the same until you exhaust your 26 weeks or stop meeting the requirements. If you return to full-time work, you stop drawing. If you work part-time, you report those earnings and receive a reduced payment.

What happens if I disagree with the amount Texas calculated?

Request a hearing within 15 days of receiving your information notice. Bring your recent paystubs and tax documents showing your earnings. The hearing officer will review your earnings history and recalculate if there was an error.

Do I have to report my job search every week?

The Texas Workforce Commission requests job search reports periodically, not necessarily every week. When they ask, you must provide the names of employers you contacted, dates, and how you applied. Failure to report results in a denial of that week's payment.

Can I receive unemployment if I was laid off due to lack of work?

Yes. Lack of work is not misconduct and does not disqualify you. You are may be able to access as long as you meet the earnings requirement and are actively searching for work. Layoffs are the most common reason people draw unemployment in Texas.