Where to file and what you need before you start

You file for unemployment in Texas through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), which is the state agency that handles jobless benefits. You can file online at www.twc.texas.gov, by phone at 1-888-209-8264, or in person at a TWC office. Most people file online because it is faster and you get a confirmation number when ready.

Before you start, gather these documents: your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, your most recent pay stub or W-2, and the names and dates you worked for your last employer or employers. If you were fired or quit, you will need to explain why. Have this information ready whether you file online or by phone—it speeds up the process.

Filing takes about 15 to 20 minutes online. The system will ask about your work history, why you are no longer working, and whether you quit or were laid off. Answer honestly. Your answers go into a record that TWC uses to decide whether you meet the rules for benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • File through the Texas Workforce Commission at www.twc.texas.gov, by phone at 1-888-209-8264, or at a local TWC office.
  • You need your Social Security number, ID, recent pay stub or W-2, and details about your last job before you start.
  • Texas requires you to have earned at least $1,075 in your highest-earning quarter in the past 18 months and to have worked at least 3 months total in that same period.
  • After you file, TWC sends your employer a notice asking whether they will contest your claim, and you will hear the decision within 1 to 3 weeks in most cases.
  • You must file a new claim every week you want to receive a payment, and you must report any work or income you earned that week.

The earnings and work history TWC checks

Texas has two main rules about your work history. First, you must have earned at least $1,075 in your highest-earning quarter during the 18 months before you filed. A quarter is three months: January–March, April–June, July–September, or October–December. Second, you must have worked for at least three months total during that same 18-month window, though the months do not have to be in a row.

These rules exist because unemployment is meant for people who have a real work history, not for someone filing after their first week of a job. If you worked part-time or had gaps, you can still meet the rules as long as the total adds up. TWC pulls your wage record from your employer's tax filings, so you do not have to prove it yourself—but if your employer reported the wrong amount, you may need to provide a pay stub or W-2 to correct it.

If you do not meet these rules, you will be denied. You can appeal the decision, but the appeal process requires showing documents that prove your earnings or work dates. Keep your pay stubs and W-2s for at least a year after you file.

Why your employer might contest your claim

After you file, TWC sends a form to your employer asking whether they agree that you are out of work and why. This is called a Notice of Claim Filed. Your employer has about 10 days to respond. If they say you quit without good cause, or that you were fired for misconduct, they may contest your claim.

The difference matters. If you were laid off or your hours were cut, your employer usually will not contest, and you will be approved. If you quit, TWC will ask you why, and you need a reason that counts as "good cause"—meaning something about the job itself made it impossible to stay, like unsafe conditions, a wage cut, or a schedule change that conflicted with a medical appointment. Personal reasons like wanting a different job or moving do not count.

If your employer contests and says you were fired for misconduct, TWC will contact you and ask your side of the story. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule or refused to do your job. Being slow at work, making mistakes, or not being a good fit is not misconduct. If TWC believes you, you win. If they believe your employer, you lose and must repay any benefits you received.

What happens after you file: the timeline

The day you file, you get a confirmation number. Write it down. Within 3 to 5 business days, you will receive a letter in the mail with your claim number and the week your benefits can start. This letter also tells you how much you may receive per week—usually between $50 and $901 in Texas, depending on your past earnings.

Your employer has about 10 days from the date TWC sends them the notice to respond. If they do not respond or do not contest, TWC approves your claim and you start receiving payments. If they contest, TWC investigates, which can take 1 to 3 weeks. During this time, you are not paid yet, but if you eventually win the appeal, you get paid for all the weeks you waited.

Once approved, you must file a weekly claim every week you want to be paid. You do this online at the same website or by phone. You report whether you worked, how much you earned, and whether you looked for a job. If you do not file your weekly claim, you do not get paid that week, even if you are still out of work.

How much you receive and how long it lasts

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earnings in any single quarter during the past 18 months. Texas divides that quarterly amount by 25 and rounds down. So if you earned $5,000 in your best quarter, your weekly benefit is $200. The minimum is $50 per week and the maximum is $901 per week as of 2024, though these amounts change yearly.

You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year, which runs from the date you filed. A benefit year is 52 weeks long. After 26 weeks of payments, your claim ends unless you open a new claim in a new benefit year. During recessions or periods of high unemployment, the federal government sometimes extends benefits beyond 26 weeks, but this is not automatic and depends on Congress.

Your benefits are not taxed by Texas, but they are taxed by the federal government. When you file, TWC asks whether you want them to withhold federal tax from your payment. If you do not withhold, you may owe taxes when you file your return. Many people choose to withhold 10 percent to avoid a surprise bill.

Rules you must follow while receiving benefits

While you are on unemployment, you must actively look for work. Texas does not require you to report specific job searches, but you must be ready to prove you looked if TWC asks. This means explore for jobs, going to interviews, and being available to start work if you find a job. If you turn down a job offer without good cause, you can lose your benefits.

You must also report any work or income you earn during the week. If you work part-time or do gig work, you report the hours and earnings on your weekly claim. TWC reduces your benefit by a certain amount for every dollar you earn above a small threshold, so part-time work does not eliminate your benefits but it does lower them. Be honest about this—if you underreport earnings and TWC finds out, you must repay the overpayment and may face penalties.

You cannot receive unemployment if you are in school full-time, if you are in prison, or if you are receiving workers' compensation for a work injury. If any of these situations change, tell TWC when ready. If you move out of Texas, you can still receive benefits if you are looking for work in Texas, but if you move and stop looking for work in the state, your benefits end.

What to do if your claim is denied or you disagree with a decision

If TWC denies your claim, they send you a letter explaining why. Common reasons are that you do not meet the earnings requirement, that you quit without good cause, or that you were fired for misconduct. The letter tells you that you have 15 days to file an appeal. Do not wait—file it within this window or you lose the right to appeal.

You appeal by contacting the Appeals Division of TWC. You can file online, by mail, or by phone. When you appeal, explain why you think the decision was wrong. If the issue is earnings, bring your pay stubs or W-2. If the issue is why you left the job, write down what happened and why it was good cause or not misconduct. The Appeals Division will schedule a hearing, usually by phone, where you and your employer can explain your sides.

The hearing officer listens to both sides and makes a decision. If you lose, you can appeal again to the Texas Workforce Commission Appeals Board, but this is a longer process and you need a strong reason to think the hearing officer made a legal error. Most people do not go this far. If you win your appeal, you get paid for all the weeks you were waiting, going back to the week you filed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for unemployment if I was fired?

Yes, but your employer may contest. If you were fired for misconduct—meaning you deliberately broke a rule or refused to work—you will be denied. If you were fired for poor performance, being slow, or not being a good fit, that is not misconduct and you may be approved. You will have a chance to explain what happened.

How long does it take to get my first payment?

If your employer does not contest, you can receive your first payment within 1 to 2 weeks of filing. If your employer contests, it can take 3 to 4 weeks while TWC investigates. You must file your weekly claim to receive payment each week.

What if I earned money from self-employment or a side job?

Self-employment income does not count toward the earnings requirement for unemployment. Only wages from jobs where you were an employee count. If you are self-employed and lost that income, you cannot file for regular unemployment, but you may be able to file for Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) if it is still available, though this program is not currently active.

Can I receive unemployment while I am in school?

No. If you are a full-time student, you are not available for work and you cannot receive benefits. If you are a part-time student and working part-time, you can receive benefits as long as you report your school schedule and earnings honestly.

What happens if I find a job while on unemployment?

Tell TWC when ready. Report your work and earnings on your weekly claim. Your benefit will be reduced based on how much you earn, but you may still receive a partial payment. Once you have worked enough weeks to earn back what you received, your claim ends and you stop receiving benefits.