File your claim through the Texas Workforce Commission website or by phone

To collect unemployment in Texas, you file a claim directly with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). You can file online at www.twc.texas.gov, by phone at 1-800-939-6631, or in person at a TWC office. The online method is fastest — most people complete it in 15 to 20 minutes. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last job, including your employer's name and the dates you worked there.

When you file, TWC assigns your claim a date. That date matters: your benefit week runs from Sunday through Saturday, and you can only collect for weeks that fall after your claim date. If you file on a Wednesday, you cannot collect for the week that just ended. File as soon as you stop working or have your hours cut, because waiting does not give you back the weeks you missed.

After you file, TWC sends you a notice by mail with your claim details and the amount you may receive per week. This notice also tells you when you must start filing weekly claims — usually the week after your claim is processed. You file these weekly claims online, by phone, or through the TWC mobile app, and you must do this every week you want to collect.

Key Takeaways

  • File your initial claim at www.twc.texas.gov, by phone at 1-800-939-6631, or at a TWC office as soon as your job ends or your hours drop.
  • Your claim date determines when your benefits begin — weeks before that date cannot be paid, so filing quickly protects your timeline.
  • After TWC processes your claim, you must file a weekly claim every week you want to collect, and you must report any work or income you had that week.
  • TWC investigates your separation from your job, and you may be disqualified if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct.
  • Maximum weekly benefit amounts in Texas vary by year and are based on your earnings history, but the state publishes the current maximum on its website.

What TWC needs to process your claim

When you file, have these details ready: your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number; your Texas driver's license or ID number; and your last employer's name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. If you worked for more than one employer in the past 18 months, TWC will ask about those too — list them in order from most recent backward.

You will also answer questions about why you left your job. If you were laid off or had your hours cut, that is straightforward. If you quit, TWC will ask why, and your answer matters: quitting because your employer cut your pay or changed your shift without notice may be "good cause," but quitting because you found a different job or did not like the work usually is not. If you were fired, you will need to explain what happened. TWC contacts your employer to verify your account, so be honest — employers almost always respond.

You do not need to upload documents when you file the initial claim, but keep copies of your separation paperwork (a final paycheck stub, a layoff notice, or a termination letter) in case TWC asks for them later. If your employer disputes your claim, TWC may hold a phone hearing, and having written proof of what happened helps your case.

How weekly claims work and what you must report

Once your claim is active, you file a weekly claim for each week you want to collect. The week runs Sunday through Saturday. You file by the important date TWC gives you — usually by 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday after the week ends, though this varies. You can file online, by phone, or through the TWC app. Filing takes about five minutes if you have no work or income to report.

Each week, you must answer whether you worked, earned any money, or received any payments (like severance, vacation pay, or sick leave payout). If you did, you report the gross amount — before taxes. TWC subtracts a portion of your weekly benefit from any money you earned that week. For example, if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earned $100, you might receive $300 that week. The exact calculation depends on how much you earned and TWC's current offset rules.

You must also confirm that you are able and available to work, and that you are actively looking for work. "Actively looking" means you contacted employers, applied for jobs, or attended interviews — you do not have to prove this every week, but if TWC audits your claim, you may need to show what you did. If you turn down a job offer without good reason, you can be disqualified.

Reasons you might be disqualified or have benefits reduced

TWC can reduce or deny your benefits if you quit your job without good cause. Good cause means your employer did something that made it impossible or unreasonable to stay — for example, they cut your pay by 25 percent, changed your shift to overnight with no notice, or asked you to do something illegal. Quitting because you found another job, did not like your coworkers, or wanted to go back to school is not good cause.

If you were fired, TWC looks at whether it was for misconduct. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule, ignored a direct order, or did something that harmed the business — like stealing, showing up drunk, or refusing to follow safety procedures. Being fired for poor performance, making an honest mistake, or not being a good fit for the job is usually not misconduct, and you can still collect.

You are also disqualified if you refuse suitable work without good reason. Suitable work means a job that matches your skills and experience and pays at least 75 percent of your previous wage. If a job pays much less or requires you to move, you may have good reason to refuse. You are disqualified if you do not report earnings or work you did, or if you file a false claim.

If TWC denies your claim or reduces your benefits, you receive a notice in the mail explaining why. You have 15 days to file an appeal. The appeal goes to a hearing officer who reviews the facts and makes a decision. You can represent yourself or bring someone to help you, and you can present documents or witnesses.

How much you can receive and how long benefits last

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the past 18 months. TWC divides that amount by 25 to calculate your weekly benefit. The maximum weekly benefit amount changes each year — it was $901 in 2024, but check the TWC website for the current year's maximum. If your earnings were low, your weekly benefit will be lower than the maximum.

You can collect for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. If you exhaust your 26 weeks and are still unemployed, you may be able to extend benefits through a federal program, but this is only available during times of high unemployment and is not may provide. When an extension is available, TWC notifies you automatically.

Your benefit year is separate from the calendar year. If you file a claim in September, your benefit year runs from September through the following August. You cannot file a new claim until your current benefit year ends, even if you have used all your weeks. Once your benefit year ends, you can file a new claim if you have worked enough hours and earned enough money since your last claim.

Timeline: what happens after you file

The day you file is your claim date. TWC usually processes your claim within one to two weeks. During this time, TWC contacts your employer to verify that you worked there and why you left. If your employer responds quickly and there is no dispute, your claim is approved and you receive a notice in the mail.

Once approved, you begin filing weekly claims. Your first weekly claim covers the week after your claim date. You file this weekly claim by the important date, and if you are found to be without work and available to work, you receive your benefit payment within 7 to 10 business days. Payments are made by debit card (the EBT card) or direct deposit if you set that up.

If your employer disputes your claim or says you quit or were fired for misconduct, TWC may delay approval while it investigates. This can take several weeks. You will receive a notice explaining the issue and asking for your response. Answer promptly and honestly — if TWC needs more information, it will contact you by phone or mail.

After you return to work or your situation changes

If you find work, you must report your earnings on your weekly claim. You do not have to stop filing — you can continue to file and receive a reduced benefit if your earnings are below your full weekly benefit amount. This is called "partial unemployment" and helps bridge the gap while you look for full-time work or wait for a new job to start.

If you return to full-time work and earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you will receive no payment that week, but you can continue to file. Your claim remains active for the rest of your benefit year, so if you lose that job later, you do not have to file a new claim — you just resume filing weekly claims.

If you move out of Texas, you can still collect Texas unemployment if you are working or looking for work in Texas. If you move to another state and find work there, you may need to file a claim in that state instead. Contact TWC if your situation changes — moving, starting school, or becoming unable to work — because these changes can affect your benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my first payment after I file?

If your claim is approved with no disputes, you can receive your first payment within two to three weeks of filing. This includes the time for TWC to process your claim (one to two weeks) and then process your first weekly claim and send payment (seven to ten business days). If your employer disputes your claim, approval takes longer.

What if I was fired — can I still collect?

Yes, if you were fired for reasons other than misconduct. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule or ignored a direct order. Being fired for poor performance, making a mistake, or not being a good fit is not misconduct. TWC investigates and makes the decision based on what your employer says and what you say.

Do I have to look for work while I collect?

Yes. You must be able and available to work, and you must actively look for work. You do not have to prove this every week, but if TWC audits your claim or your employer disputes it, you may need to show what you did to look for work. Turning down a suitable job without good reason can disqualify you.

Can I collect if I work part-time?

Yes. If you earn less than your full weekly benefit amount, you receive a reduced payment. Report your earnings honestly on your weekly claim. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you receive no payment that week, but your claim stays active and you can collect in weeks when you earn less.

What happens if I disagree with TWC's decision?

You have 15 days from the date on the notice to file an appeal. You can appeal online at www.twc.texas.gov, by mail, or in person at a TWC office. Your appeal goes to a hearing officer who reviews the facts. You can represent yourself or bring someone to help, and you can present documents or call witnesses.