What the Texas maximum means

Texas sets a maximum weekly benefit amount that you cannot receive more than, no matter how much you earned before losing your job. This maximum changes once per year, on January 1st, and is based on the state's average weekly wage from the previous year. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) calculates your individual benefit amount using your earnings history, but if that calculation exceeds the state maximum, you receive the maximum instead.

The maximum is not the same as what you will receive. Most people get less than the maximum because their prior earnings were lower. The maximum only matters if your work history would otherwise may have access to you for more.

Key Takeaways

  • Texas sets a new maximum benefit amount each January 1st based on the state's average weekly wage from the previous year.
  • Your actual weekly payment is calculated from your earnings in the base period, but cannot exceed the state maximum.
  • The maximum applies to the entire duration of your claim, which typically lasts 26 weeks in Texas.
  • You can find the current year's maximum on the TWC website or by contacting TWC directly.
  • The total amount you can receive is the weekly maximum multiplied by the number of weeks you remain unemployed, up to 26 weeks.

How TWC calculates your weekly amount

The TWC uses your earnings during the base period — the first four of the five most recent completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim — to determine what you should receive each week. The agency divides your total base period earnings by 52 to get an average weekly wage, then applies a formula that is roughly one-third of that average.

If that formula produces a number higher than the state maximum, the maximum is what you get. If it produces a number lower than the maximum, you receive the lower amount. This is why two people filing on the same day might receive very different weekly payments.

The current maximum and how it changes

The maximum benefit amount for 2024 is $901 per week. This figure was set on January 1, 2024, based on Texas's average weekly wage in 2023. On January 1, 2025, TWC will announce a new maximum based on 2024 wage data. The maximum typically increases slightly each year as average wages rise, though it can remain flat or decrease if the state's average wage declines.

You can check the current maximum on the TWC website under "Unemployment Insurance Benefits" or by calling the TWC customer service line. The maximum applies to all new claims filed after the January 1st change date, so the amount you receive depends on when you filed, not when you receive the payment.

How long you can receive benefits

Texas provides up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits in a standard claim year. This means you can receive your weekly benefit amount — whether it is the maximum or lower — for up to 26 consecutive weeks of unemployment. The total you receive is your weekly amount multiplied by the number of weeks you draw, capped at 26 weeks.

If you receive the maximum of $901 per week for the full 26 weeks, your total would be $23,426. However, most people receive less than the maximum, and many exhaust their benefits before 26 weeks if they find work. Once your 26-week benefit year ends, you must wait until a new benefit year begins to file a new claim, even if you become unemployed again.

When the maximum does not explore

The 26-week maximum applies only during periods of normal unemployment. During recessions or periods of very high state unemployment, Congress may authorize Extended Benefits (EB), which can add up to 13 additional weeks beyond the standard 26. EB is not automatic; it requires both federal and state approval based on unemployment rates, and it has its own rules about how much you receive per week.

Additionally, if you are receiving Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) or other federal emergency programs, those have their own separate maximum amounts and durations set by federal law, not by Texas. These programs are not currently active, but it is worth understanding that the state maximum of 26 weeks applies only to regular Texas unemployment insurance.

What happens when you reach the maximum weeks

Once you have received benefits for 26 weeks in your benefit year, your claim ends automatically. You will no longer receive weekly payments, even if you are still unemployed. The TWC will send you a notice when you are approaching the end of your 26 weeks so you have time to plan.

If you become unemployed again after your benefit year ends, you can file a new claim, but only if you have earned enough wages in the new base period to may have access to. straightforward being unemployed does not may have access to you to a second claim in the same year; you must have returned to work and earned sufficient wages in between.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Texas ever pay more than the maximum?

No. The state maximum is a hard ceiling. Even if you earned very high wages before losing your job, you cannot receive more than the maximum per week. Some other states have higher maximums; Texas's is set by state law and changes only on January 1st each year.

What if I was working part-time before I lost my job?

Your benefit amount is based on your actual earnings in the base period, not on whether you worked full-time or part-time. If your part-time earnings were lower, your weekly benefit will be lower, but you can still receive it for up to 26 weeks as long as you meet all other requirements.

Can I receive unemployment and Social Security at the same time?

Texas reduces your unemployment benefit by a portion of any Social Security retirement or disability payment you receive. The reduction is not dollar-for-dollar, but it does lower your weekly amount. You should report all income sources to TWC when you file.

What if I return to work part-time while drawing benefits?

Texas allows you to earn up to a certain amount per week without losing your entire benefit. Earnings above that threshold reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar. The threshold is based on your weekly benefit amount, so it varies by person. Report all earnings to TWC each week.

Does the maximum include federal taxes?

The maximum is the gross amount before federal income tax withholding. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld from your benefit, which reduces the amount you receive in your bank account. State taxes do not explore to unemployment benefits in Texas.