What the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) does and how to reach it
The Texas Workforce Commission is the state agency that processes unemployment claims and pays benefits to workers who lose jobs through no fault of their own. TWC does not decide whether you deserve help — it follows federal and state law about who qualifies. Your job is to file a claim, report what happened, and answer their questions truthfully.
You file your claim online at TexasWorkforce.org, by phone at 1-888-TWC-2YOU (1-888-892-2968), or in person at a TWC office. Online is fastest — most people file in 15 to 20 minutes. The phone line has long waits, especially early in the week. In-person filing is rare now, but some offices still accept walk-ins.
TWC will contact you by mail and email once your claim is filed. They will ask you to verify your identity, confirm your work history, and answer questions about why you left your job or were let go. You must respond to every request they send, or they will deny your claim.
Key Takeaways
- File your claim at TexasWorkforce.org as soon as you lose your job, because benefits do not go back further than the week you file.
- You must have worked in Texas and earned at least $1,000 in your base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file) to meet the earnings requirement.
- You cannot have quit your job without good cause, been fired for misconduct, or refused suitable work — these are the main reasons TWC denies claims.
- TWC will mail you a information letter within two to three weeks that says whether you are found to have a valid claim; if you disagree, you have 15 days to request a hearing.
- Once approved, you must file a weekly claim every Sunday through Thursday to keep receiving payments, and report any income you earned that week.
The base period and earnings requirement
TWC looks at your earnings in a specific four-quarter window called your base period. For most people filing in 2024, this is January 1 through December 31, 2023. The base period rolls forward each calendar quarter, so the window changes four times a year.
You must have earned at least $1,000 during your base period to meet the earnings floor. You also must have worked in at least two of the four quarters in that period. If you earned $500 in Q1 and $600 in Q2, you meet both rules. If you earned $1,200 in only one quarter, you do not.
TWC pulls your earnings record from what your employer reported to the Texas Workforce Commission. If your employer did not report you correctly, or if you worked under the table, you will need to bring pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from your employer to prove your earnings. Bring these documents to your hearing if TWC denies your claim.
Reasons TWC will deny your claim
The most common reason for denial is that you quit your job. TWC assumes you left on your own unless you can show you had good cause — meaning a real, work-related reason you could not stay. Good cause includes unsafe working conditions, wage theft, a substantial cut in hours or pay, or harassment. It does not include a bad commute, a difficult boss, or wanting to try something new.
If you were fired, TWC will ask your employer what happened. If they say you were fired for misconduct — meaning you broke a rule you knew about, or your actions were reckless — your claim will be denied. Misconduct includes showing up late repeatedly after being warned, being under the influence at work, or stealing. A single mistake or poor performance is usually not misconduct.
You can also be denied if you refused suitable work that TWC or your employer offered you. Suitable means the job is in your field, pays at least 75 percent of your usual wage, and is within reasonable travel distance. If you turned down a job that did not meet these rules, you have grounds to appeal.
If you are receiving workers' compensation benefits for a work injury, you may not be able to draw unemployment at the same time. If you are in school full-time or have a criminal conviction for theft or fraud, you may also face barriers. Tell TWC about any of these situations when you file.
How to file your claim online
Go to TexasWorkforce.org and click the button to file a new claim. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last job: the employer's name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. Have your last pay stub handy so you can confirm your wages.
You will answer questions about why you are no longer working. If you were laid off or your hours were cut, say so. If you quit, explain why. If you were fired, describe what happened from your point of view. Be honest — TWC will contact your employer and compare stories. If you lie, they will find out and deny your claim.
At the end, you will create a username and password. Write these down. You will use them to log in every week to file your weekly claim and check the status of your case. TWC will email you a confirmation number. Save it.
What happens after you file
TWC will send you a letter in the mail within 7 to 10 days. This letter tells you your claim number, your weekly benefit amount (if you are found to have a valid claim), and instructions for filing weekly. Read it carefully — it also lists your employer's name and the reason you gave for leaving work. If anything is wrong, contact TWC right away.
TWC will also contact your employer and ask them to respond to your claim. Your employer has 10 days to say whether they agree or disagree with what you reported. If they disagree, TWC will send you a information letter that explains their decision and your right to appeal.
A information letter is not the same as approval. It is TWC's initial finding based on the facts you and your employer provided. If the letter says you are found to have a valid claim, you can start filing weekly claims. If it says you are denied, you have 15 days from the date on the letter to request a hearing before a hearing officer.
Filing your weekly claim and reporting income
Once TWC approves your claim, you must file a weekly claim every week you want to receive a payment. You do this online at TexasWorkforce.org using the same username and password you created when you filed your initial claim. The weekly claim window opens on Sunday and closes on Thursday at midnight.
When you file your weekly claim, TWC will ask whether you worked that week, whether you earned any money, and whether you looked for work. You must answer honestly. If you earned $100 that week, report it — TWC will subtract it from your benefit payment, but you still get the difference. If you do not report income and TWC finds out, they will overpay you and ask for the money back.
You do not have to prove you looked for work every week, but TWC can ask you to show evidence at any time. Keep a record of the jobs you applied for, the dates, and the employers' contact information. If you are in a work-sharing program or on temporary layoff, the rules are different — ask TWC about your situation.
How much you will receive and when
Your weekly benefit amount depends on how much you earned in your base period. TWC divides your total base period earnings by 52 and pays you a percentage of that amount, up to a maximum. The maximum weekly benefit amount changes each year. In 2024, the maximum is $901 per week, but most people receive less.
If you earned $10,000 in your base period, your average weekly wage is about $192. TWC will pay you roughly 66 percent of that, or about $127 per week. The exact percentage and maximum are set by state law and change annually.
Payments are deposited into your bank account or loaded onto a debit card, usually within 5 to 7 business days after you file your weekly claim. If you do not file your weekly claim by Thursday midnight, you will not receive a payment that week. If you miss two weeks in a row without contacting TWC, they may close your claim.
What to do if TWC denies your claim or you disagree with their decision
If you receive a information letter that denies your claim, you have 15 days from the date on the letter to request a hearing. You do this by mail, online, or by phone. The hearing is held before a hearing officer — not a judge, but a neutral person who listens to both sides and makes a decision.
At the hearing, you and your employer (or their representative) will explain what happened. You can bring documents like pay stubs, emails, text messages, or a written statement from a coworker. The hearing officer will ask you questions and then issue a decision within a few days. If you lose, you can appeal to the Appeals Court, but you must do so within 15 days of the hearing officer's decision.
If you disagree with your weekly benefit amount or think TWC made a math error, contact them by phone or through your online account. These disputes are handled differently than claim denials and do not require a hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file for unemployment if I was laid off due to lack of work?
Yes. A layoff or reduction in hours is one of the clearest reasons to file. TWC considers this a loss of work through no fault of your own. File as soon as your hours are cut or you are told you will not be called back.
What if I quit because my employer cut my pay or hours without warning?
You may have good cause to quit. TWC will look at whether the change was substantial and whether you asked your employer to restore your pay or hours before you left. If you quit when ready after a significant cut, you have a stronger case than if you waited weeks. Bring documentation of the change if you have it.
Do I have to report my job search to TWC every week?
You do not have to provide proof every week, but TWC can ask for it at any time. Keep records of where you applied, when, and the job title. If TWC asks and you cannot show you looked for work, they may deny your benefits for that week.
What happens if I find a new job while receiving unemployment?
Report your new job and your earnings on your weekly claim. TWC will reduce your benefit payment by the amount you earned, but you keep the difference. Once you earn enough in a week that your benefit is reduced to zero, you can stop filing weekly claims. Your claim will remain open for the rest of the benefit year if you need it again.
How long can I receive unemployment benefits in Texas?
The standard duration is 26 weeks of benefits. During periods of high unemployment, Texas may offer extended benefits for up to 13 additional weeks. TWC will tell you when your claim expires. You cannot receive benefits beyond the expiration date unless you file a new claim and meet the requirements again.