While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Texas’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Texas, you must:
Learn more about Texas’s monetary requirements and personal eligibility requirements here.
You can also learn more about ongoing eligibility here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Texas, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Texas Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Texas’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the Texas Tele-Center at 800-939-6631.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, call the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Tele-Serv line at 800-558-8321. This service is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:00PM.
To speak with a representative at the TWC Tele-Center, call 800-939-6631.This service is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:00PM.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Texas. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 25 and rounds it to the nearest dollar.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Texas is $73. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $577.
Learn more about Texas’s base period and how benefits are calculated here.
You can also use the TWC benefit calculator found here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Biweekly Request for Payment through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week and how to file requests for benefit payments here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Biweekly Request for Payment every other week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This biweekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the biweekly request for payment here. File your biweekly request here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit a letter of appeal online, in person or by fax.
Your appeal request should include:
You can also download an Appeal Form here.
To file an appeal in person, find a local TWC Office near you here.
To fax your appeal to the Texas Workforce Commission, dial this number: (512) 475-1135.
To file an appeal online, click here.
Remember to continue requesting benefit payments biweekly in the Texas claims system while you wait for your appeal decision.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Texas Tele-Serv system at (800) 558-8321.
The Tele-Serv line is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00AM to 6:00PM, except for the observed holidays listed here.
You can also visit or call a local TWC Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location and contact information here
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Texas Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Tele-Serv line at 800-558-8321. This service is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:00PM.
To speak with a representative at the TWC Tele-Center, call 800-939-6631.This service is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:00PM.
If you have questions about appeals, call the commission appeal line at 800-432-4218. You can also learn more about the appeals process here.
Texas has several TWC Job Service centers that can help you with reemployment opportunities. You can find a Job Service center near you by clicking here, entering your ZIP code and selecting “Job Seeker Services.”
To find more information on Texas Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about Employer Unemployment Insurance:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Texas, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Texas Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Texas’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the Texas Tele-Center at 800-939-6631.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, call the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Tele-Serv line at 800-558-8321. This service is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:00PM.
To speak with a representative at the TWC Tele-Center, call 800-939-6631.This service is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:00PM.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Texas Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the TWC’s Tele-Serve line at (800) 558-8321 and selecting option 2.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Request for Benefit Payment through the claimant portal here or by phone at (800) 558-8321, and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week and requesting benefit payments biweekly here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit a letter of appeal online, in person or by fax.
Your appeal request should include:
You can also download an Appeal Form here.
To file an appeal in person, find a local TWC Office near you here.
To fax your appeal to the Texas Workforce Commission, dial this number: (512) 475-1135.
To file an appeal online, click here.
Remember to continue requesting benefit payments biweekly in the Texas claims system while you wait for your appeal decision.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Texas Tele-Serv system at (800) 558-8321.
The Tele-Serv line is available Sunday through Saturday from 7:00AM to 6:00PM, except for the observed holidays listed here.
You can also visit or call a local TWC Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.