Apply at Texas Workforce Commission Unemployment Benefits Services
Unless you are certain that you are not eligible, let the state make the determination. Reasons you may be deemed ineligible:
- You voluntarily quit your job. Note: if you can show that you were forced to quit due to issues with the work environment you may still be deemed eligible for unemployment benefits.
- You were fired for cause; this includes doing anything illegal even if charges are not filed or against a legal company policy.
- Your employer was legally exempt from paying unemployment insurance and did not pay into the system. This may come up if your employer was a non-profit.
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Unemployment Insurance Benefits specialists can answer questions about unemployment. Go to TWC’s web site or call 800-939-6631. Call shortly after 8 a.m. or between 4:30 and 5 p.m. weekdays to get through faster.
Get a copy of the Texas Workforce Commission Unemployment Benefits Handbook for complete, official information on the program here.
Register at workintexas.com
This is the official job search site of the Texas Workforce Commission. You are required to register with this site within three business days after applying for unemployment benefits.
If you receive a notice about a Job Match Alert, go to your WorkInTexas home page and look under the Memo Board for the link to the Job Match Alert link. Failure to open a Job Match Alert within 14 days could impact your unemployment benefits.
Find Your Local Workforce Solutions Office
Workforce Solutions offers assistance with your job search, workshops, programs, military veterans’ services, and access to computers, printers, fax machines and phones. For questions related to unemployment insurance benefits, contact the Texas Workforce Commission at 800-939-6631.
Attend at least one workshop on getting better matches with the WorkInTexas.com site. It is a balancing act between getting matches that are not appropriate for you and not getting matches that are.
Join the HIREDTexas Mailing List
Join our mailing list to keep up with our activities. Expect one e-mail each week informing you of the upcoming weekly presentation topic and important announcements. You'll also get the occasional special e-mail if there's an important announcement we need to make between regular mailings. All demographic information we collect is for internal use creating new programs. It will never be sold.
All of our Career Action Team meetings, small group Forums, and the weekly meeting count as contacts for unemployment. They shouldn't be your only contacts, but when you're just starting out, you'll want as much help as you can find to work on your marketing plan, resume, LinkedIn profile, interviewing skills, and other things.
Attend our Newcomers Forum for additional information on our services to see which ones you want to take advantage of.
Review our list of other local resources for information on careers, salaries, and job seeker, educational, and health related resources in the area.
Request Payment of Benefits
Once your unemployment benefits application has been approved, remember to submit a payment request every two weeks. If you do not submit the request, you will not receive your benefits. If you find a job before your benefits run out, you need to specifically request payment for your waiting week, your first week of unemployment, when you return to work.
