COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if I lose my job or my work hours are cut due to COVID-19?
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if I am a contractor, a self-employed worker, or a gig worker and I lose my job or my work hours are cut due to COVID-19?
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if my employer sends me home due to COVID-19?
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if I refuse to return to work due to COVID-19?
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if my employer reduced my hours due to COVID-19?
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if I stay home to care for a sick family member?
- How do I apply for unemployment benefits?
- What information do I need to apply for benefits?
- How much will I get if I am approved for benefits?
- If I am approved when will my benefits start?
- Where can I search for a new job?
- Do I have to look for a new job to get unemployment benefits?
- Am I eligible for unemployment benefits if I lose my job for a reason unrelated to COVID-19?
- How long do I have to wait before I can apply for benefits?
- I run a business and had to lay off employees due to COVID-19. Will I have to pay money toward my employees' unemployment benefits?
- I need information on increased unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 crisis.
This article was written by Texas Legal Services Center and applies only to COVID-19 related employment issues.
Yes, you should be eligible for unemployment benefits if you lose your job or your hours are reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Texas Workforce Commission has provided more information about qualifying job separation scenarios here. Review these scenarios to determine how COVID-19 may affect eligibility.
Yes, as a result of the federal stimulus packages, you should be eligible for employment benefits if you lose your job or your hours are reduced due to COVID-19 even if you are a contractor, a self-employed worker, or a gig worker.
The Texas Workforce Commission has specific information about what documentation you will need to provide as a contractor, self-employment worker, or a gig worker. You can find more information here.
If you are not getting paid your regular full pay and do not have paid leave or not enough paid leave to cover the time off, you may be eligible.
Under normal circumstances, a worker who refuses suitable work may not receive unemployment benefits. Because of the circumstances created by COVID-19, the TWC announced on June 16, 2020 that eligible workers may still receive unemployment benefits if they refuse to return to work because of any of the following reasons:
"Reason for refusal:
- People 65 years or older, and/or people with medical issues, like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or a weakened immune system, or are at a higher risk for getting very sick from COVID‑19. (Source: DSHS website)
- Household member at high risk – People 65 years or older or are at a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 (source DSHS website).
- Diagnosed with COVID - the individual has tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas and is not recovered.
- Family member with COVID - anybody in the household has tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas and is not recovered and 14 days have not yet passed.
- Quarantined – individual is currently in 14-day quarantine due to close contact exposure to COVID-19.
- Child care – Child’s school or daycare closed and no reasonable alternatives are available.
Any other situation will be subject to a case by case review by the Texas Workforce Commission based on individual circumstances."
Yes. If you are placed on reduced hours, you may be eligible for partial unemployment.
You may be eligible if you lose your job and the family member you are caring for is a sick child. You may not be eligible if the family member is an adult.
If your employment has been affected by COVID-19, apply for benefits either online at any time using Unemployment Benefits Services or by calling TWC’s Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday.
TWC is experiencing an increase in call volumes and hold times. You are encouraged to use their online claim portal, Unemployment Benefits Services (UBS), to handle your claim needs quickly.
Texas AFL CIO has also created a "how to" guide for navigating unemployment benefit applications. View it here.
To get started you will need:
- Social Security Number
- Last employer's business name, address and phone number
- First and last dates you worked for your last employer
- Number of hours worked and pay rate at the time you apply
- Military employment (service) start/end dates and a copy of your DD Form 214(s) if you served in the military during the past 18 months
- Your alien registration number, if not a U.S. citizen or national
The amount you get in unemployment benefits varies. You can estimate your unemployment benefits online.
If you are receiving income from a pension, annuity, or retirement income, this may affect how much you receive in unemployment benefits.
TWC is processing claims as quickly as possible, but it can take at least four weeks to determine if you are eligible for benefits. Governor Abbott granted the Texas Workforce Commission’s request to suspend the one-week waiting period. You will be able to receive benefits immediately after your unemployment benefit application is approved.
You can search for jobs at WorkInTexas.com. Although you normally have to look for work when receiving unemployment, that requirement has been temporarily paused (as of June 30, 2020). Visit the Texas Workforce Commission web site for the latest. The Commission announced that it expects to make further recommendations in late July 2020.
Currently, there is no job search requirement to receive unemployment benefits. This is true whether or not you lost your job due to COVID-19. Originally, beginning July 6, 2020, the job search requirement was set to resume. But the Texas Workforce Commission, on June 30, 2020, paused the work search requirement.
If you lose your job for another reason, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits. Learn more about benefits at the TWC site and these TexasLawHelp articles.
You should apply immediately if you lost your job due to COVID-19.
There is usually a one week waiting period, but the Texas Workforce Commission has waived that requirement for those who have lost their job due to COVID-19.
No. There are no charges to employers for COVID-19 unemployment claims.
Lone Star Legal Aid published new information on increased unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 crisis. This informaiton is accuarate as of 5/6/2020. Click here to access the information.