HOUSTON – If you collected unemployment in 2020, you could get a bigger tax refund. Usually, when you collect unemployment, you have to pay federal income tax on that money. This year, you do not have to pay taxes on $10,200 of those benefits if you earned less than $150,000. Mary Bynum emailed consumer expert Amy Davis, writing, “I collected unemployment in 2020 and filed my return and received my refund in mid-February. On the IRS website, the agency explains what forms you should use and file if you are doing your taxes yourself to get the tax break.

HOUSTON – If you collected unemployment benefits that ran out within the last few months, check your email. Congress approved the funding in December, but it has taken the Texas Workforce Commission time to let people know it is available. You can begin requesting payments again,’” explained TWC’s James Bernsen. “When people stop requesting payments, they’re essentially telling us ‘I don’t need payments. I have a job or don’t need payments anymore,’” said Bernsen.

HOUSTON – Big changes are coming for the 5.6 million Texans who have filed unemployment claims since mid-March. It’s called the “work search” requirement. You can find a list of all approved work search activities here. Keep a log of all of your work search activities so you can show it to the state when asked. When the new work requirement takes effect, it will free up space for those children whose parents are working and need some help.

HOUSTON – Hundreds of thousands of Texans are now receiving $300 a week in addition to their unemployment benefits from the state. These are federal FEMA funds used in the Lost Wages Assistance program passed by President Trump after the $600 weekly boost from the feds expired at the end of July. Q: Who qualifies for the Lost Wages Assistance program and the weekly $300 benefit? A: If you are already receiving unemployment benefits, you do NOT need to do anything to receive the extra $300 dollars from the Lost Wages Assistance program. To start or stop federal tax withholding for unemployment benefit payments:• Choose your withholding option when you apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefits Services.

HOUSTON – One week from this Saturday, the amount of money many Texans on unemployment get will go way down. Texans collecting unemployment get an average of $349 from the state each week. If you don’t fall into one of those categories, but you refuse to return to work, you will likely lose your benefits. Online, the Texas Workforce Commission is asking employers to report employees who have refused to return to work. Texas Workforce Solutions hosts virtual job fairs frequently.

Consumer expert Amy Davis is answering some of the most common questions she’s getting about the application process. A: Usually in Texas, you can only collect unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. A: When a claimant applies for unemployment benefits TWC sends the last employer a “Notice of Application for Unemployment Benefits” that asks the employer to provide information regarding why the claimant lost their job. If an employer does not respond or does not respond on time, they can lose their right to appeal any decision TWC makes about the claim. TWC does not reach out to the employer if they do not respond on time or at all.

HOUSTON – The Texas Workforce Commission is continuing to see an unprecedented number of unemployment claims. Edward Serna, the TWC executive director, said the number of claims in March surpassed Hurricane Harvey's 60,000 unemployment applications, which at the time was the highest number of unemployment claims the state had seen. This is incredible in the history of the state," Serna said. Serna said the commission has turned to the federal government for help with its unemployment fund. Workforce Solutions offices across the state are holding virtual job fairs and working on matching employers with job seekers.