Whether through wage theft or simply failing to pay employees on time, there are a number of problems that can come about when businesses fail to give employees the money they have earned through their hard work.

A 2019 state law requiring schools to offer full-day pre-K is capturing child care’s most profitable customer base: 3- and 4-year-olds.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available for workers and self-employed individuals in 15 Texas counties affected by Hurricane Beryl, with applications due by September 9, 2024.

The Business Enterprises of Texas program offers visually impaired vendors food service contracts in government buildings.

Amid fears that AI could heighten bias or affect privacy, the state is forming an advisory committee to recommend how the technology is deployed. “We’re gonna have to set up some rules,” the committee’s founder says.

Texans who aren’t sure about college have several pathways to well-paying jobs. Here’s how those programs prepare people for careers when a four-year degree may not fit.

Lawmakers say their bills are needed to provide small businesses with consistent regulations and that regulatory power should be returned to the state. Labor groups say the proposal could undo hard-fought measures to protect workers.

Texas agencies say they are being hammered by a historic staffing crisis, particularly when it comes to those in the trenches serving the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Tribune energy and economy reporter Mitchell Ferman moderated a conversation with labor and economic development experts who discussed how COVID-19 has affected Texas’ economy and how businesses, workers and government have responded.

Cientos de miles de tejanos han presentado una solicitud de desempleo desde que la pandemia llegó a Texas en marzo de 2020. En esta entrevista la Comisión de la Fuerza Laboral de Texas respondió las preguntas más frecuentes.

The Texas Workforce Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Labor notified the commission that the state’s unemployment rate fell below the threshold needed to continue the benefits.

Allison Garcia of Baytown is looking for answers after someone stole her personal information and used it to bilk the state out of nearly $30,000.

The state's unemployment agency is ending that exemption June 26, when out-of-work Texans will also stop receiving an extra $300 in federal jobless benefits.

Many Texas mothers are ready to return to work, but a lack of child care is keeping them at home. Alicia Reed worries how she will provide for her four children after her federal unemployment benefits are cut at the end of June.

The unemployment rate in Texas was 6.9% in March, which is more than double the record low of 3.4% in May 2019. The extra $300 federal benefit will end June 26 for jobless Texans.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told the U.S. Department of Labor on Monday that Texas will opt out of further federal unemployment compensation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective June 26, 2021.

The Texas Workforce Commission said the number of suspicious unemployment claims reached hundreds of thousands last year.

HOUSTON – Harris County business owners said scammers filed for unemployment benefits in their name. Pauline Edgar has kept an extensive log of the countless times hackers tried to access her husband’s online business account. Edgar says their bank, Frost Bank, first contacted them last week after spotting unusual activity. “The first thing they tried to do was take money out of the company’s bank account through Zelle,” she said. We’re sitting here in Houston, Texas.”AdThe TWC told KPRC 2 that they cannot comment on a person’s claims for privacy reasons.

Fortunately, there are some COVID tax breaks and credits for people who fall into those categories. The form is for folks who earned money but didn’t pay taxes on those earnings. AARP volunteer tax preparer Bart Hatfield says those workers should have put aside some money to pay those taxes. AdYou will owe taxes on your unemployment benefitsLook out for your 1099 if you collected unemployment. You will owe taxes.

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.

Question: I’m still waiting on my additional $300 through the CARES Act Extension. Will I get benefits for the time that I’ve been waiting? Answer: According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), those who qualify for the additional $300 through the CARES Act Extension will have those benefits backdated. If you qualify for the add'l $300 through the CARES Act Extension, you will get those benefits backdated. pic.twitter.com/cljp1rbJMe — Texas Workforce Commission (@TXWorkforce) January 26, 2021According to its website, TWC will automatically enroll all Texans who are eligible for benefits under the CARES Act.

Regular unemployment benefits:This traditional unemployment program provides assistance for up to 26 weeks per year. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA):If you apply for unemployment and the workforce commission finds that you do not qualify for regular benefits, the agency should automatically consider you for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and enroll you if you are found eligible. Here, under the claim information section, you will see your claim type listed as: Regular Unemployment Benefits, Disaster Unemployment Benefits (for now, this is the same as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance), or Temporary Unemployment Benefits (extensions). If you have exhausted your Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and have not recently been on regular unemployment, you don’t qualify for any kind of extension. Unless Congress takes action to extend the pandemic unemployment benefits in the CARES Act, two programs will expire after Dec. 26: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC.

disqualifiedIf you receive notice that you’ve been disqualified from unemployment benefits, it means something has prevented you from receiving them. In Texas, DUA has become synonymous with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, during the coronavirus pandemic. Temporary Unemployment BenefitsPrograms that temporarily extend unemployment benefits are housed under this classification, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB) and High Unemployment Period (HUP). Programs that temporarily extend unemployment benefits are housed under this classification, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB) and High Unemployment Period (HUP). UI, UC, UA, UEUnemployment insurance, unemployment compensation, unemployment assistance, unemployment.

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.

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The Texas unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in September, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday, a sharp increase from the August unemployment rate of 6.8%. The announcement also shows that a lot of Texans are jobless seven months into the pandemic despite widespread business reopenings across the state. “What we saw with companies like the airlines and others is happening throughout the economy,” Rodriguez told The Texas Tribune. A spokesman for the workforce commission said next week’s release from the labor department will also show Texas' unemployment rate in September was 8.3%.

The Texas Workforce Commission says it overpaid $214 million in unemployment aid and sent out about 260,000 notices to people in hopes of recouping that money. A Texas Workforce Commission notice that the agency has determined someone was overpaid benefits. “I didn’t have a job.”Ahead of her initial hearing, Stevens was not told what she had done wrong. The workforce commission also ordered him to repay $5,210 in benefits it determined he should not have received. The judge was interested in discussing the University of Michigan’s involvement, but Stevens’ job loss concerned the college in Dallas.

HOUSTON – Imagine being laid off and finally receiving notification that your unemployment insurance claim has been approved. For the millions of Texans who have been unemployed due to the pandemic, that approval is great news. RELATED LINK: Texas unemployment numbersBut what if you didn’t file that claim, and someone else is using your name to commit unemployment insurance fraud and receive your benefits? First, filing unemployment is done virtually -- either over the phone -- and that has created an opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of victims like Smith, by using their identity to file unemployment insurance claims. RESOURCES: How to report unemployment insurance fraud | Fraud hotline: (800) 252-3642 | Email: TWC.fraud@TWC.state.tx.usBernsen said the agency’s main focus is getting legitimate claims paid, so representatives can’t call back every fraud case reported.

When Christine Brill’s unemployment benefits from the Texas Workforce Commission suddenly plummeted this summer, she tried calling the agency to find out what happened. Nearly 350,000 Texans didn’t initially qualify for that extra money, including some who failed to originally indicate they had lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Brill is too anxious to do anything, but takes it one day at a time while Congress sits in a stalemate. In April, during a monthlong statewide shutdown, Texas’ unemployment rate ballooned to more than 13% — four-times what it was in January. With potential evictions and utility cut-offs looming in the coming months, Rodriguez is worried this fall could be devastating.

HOUSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency ended the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program, which provided an additional $300 a week to qualified unemployment recipients impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release. FEMA previously approved TWC funding requests for the benefits weeks between Aug. 1 to Sept. 5. Recipients will continue to receive normal weekly benefit amounts for any benefit weeks for which they are eligible. The Lost Wages Assistance Program was a temporary provision established after the expiration of the $600 Federal Pandemic Assistance Program, a part of the CARES Act. For more information on eligibility requirements, available benefits and questions about the unemployment process, visit TWC’s COVID-19 FAQ page.

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.

Here are things you need to know for Tuesday, August 25:1. Tracking the tropics: Laura strengthens to hurricane as it enters Gulf of MexicoThe Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts are watching the tropics closely, as Hurricane Laura churns through the Gulf of Mexico. Right now, coastal areas between Houston and Southwestern Louisiana are the most likely to get a direct hit. Neighbors who live there were not happy to see Maliyahs mother and boyfriend return to the property with Houston activist Quanell X. Those Texans could change their status when filling out future payment requests, Gamez said, and could then qualify for the extra $300 payments.

More than 1.7 million Texans are receiving unemployment benefits during the recession, but more than 347,000 don't qualify for an extra $300 a week that could start this week. Those Texans could change their status when filling out future payment requests, Gamez said, and could then qualify for the extra $300 payments. In total, about 1.7 million Texans are currently receiving unemployment benefits, Gamez said, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend businesses across the state. Since Trump announced the extra weekly payments in early August, Texans have said theyve been confused about whether, and when, they will receive the money. But for the approximately 347,700 Texans who do not qualify, they will continue to see the same unemployment payments theyve been receiving in August, after the extra $600 weekly payments expired.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Would I qualify for unemployment if I quit my job due to school being virtual this year? Answer: According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), workers who choose to quit their job for personal reasons, such as staying home with a child, are ineligible to receive unemployment benefits. KPRC 2 recognizes working parents are challenged by school districts decisions to start the year only offering virtual instruction; here are some resources that we hope can help. Many daycares have created learning pods offering help with virtual instruction.

(TEXAS TRIBUNE) – The Texas Workforce Commission paid out over $20 million in benefits Thursday to those who are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. The federal program allows people who are self-employed, freelancers or seeking part-time employment to be eligible for benefits. This week, the commission converted 145,000 unemployment claims to the PUA program, comprising about 40% of the more than 365,000 new claims this week, commission spokesman Cisco Gamez said at a media briefing Friday. Workers eligible for PUA must submit their 2019 tax forms to the commission by Dec. 26. Once the tax forms are received, the Texas Workforce Commission verifies past wages, and workers might become eligible for more weekly benefits, which can be backdated, Gamez said.

If Congress doesn’t extend the $600 benefit, that will leave many Texans getting anywhere from $69 to $521 per week in unemployment benefits. Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz opposes extending the weekly $600 payments. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s office said the Texas senator supports extending unemployment assistance but did not specify whether he supports extending the weekly $600 payments. “And that's not good.”Economists say the end of the weekly $600 payments will lead to Texans with less spending money to fuel an economic recovery. Mason fears what will happen if the weekly $600 payments end Saturday and he is still working reduced hours.

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.

Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneWorkers who lost their jobs and received overpayments from the Texas Workforce Commission wont have to pay back those unemployment benefits if it was the states mistake, commission officials now say. The agency is seeking $32 million in unemployment benefits back. If TWC finds unemployment fraud in a case, the person has to give back the benefits and pay a 15% penalty. More than 117,244 people applied for unemployment claims last week, an increase of 21.4% compared to the week before. Since mid-March, nearly 2.8 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in Texas.

HOUSTON – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seen a spike in pandemic-related unemployment claims filed using stolen personal information. A Friendswood man is among the victims. Jason Holter received letters from the Texas Workforce Commission about an unemployment benefits claims he never filed. “It said, ‘here’s what you’re eligible for per week.‘”The TWC fraud department told Holter to file a police reporter, and he did with the Friendswood Police Department. “Meantime, I sent an email to HR and just said hey, I just got this stuff in the mail and I assume someone is trying to file unemployment,” Holter said.

HOUSTON Texas is attempting to recoup unemployment payments after mistakenly sending them to thousands of Texans amid the pandemic. The Texas Workforce Commission, an agency that oversees unemployment benefits, estimates that it overpaid by $32 million, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday. The commission has sent 46,000 notices to people, saying they were overpaid or ineligible to receive benefits. But she received a notice in June, saying she has to pay back $1,800 because teachers are not eligible to receive unemployment during summer break. The commission also noted that it is not deducting over payments from claimants benefits during the pandemic.

Here are things you need to know for Tuesday, July 7:1. The overpayments, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, are estimated to be more than $32 million in total since March. The nurses protested outside Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital as they marched along McKaye Avenue. Metallica donating $50,000 to Lone Star College students who will take part in high-demand programsMetallica is donating $50,000 in scholarship money to Lone Star College students in high-demand programs. This is the second year in a row Metallica has provided scholarships to students attending Lone Star College.

Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneMore than 46,000 Texans who lost their jobs in recent months are having portions of their unemployment benefits clawed back after the Texas Workforce Commission found that they were initially overpaid. State law requires TWC to recover all unemployment benefits overpayments, Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the state agency, said in an email. If TWC finds unemployment fraud in a case, the person has to give back the benefits and pay a 15% penalty. "We cannot pay you benefits if you have an overpayment," Gamez said. There is no statute of limitations on debts owed to the state, Gamez said on an email.

FORT BEND COUNTY A Fort Bend County man is one of possibly thousands of Texans caught in unemployment limbo. Some residents, who were working outside of the state before COVID-19, are struggling to apply for unemployment insurance in the state where they were employed. Since hes been unable to file with Georgia, he also cant apply for federal unemployment, which is predicated on enrolling in and receiving state unemployment. Nearly 58,000 Texans have filed for out of state wages since March 1st, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. This story is bigger than me.The Texas Workforce Commission said anyone who has worked out-of-state can contact them to inquire about their filing options.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Workforce Commission announced Tuesday the job search requirement for those collecting unemployment benefits has been paused again. Officials announced last week that the requirement would be reinstated on July 6. However, on Tuesday they announced the requirement would again be paused while they reevaluate policies regarding reinstatement. “Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Texas, TWC has decided to pause the return of work search requirements at this time,” said Ed Serna, executive director of TWC. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make further recommendations in late July.”The number of coronavirus cases has been increasing for the past couple of weeks.

The Texas Workforce Commission Building in Austin on March 30, 2020. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneThe Texas Workforce Commission decided Tuesday to postpone reinstating a work-search requirement for out-of-work Texans receiving unemployment benefits. The requirement that Texans be actively searching for a job in order to receive benefits was initially slated to go into effect Monday. Gamez originally defended the July 6 reinstatement of the work-search requirement, noting that the searches can be performed remotely in order to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Work search activities can be completed at home without potential exposure to COVID-19, he wrote in a June 16 email to the Texas Tribune.

HOUSTON – As Texas continues smashing unemployment records, many people who are out of work are still struggling to find jobs, file claims, and collect benefits. Since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Texas in March, the Texas Workforce Commission says it’s helped more than 3.4 million Texans file for unemployment insurance and paid out $14.4 billion in benefits. Scott Leonard, 60, of Seabrook is a former petrochemical project manager who has been waiting six weeks for benefits. “Oh I’ve called at least a hundred times or more, every day, different times of the day,” he said. A spokesperson tells us while the agency is still slammed with applications, the unemployment crisis in Texas is improving.

HOUSTON The Texas Workforce Commission is reinstating the work search requirement for those receiving unemployment benefits. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, there are more than 530,000 jobs available in Texas on WorkInTexas.com. Unemployed workersIn order to continue receiving benefits, unemployed workers must show an active effort to obtain new employment. The work search requirement does not mean workers must accept their first job offer. Self-employed workersThose who are self-employed do not need to register on WorkinTexas.com nor complete work search requirements.

The Texas Workforce Commission decided Tuesday to restore its work search requirement beginning July 6. The TWC also noted that work search is federally required for unemployment benefits, and that such benefits are intended to provide temporary relief, rather than a permanent solution, to jobless individuals. The work search requirement does not mean workers must take the first job available, according to a TWC press release. Keep good records and save your work search documentation, the Commission wrote in a Tuesday press release. Three work search activities could be going on WorkinTexas.com and searching for jobs three different times, he said.

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.

More than 2.2 million Texans have filed unemployment claims as the economy is being battered by limited statewide commerce during the pandemic and a downturn in the states massive energy industry. On Thursday morning, the TWC is expected to release the number of people who filed unemployment claims last week. Esther Griffins unemployment claim was approved shortly after she filed in early April. Griffins employer reopened, but she couldnt return to work because she didnt have the money needed to send her youngest child to day care since she went weeks without a paycheck or unemployment benefits. Without unemployment benefits, they might have to defer payments for April, May and June to the end of their 30-year mortgage.

The U.S. Department of Labor notified the Texas Workforce Commission on Monday that the state triggered what's called State Extended Benefits, which provides 13 additional weeks of unemployment aid. That comes after a federal coronavirus relief bill previously extended some unemployment benefits for 13 weeks under what's called Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. The first week Texans could start receiving these newest extended benefits is the week ending July 4, which is 13 weeks after the PEUC extension took effect in the state. People must first exhaust the standard 26 weeks, plus the additional 13 weeks under PEUC, before receiving the additional 13 weeks of extended benefits, said Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the commission. PEUC is also what allows Texans to receive an additional $600 in benefits per week for up to 13 weeks.

Another 134,381 Texans filed for unemployment last week. Since the week ending March 14, just shy of 2.1 million Texans have filed for benefits. This week’s claims are down 5.1% from the week ending May 9, when just over 140,000 Texans filed for unemployment. But as some Texans return to work, it’ll likely take some time before the economy rebounds. The Texas Workforce Commission, which handles the state’s unemployment claims, voted Tuesday to phase out child care subsidies for low-income and essential workers.

If your application was denied, you may need to resubmit it with additional information about yourself and your past employers. You may also have to file an appeal and back up your claim with documents if needed. You quit your job for non-COVID-19 reasonsFilers won’t be penalized if they had to quit due to COVID-19 concerns or exposure. You left important information out of your applicationMaybe you left out certain job history in your application, or miscounted the earnings you reported. This can conflict with unemployment benefits and will result in a denied application, The Motley Fool reported.

The Texas Workforce Commission paid out over $20 million in benefits Thursday to those who are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. The federal program allows people who are self-employed, freelancers or seeking part-time employment to be eligible for benefits. This week, the commission converted 145,000 unemployment claims to the PUA program, comprising about 40% of the more than 365,000 new claims this week, commission spokesman Cisco Gamez said at a media briefing Friday. Workers eligible for PUA must submit their 2019 tax forms to the commission by Dec. 26. Once the tax forms are received, the Texas Workforce Commission verifies past wages, and workers might become eligible for more weekly benefits, which can be backdated, Gamez said.

For more than a month, Kay has made this trip hoping to find her unemployment check in the mail. The numbers of people calling the TWC and applying for unemployment benefits are staggering. On Tuesday, the latest figures show over 2.2 million Texans have now applied for unemployment through the agency. Just Monday, in one day, the TWC received 43,963 claims for unemployment through its online portal. As for Kay, she is just going to continue to call and monitor her online TWC account and hope she will see her unemployment claim approved soon.

We are posting those answers here in hopes of clearing up confusion on the process of applying for and receiving unemployment benefits. First, if you need to file for unemployment benefits, there are two ways to do that. If you want to know how much you will receive if you are approved for unemployment benefits, you can use the TWC’s Unemployment Benefits Estimator. If you are already signed up and qualified for Texas unemployment benefits, no action is needed from you. If you are already signed up and qualified for Texas unemployment benefits, no action is needed from you.

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.

Like hundreds of thousands of other Texans, Williams has worked at British Airways for 30 years and was suddenly out of work. Malissa filed for unemployment benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission that same day. Williams and dozens of other KPRC 2 viewers had many concerns regarding the Texas unemployment benefits. 1VIEWER: What is the Texas Workforce Commission doing to help people get help through their phone lines and online? What can I do to speed up my unemployment payment?

Texans who are self-employed or independent workers no longer have to sit on hold with the unemployment office. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has set up a new system for self-employed individuals and contractors to apply for pandemic unemployment assistance online. These individuals can submit wage verification documents, 1040, Schedule C, F or SE, to TWC by mail, fax, or email. Box 149137 Austin, TX 78714-9137Fax: 512-936-3250Email: sanantonio.uimail@twc.state.tx.us

HOUSTON – As the coronavirus pandemic has caused a great economical crisis, many workers have been laid-off or are not receiving pay during business closures. If you’re worried about missing a mortgage payment, contact your lender immediately. Numerous banks have said they are willing to work with distressed borrowers, including potentially suspending or reducing mortgage payments for a stretch. TAA advises renters to communicate with their property manager if they find themselves unable to pay rent. According to the association, they have encouraged rental property owners to waive late fees and set up a payment plan for residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

As many non-essential businesses have been forced to close indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic, some employers have laid-off their staff. Due to the influx of shoppers who are emptying shelves, many stores around Houston are in need of more staff to keep business running soundly. Applying for unemploymentJobless workers can apply for unemployment benefits online or by calling the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Eligibility for unemployment benefits evaluated by TWC based on the following criteria:Past wages“Your past wages are one of the eligibility requirements and the basis of your potential unemployment benefit amounts. We use the taxable wages, earned in Texas, your employer(s) have reported paying you during your base period to calculate your benefits.

HOUSTON – Millions around the country are filing for unemployment after being laid off or furloughed as the economy grinds to a halt. She was furloughed last weekend has been trying to get through to the Texas Workforce Commission. And then this morning, I got the recording that said due to the high volume we’re not accepting calls at this time,” Klovenski said. The TWC Executive director, Ed Serna, is also hosting a Facebook Live Q&A addressing the coronavirus and unemployment questions. The Facebook live will take place Wednesday March 25 on the TWC Facebook page.

Claims for unemployment have flooded the Texas Workforce Commission’s website and phone lines. Here is what you need to know:- Eligibility for unemployment is determined on a case by case basis, but if you were fired for cause by your employer, you can not collect unemployment. - Gamez says whether you are full time, part-time, furloughed or just had your hours reduced because of the coronavirus, you should apply for unemployment. The maximum amount of time you could receive unemployment is 26 weeks. If you want to know how much you would receive in unemployment benefits, this estimator tool can give you an estimate.

HOUSTON – The Texas Workforce Commission has waived requirements to file for unemployment for those individuals who have recently lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. A page full of resources went live earlier this week on twc.texas.gov for both employers and job seekers who are looking for unemployment information while they are out of work. During the pandemic, TWC will waive work search requirements for job seekers. Individuals who lost their job through no fault of their own with reportable past wages can file for unemployment. How to file for unemployment:The quickest way to send your claim is on their online portal, Unemployment Benefits Service.