How Much Unemployment Pays in Texas
How Texas calculates weekly unemployment benefits, the current minimum and maximum, and how many weeks you can collect.
Short answer: Your weekly benefit amount is the wages in your highest-paid base-period quarter divided by 25, rounded to the nearest dollar. For claims starting on or after October 4, 2026, it ranges from $76 to $619 a week. TWC, Eligibility & Benefit Amounts, "Weekly Benefit Amount" and "Minimum and Maximum Weekly Benefit Amounts from 2010 to Present"
| Weekly benefit amount | Your weekly benefit amount is the wages in your highest-paid base-period quarter divided by 25, rounded to the nearest dollar. For claims starting on or after October 4, 2026, it ranges from $76 to $619 a week. For claims starting October 5, 2025 through October 3, 2026, the range was $75 to $605. Maximum $619 per week, effective October 4, 2026. |
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| How many weeks | Your maximum benefit amount is the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or 27% of your total base-period wages, so up to 26 weeks. Your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from the Sunday of the week you applied. |
| Waiting week | Yes. TWC does not pay the first week of your claim (the waiting week) until you return to full-time work or use up your benefits. If you go back to full-time work first, you must ask TWC for the waiting week payment through Unemployment Benefits Services or Tele-Serv (800-558-8321). |
Where to get help in Texas
More Texas unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Texas Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Texas
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Texas
- Unemployment After Quitting in Texas
- How to File for Unemployment in Texas
- All Texas unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How much is unemployment in Texas?
Your weekly benefit amount is the wages in your highest-paid base-period quarter divided by 25, rounded to the nearest dollar. For claims starting on or after October 4, 2026, it ranges from $76 to $619 a week. For claims starting October 5, 2025 through October 3, 2026, the range was $75 to $605.
How long can you get unemployment in Texas?
Your maximum benefit amount is the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or 27% of your total base-period wages, so up to 26 weeks. Your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from the Sunday of the week you applied.
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Texas?
Yes. TWC does not pay the first week of your claim (the waiting week) until you return to full-time work or use up your benefits. If you go back to full-time work first, you must ask TWC for the waiting week payment through Unemployment Benefits Services or Tele-Serv (800-558-8321).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.