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Overview
If you have received all of your 26 weeks of state-paid regular unemployment benefits and you may be eligible for federal extended unemployment benefits, we will notify you by mail. Be sure to change your address with us as needed to ensure that you receive notices. You cannot apply or qualify for extended benefits before exhausting your current regular benefits.
Continue to submit your Payment Request when scheduled, even after you have exhausted your regular benefits so that we can pay you benefits for all weeks that you are eligible.
Texas qualifies to pay two benefit extension periods, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier 1 and Tier 2. Funding for these benefits is scheduled to expire on December 28, 2013.
View chart showing weeks of extended unemployment benefits & deadlines for EUC
Eligibility for Extended Benefits
To be eligible for any extended benefits, you must:
- Be unemployed or working reduced hours.
- Be able and available for full-time work.
- Have base period wages equal to or exceeding 40 times your weekly benefit amount. (If your regular claim pays 26 weeks of benefits, you meet this qualification.)
- Have no regular benefits remaining on your most recent claim, or the claim year must be expired.
- Have filed your claim for regular benefits on or after May 7, 2006.
- Not be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new regular claim in Texas, in any other state or Canada.
- If you are eligible for a new regular claim that pays less than your extended benefits claim, we will determine if you are to continue receiving EUC instead of regular benefits.
EUC Tier 1 and 2 Requirements
Additional eligibility requirements:
- Tier 1: You must exhaust regular benefits by December 21, 2013, and your EUC Tier 1 claim must begin by December 22, 2013.
- Tier 2: You must exhaust Tier 1 by December 21, 2013.
Work Search & Availability Requirements
If you are required to look for work, you must continue making your minimum work search activities each week. In addition:
- You are required to participate in special reemployment assessment activities with the Workforce Solutions office, unless you have attended similar services within the last three months.
- You are required to seek and accept work you are capable of performing.
- You may be required to submit your work search log.
How and When to Apply
Continue to submit your Payment Request when scheduled, even after you have exhausted your regular benefits so that we can pay you benefits for all weeks that you are eligible.
Tier 1
After you exhaust your regular benefits, we mail you a Tier 1 application to complete and return. When we receive your Emergency Unemployment Compensation application we will determine your eligibility. You cannot apply for Tier 1 before you exhaust regular benefits.
Tier 2
If you currently receive Tier 1 benefits, you do not need to apply for Tier 2. If you exhaust Tier 1 by December 21, 2013, we will automatically add Tier 2 benefits to your claim. We cannot add Tier 2 to your claim before you exhaust Tier 1 benefits.
End of Extended Benefits
Regardless of any balance in your Emergency Unemployment Compensation claim, you only have until December 28, 2013 to receive payment of those funds.
Benefits & Key Dates
If eligible, you must use all regular benefits before you can receive Tier 1 and then Tier 2 Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). The table below shows the current payable amounts. Amounts and dates have varied in the past, based on legislation.
| Benefit Type | Regular Benefits | EUC Tier 1 | EUC Tier 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment Amounts | Up to 26 weeks at maximum benefit amount | 14 weeks or 54% of your regular claim’s maximum benefit, whichever is less* | 14 weeks or 54% of your regular claim’s maximum benefit, whichever is less* |
| Key Dates | ---- | Must exhaust regular benefits by December 21, 2013. Available balance may be paid through December 28, 2013 |
Must exhaust Tier 1 benefits by December 21, 2013 Available balance may be paid through December 28, 2013 |
| Funding | Paid by employer taxes | 100% federally funded | 100% federally funded |
* On March 1, 2013, mandatory federal spending cuts (known as "sequestration") went into effect. These spending cuts reduce the amount of EUC you will receive by 10.7%, beginning with the payment for the benefit week ending April 6, 2013. These cuts reduce both your weekly benefit and the total amount EUC you may receive. EUC recipients will receive a letter explaining the reduction.
Note: Beginning January 6, 2013, TWC is not eligible to pay EUC Tier 3. If you qualified for Tier 3 by January 5, 2013, you may continue to receive the balance remaining on your EUC claim. In addition, TWC was not eligible to pay EUC Tier 3 from July 8, 2012, through October 6, 2012.
Possibility of Further Extensions
Congress can enact legislation to create further benefits extensions at any time. If another extension occurs that affects your eligibility after you exhaust your current benefits, we will notify you by mail. Be sure to change your address with us as needed.
Texas Unemployment Rate & Extended Benefits
See Unemployment News for updates and current information.