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Overview
To continue to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must meet all of the requirements listed below and explained in detail later on this page:
- Meet all work search requirements, unless we exempt you from work search
- Request payment for weeks of unemployment, when scheduled
- Be physically and mentally able to work
- Be available for full-time work
- Participate in reemployment activities as required
- Respond to requests from TWC or a Workforce Solutions office as instructed
Work Search Requirements
You must:
- Register for work in the state where you reside
- Search for work
- Document your work search activities
- Apply for and accept suitable full-time work
To learn more about your work search requirements, go to the Work Search Requirements for Unemployment Benefits page.
Payment Requests
While you are totally or partially unemployed, submit a payment request online or by phone every two weeks for the previous two-week period. You must request payment within the calendar week your request is due or your payment may be delayed or denied.
When requesting payment, you will answer several questions regarding your work and earnings and whether you met eligibility requirements during the claim period. You must then certify that your responses are true and complete.
For more information, visit our Request Benefit Payments page.
Ability to Work
You must be able to perform full-time work to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Being able to work means that you are physically and mentally able to perform the work you are seeking. You must have the health, endurance, and other physical and mental requirements necessary to perform suitable full-time work for which you are qualified or can readily learn to perform, and which exists in your job search area.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Tell us if you apply for or receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. If you are on SSDI, able to work part time, and seeking part-time work, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. If you are applying for SSDI and are not able to work full time, you may not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
Availability for Work
You must be available for full-time work to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Being available for work means that you are ready, willing and able to accept any suitable full-time work. You must:
- Have adequate transportation
- Have adequate child care arrangements to allow you to work, if applicable
- Be available for job interviews
- Be willing and able to work all the days and hours required for the type of work you are seeking
- Be willing to accept the usual rate of pay for a person of your qualifications and experience
Participation in Required Reemployment Activities
If we identify you as someone likely to exhaust unemployment benefits, we will require you to participate in reemployment services. If you need to participate, staff from your local Workforce Solutions office will contact you.
If you do not participate in reemployment services as required, your benefit payments will be delayed or denied.
Required Contact - Call or Report as Instructed
We may contact you by mail or phone and instruct you to call the TWC Tele-Center at 800-939-6631. Your local Workforce Solutions office also may contact you for job referrals or to participate in mandatory reemployment services.
If you do not contact TWC by phone or mail or report to a Workforce Solutions Office when requested, we may deny or delay your benefit payments.
Job Separations After You Apply for Benefits
If you have another job separation after you apply for benefits, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own to remain eligible for benefit payments.
We investigate each job separation and mail you a Determination on Payment of Unemployment Benefits.
- If you separate from another job while you are requesting unemployment benefit payments, you must tell us when you request payment.
- If you stop requesting unemployment benefits and then resume at any time during your benefit year, you must tell us if you had a job separation during that time period.
Citizenship or Work Authorization
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you are:
- Legally residing in the U.S.
- Authorized to work in the U.S.:
- At the time you earned your base-period wages
- When you apply for benefits
- While requesting benefits
- Able to satisfy the requirements of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification
