How long benefits last
Your maximum benefit amount is 26 times your weekly benefit amount or 27 percent of all your base-period wages, whichever is less.
Texas Unemployment Benefits 2026
What Texas unemployment insurance pays each week, how the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) works out your benefit, how long it lasts, how it is taxed, and where to apply.
Texas unemployment at a glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $619 |
|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $76 |
| Maximum duration | Up to 26 weeks |
| Waiting week | Yes, one unpaid week |
| Federal income tax | Taxable |
| Texas income tax | Not taxed |
TWC resets the range each October.
How the weekly benefit is calculated
TWC divides the wages in your highest-paid base-period quarter by 25 and rounds to the nearest dollar, within the $76 to $619 range.
The unemployment benefits calculator applies Texas's rules to your own wages: choose Texas in it.
Waiting week
Texas holds the payment for your first payable week (the waiting week) until you have been paid two times your weekly benefit amount and you either return to full-time work or exhaust your benefits.
Is Texas unemployment taxable?
State: Texas has no state income tax, so unemployment benefits are taxed only on your federal return.
Federal: Unemployment compensation is taxable on your federal return: the IRS says you generally must include in income all unemployment compensation you receive. Your state sends Form 1099-G showing what it paid, and you can choose to have federal income tax withheld by filing Form W-4V.
Federal tax is withheld only if you ask for it, so a year of benefits can leave a tax bill: the quarterly estimated tax calculator shows what to set aside.
How to apply
File your claim with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The notice it sends you with your weekly benefit amount is the official figure for your claim.
Apply with TWC →Frequently asked questions
How much does Texas unemployment pay per week?
Texas pays between $76 and $619 a week. TWC resets the range each October. TWC divides the wages in your highest-paid base-period quarter by 25 and rounds to the nearest dollar, within the $76 to $619 range.
How long can you collect unemployment in Texas?
Your maximum benefit amount is 26 times your weekly benefit amount or 27 percent of all your base-period wages, whichever is less.
Does Texas have a waiting week for unemployment?
Texas holds the payment for your first payable week (the waiting week) until you have been paid two times your weekly benefit amount and you either return to full-time work or exhaust your benefits.
Is unemployment taxable in Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, so unemployment benefits are taxed only on your federal return. Unemployment compensation is taxable on your federal return: the IRS says you generally must include in income all unemployment compensation you receive. Your state sends Form 1099-G showing what it paid, and you can choose to have federal income tax withheld by filing Form W-4V.
How do I apply for unemployment in Texas?
Apply with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the agency that decides your claim and pays benefits. Its notice of your benefit amount is the official figure.
Unemployment benefits in other states
California Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Florida Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
New York Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Illinois Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Ohio Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Georgia Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
North Carolina Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Michigan Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
New Jersey Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Washington Unemployment Benefits
Weekly amount, weeks, waiting week and tax.
Sources
Related Calculators
Unemployment Benefits Calculator
Estimate weekly UI benefits for CA, TX, NY, FL, OH — plus a PA reference
Severance Tax Calculator
Supplemental wage withholding, FICA, state tax on separation pay
Quarterly Estimated Tax
Four installments (4/15, 6/15, 9/15, 1/15), safe harbor 90%/100%
State Income Tax
All 50-state brackets, credits, deductions for your filing status