Lost Your Job in Texas? How to Apply for Unemployment, Step by Step

Losing your job is stressful, and the paperwork can feel like one more thing on your plate. This guide walks you through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) system, so you know what goes in each box.

Also lost your health insurance? See Lost Your Job and Your Health Insurance?. Short on rent? See Can’t Pay Rent This Month?.

When should I file for unemployment in Texas?

What to have ready

TWC says you must provide:

• Your Social Security number
• A valid (unexpired) Texas driver license or Texas ID card number
• Your last employer's business name, address and phone number
• The first and last dates you worked for your last employerMonth, day and year

You’ll also need to enter a one-time code every time you log in. TWC uses it to make sure it’s really you.

How to apply for unemployment in Texas, step by step

1

Step 1 of 16

(Optional) Estimate your weekly benefit

Before applying, you can see roughly how much you might get. Go to the TWC benefits estimator. The screen shows which months count. When we checked it on November 3, 2026, it said that if you apply by January 2, 2027, it uses your wages from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. This is your base period — the year of wages TWC uses to figure your benefit.

#	Box	What to enter	Example	Watch out
①	Wages (first row)	Your pay before taxes for that 3-month period	9000	Use pay stubs or your W-2. Enter 0 if you weren’t paid that quarter
②	Pay Period	How the number you typed is counted. Choices: Per Hour, Per Day, Per Week, Every Two Weeks, Twice A Month, Per Month, Per Quarter, Per Year	Per Quarter	Pick a pay period for every row
③	Wages (second row)	Same as ① for this period	9000	—
④	Wages (third row)	Same as ① for this period	9000	—
⑤	Wages (fourth row)	Same as ① for this period	9000	Include pay for work in another state, for the federal government and for the military
⑥	Estimate	Click to see the result	—	—
⑦	Reset	Clears all boxes	—	—

2

Step 2 of 16

Read your estimate

Here’s your estimate. Treat it as a ballpark — TWC uses the wages your employers reported, so your real amount can be a little different.

#	What you see	What it means	What to do
①	Estimated Weekly Benefit Amount	Roughly what you’d get each week	Use it to plan your budget
②	Estimated Maximum Possible Benefits	The most you could get in total for this claim	—
③	Minimum and maximum note	The weekly amount is between $76 and $619	TWC uses the wages your employers reported, so the real amount can differ
④	Apply For Benefits	Takes you to the application	Click when you’re ready

3

Step 3 of 16

Open Unemployment Benefits Services

Ready to apply? Everything happens in TWC’s Unemployment Benefits Services, or UBS for short. If this is your first time, you’ll make a User ID here before anything else.

Go to Unemployment Benefits Services.

#	Box	What to do	Example	Watch out
①	Sign Up for User ID	First time? Click this and go to Step 4	—	Don’t make a new ID if you already have one
②	User ID	Already have an ID? Type it here	—	Same ID as WorkInTexas.com
③	Password	Type your password	—	Passwords are case sensitive
④	I’m not a robot	Check the box	—	You may be asked to pick some pictures
⑤	Logon	Click to log in	—	Then enter the one-time code TWC sends you
⑥	Forgot User ID? / Forgot Password?	Use these if you can’t log in	—	Don’t create a new account instead

4

Step 4 of 16

Create your User ID: name and password

Time to create your account. Use your legal name and pick a password you’ll remember — you’ll log in every two weeks to request payments.

#	Box	What to enter	Example	Watch out
①	First Name	Your legal first name (required)	John	—
②	Middle Initial	Optional	Q	—
③	Last Name	Your legal last name (required)	Sample	—
④	Email Address	An email you check (required)	john.sample@example.com	Helps you get your login back if you forget it
⑤	User ID	A name you’ll log in with	johnsample2026	3–32 characters
⑥	Check Availability	Click to see if the User ID is free	—	If it’s taken, try another one
⑦	Password	Your new password	—	8–32 characters, with at least 1 lower case letter, 1 upper case letter, 1 number and 1 symbol (one of # @ $ % ^ . ! * _ +). It can’t contain your first or last name or any part of your User ID
⑧	Retype Password	Type it again	—	—

5

Step 5 of 16

Create your User ID: security questions

Last part of the account: three security questions. If you ever forget your password, these answers are how you get back in, so pick ones only you know.

#	Box	What to do	Example	Watch out
①	First Security Question	Pick a question from the list	On what street did you live in third grade?	Pick one only you know the answer to
②	First Security Answer	Type your answer	—	Answers are case sensitive
③	First Retype Answer	Type the same answer again	—	—
④	Second Security Question	Pick a different question	What is your favorite TV show?	—
⑤	Second Security Answer	Type your answer	—	—
⑥	Second Retype Answer	Type it again	—	—
⑦	Third Security Question	Pick a different question	Who is your favorite author?	—
⑧	Third Security Answer	Type your answer	—	—
⑨	Third Retype Answer	Type it again	—	Write your answers somewhere safe
⑩	Next	Click to finish creating your User ID	—	—
⑪	Cancel	Don’t click unless you want to start over	—	—

Apply for benefits: the application screens

You can’t see these screens without a real Social Security number, so we recreated them from TWC’s official tutorial, How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits Online. The boxes and their order follow the tutorial. We left out some notes and fields, and the dates on your screen will be different — TWC fills them in for you.

6

Step 6 of 16

Log in, then enter your Social Security number

Now the real application starts. First, TWC needs your Social Security number to find your work history. It only takes a moment.

Log in with your User ID and password, enter the one-time code, then select Apply for Benefits.

#	Box	What to enter	Example	Watch out
①	Social Security Number (SSN)	Your 9-digit SSN	—	With or without dashes
②	Retype Social Security Number	The same number again	—	—
③	Are you going to apply for Unemployment Benefits today?	Pick Yes	Yes	—
④	Next	Click to continue	—	—

7

Step 7 of 16

Answer the initial questions

These yes-or-no questions decide whether you can finish online. Answer them honestly — most people answer No to most of them and keep going.

These answers decide whether you can apply online or have to call the Tele-Center.

#	Question	What to pick	Watch out
①	Served in the military since [date]?	Yes or No	—
②	Employed and paid by the U.S. federal government since [date]?	Yes or No	Examples: U.S. Postal Service, Census Bureau
③	Worked in Texas since [date]?	Yes or No	Don’t count military or federal jobs here
④	Worked in another state between [dates]?	Yes or No	Don’t count military or federal jobs here
⑤	Filed for unemployment in another state in the last 12 months?	Yes or No	—
⑥	Mailing address outside the U.S., its territories or Canada?	Yes or No	—
⑦	Filing from outside the U.S., its territories or Canada?	Yes or No	—
⑧	Out of work as a direct result of a disaster?	Usually Not Applicable	Pick a disaster only if it’s why you lost work
⑨	Next	Click to continue	Some answers may tell you to call the Tele-Center instead

8

Step 8 of 16

Enter your personal information and dates worked

This screen is about you and your last job dates. Have your driver license or ID card next to you so you can copy the number exactly.

#	Box	What to enter	Example	Watch out
①	First Name	Your first name	John	If you gave TWC your name before, enter it the same way
②	Middle Initial	Optional	Q	—
③	Last Name	Your last name	Sample	—
④	Worked under any other name in the last 18 months?	Yes or No	No	Example: a maiden name
⑤	If Yes: Other First Name	Only if you answered Yes	—	—
⑥	If Yes: Other Last Name	Only if you answered Yes	—	—
⑦	Date of Birth	Pick month and day, type the year	—	—
⑧	Texas Driver License or Texas ID Card Number	The number on your card	—	Unexpired Texas license or ID only
⑨	First Date You Worked	Your first day at your last job	—	Worked there before? Use the start date of your most recent period. Don’t remember the day? Pick “01”
⑩	Last Date You Worked	Your last day at that job	—	—
⑪	Next	Click to continue	—	More personal questions follow (contact, citizenship, union, pension and more)

9

Step 9 of 16

Choose whether to withhold federal tax

This one’s a choice, not a rule. Unemployment money is taxable, so some people like having tax taken out now instead of owing later.

This choice is at the end of the Personal Information section.

#	Box	What to do	Watch out
①	I authorize TWC to withhold federal income tax…	Check it if you want 10 percent of each payment held back for federal income tax	Unemployment benefits are taxable income, and you must report them on your federal tax return. If you don’t check it, TWC withholds nothing
②	Next	Click to continue	—

10

Step 10 of 16

Tell TWC about your last employer

Next, tell TWC about your last employer. TWC has to let them know you applied, so pick them from the list if you can.

#	Box	What to enter	Watch out
①	Employer Name	Pick your last employer from the list	Not there? Pick Not Listed
②	If you selected Not Listed, enter Employer Name	The company or person you worked for	—
③	Another Name for This Business	Optional, for example the corporate name	—
④	Employer Phone Number	Their phone number	—
⑤	Country	U.S. or Canada	—
⑥	City	Where your employer is	Required
⑦	State	Their state	—
⑧	ZIP Code	Their ZIP code	—
⑨	Canadian Province	Only if your employer is in Canada	—
⑩	Canadian Postal Code	Only if your employer is in Canada	—
⑪	Next	Click to continue	Next you’ll answer about your job, dates, pay and the reason you’re no longer working

11

Step 11 of 16

Create your four-digit PIN

Now create a four-digit PIN. Think of it like your signature — you’ll need it to request payments by phone, so write it down somewhere safe.

#	Box	What to enter	Watch out
①	Personal Identification Number (PIN)	A four-digit number you choose	You need it for Tele-Serv payment requests. Write it down somewhere safe
②	Retype PIN to Confirm	The same four digits	—
③	I agree to the above terms…	Check the box	Your PIN has the same legal authority as your signature. Never give it to anyone, not even a TWC employee
④	Next	Click to continue	—

12

Step 12 of 16

Choose how to get paid

Here’s where you pick how your money arrives. The debit card is the default; choose No only if you’d rather have it go to your bank.

#	Box	What to pick	Watch out
①	Do you want payments on the TWC Debit Card?	Yes for the debit card. No if you want direct deposit to your bank	For new claimants the debit card is the default. Applied before? The screen shows your current method — check it and change it if needed
②	Next	Click to continue	If you picked No, you’ll see the direct deposit screen next

13

Step 13 of 16

(Only for direct deposit) Enter your bank details

Only see this screen if you chose direct deposit. Grab a paper check — the numbers you need are printed along the bottom.

#	Box	What to enter	Watch out
①	Routing Number	Your bank’s 9-digit routing number	Copy it from a check, not a deposit slip. The first two digits must be 01–12 or 21–32
②	Account Number	Your account number	Up to 17 digits. Don’t include the check number
③	Retype Account Number	The same number again	—
④	Account Type	Checking or Savings	—
⑤	Next	Click to continue	Your bank has eight banking days to verify. Until then, TWC may mail you a check. If your bank can’t confirm the account, TWC pays you by debit card instead
⑥	Cancel	Leaves this screen without setting up direct deposit	—

14

Step 14 of 16

Sign up for electronic letters

TWC can send most of its letters to an online inbox instead of the mail. It’s faster, but keep an eye on your mailbox too.

#	Box	What to pick	Watch out
①	Do you want to sign up for Electronic Correspondence?	Yes to get most letters in an online inbox	Keep checking your mailbox too — some letters still come only by mail
②	Next	Click to continue	—

15

Step 15 of 16

Review and submit

You’re almost done. Read every section slowly — once you submit, you can’t change your answers online.

#	What you see	What to do	Watch out
①	“Your application… is not complete until you click the Submit button”	Read every section	—
②	Edit links	Click to fix anything that’s wrong	You can’t change your application online after you submit
③	Certification checkbox	Check it to certify this is your SSN, you’re the person named, and your information is true and complete	Required — you can’t submit without it
④	Submit	Click once when everything is correct	It may take a moment to show your confirmation. Need a change after submitting? Call the Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 the next business day

16

Step 16 of 16

Save your claim confirmation

You did it — your application is in. Don’t close the window yet, though. There are two more things to do on this screen.

#	What you see	What to do	Watch out
①	“You are not finished…”	Do both steps it lists	—
②	Claim Confirmation Number	Print the page or write the number down	Free printers are available at Workforce Solutions offices
③	Effective Date	The date your claim starts (a Sunday)	—
④	Next	Click it and read the Next Steps	If you skip the Next Steps, you may delay or lose your benefits

What happens next (TWC tutorial, June 2024 edition, checked Nov 3, 2026): register for work within three business days of applying — Texas residents register with WorkInTexas or in person at a Workforce Solutions office. Request payment on time, and read everything TWC sends you. It takes about four weeks from the day you apply to find out if you’re eligible. You can check your status in UBS or by calling Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321, Option 2.

How to request payment for unemployment in Texas

You must request payment to receive benefits.

Work search: what you need to do each week

Unless TWC tells you you’re exempt, you must register for work and search for work while you get benefits:

• Do at least the minimum number of work search activities each week. TWC tells you the number.
• Keep good records you can prove on a work search log, and give it to TWC if they ask.
• For help finding a job, TWC points you to WorkInTexas.com and local Workforce Solutions offices.

FAQ

How much is unemployment in Texas? Between $76 and $619 a week, depending on your past wages (TWC, checked Nov 3, 2026). Use the estimator in Step 1 for a rough number.

How long can I get unemployment in Texas? TWC caps your total, not the number of weeks. Your total is the smaller of 26 times your weekly amount or 27% of the wages in your base period, so at most you get 26 full weekly payments. Step 2 shows your estimated total.

Why was my first unemployment payment only one week? The first week of your claim is the waiting week. TWC holds it until you go back to full-time work or use up your benefits.

Forgot your TWC unemployment password? Use “Forgot Password?” or “Forgot User ID?” on the logon page. TWC asks you not to create a second account.

Can I apply for unemployment in Texas by phone? Yes. If you can’t apply online, call a Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 during regular business hours.

I worked in another state. Where do I apply? In the state where you worked.

Sources

All checked on November 3, 2026.

• Texas Workforce Commission, Apply for Unemployment Benefits
• Texas Workforce Commission, How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits Online (tutorial)
• Texas Workforce Commission, Request Benefit Payments
• Texas Workforce Commission, Eligibility & Benefit Amounts
• Texas Workforce Commission, Work Search
• Texas Workforce Commission, Unemployment Benefits Estimator and Unemployment Benefit Services

Update log

• Nov 3, 2026: First published.