Find more information at www.texasworkforce.org/unemploymentbenefits.
Foreign Trade
If you lost your job because of issues related to
foreign competition, you may be eligible for Trade
Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which includes job
retraining, job search and relocation aid, and weekly
Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) benefits.
Trade-affected workers age 50 or older may be
eligible for a wage subsidy program.
Working in Other States
If you worked in more than one state during your base period, you can combine all of
your wage credits into a single claim administered by one “paying state.” The paying
state uses your wage credits from the other states to calculate your benefits. You may
apply for benefits in only one state where you worked. Register for work search with the
nearest public workforce office in the state you are located.
Military Wages
You can use military wages to qualify for benefits if you left the service honorably and
completed your first full term of service. If you did not complete your first full term, you
must have separated early due to an exception specified by Congress. Reservists and
National Guard members may be eligible if they served at least 180 days continuous
active service and received a Form DD-214, Report of Separation, when separated. If we
are unable to use your military wages, you can appeal to your branch of service with a
Form DD-149, Request for Correction of Military Records.
Pensions
We reduce your weekly benefit amounts by any pensions, retirement pay, annuities, or
other payments you receive from an employer that paid you wages in the base period.
We do not deduct Social Security or Railroad Retirement income.
Additional Payment
You may be eligible if you signed a legal release for an additional payment. You may not
receive benefits for the weeks you received an additional payment, such as severance
pay or wages instead of notice of layoff. However, you should apply for benefits. You
get no money during this period, but you will have served your waiting week.

School Employees
If you worked for a school, we cannot use your
school wages to calculate your benefits if you have
reasonable assurance of going back to work after a
break in the academic year. If you lost your job for
a qualifying reason or do not have reasonable
assurance of returning to work, we may be able to
pay you benefits.
Workers’ Compensation/Disability
If you receive Workers’ Compensation, you may not be eligible for unemployment
benefits. TWC makes that decision based on the type of disability payment you receive.
■ If you receive Impairment Income Benefits, you may receive unemployment
benefits. If you receive some kinds of Temporary Income Benefits, Supplement
Income Benefits, or Lifetime Income Benefits, TWC cannot pay you
unemployment benefits.
■ If you have a permanent disability and receive Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI), you may be eligible for benefits even if you can only work part
time.
Federal Employees
If you are a former federal employee, TWC requests your wage information from your
federal employer. To ensure prompt benefit payment, TWC asks you to estimate your
base period wages and provide a Standard Form SF-50, Notice of Personnel Action, or a
W-2 or pay stub as proof of employment.
Labor Disputes (Strikes)
If you stopped working because of a labor dispute, you cannot collect benefits during
the dispute. This does not apply to a “lock-out.” A disqualification continues until you no
longer have any part in the labor dispute. It does not matter whether you are a union
member. It is generally not possible to requalify for benefits by working elsewhere.
Disaster Aid
If you lost your job or business as a direct result of a major disaster declared by the
President of the United States, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA). If you are eligible for regular unemployment benefits, you must
exhaust them before receiving DUA. When you apply for DUA, we send you a packet of
DUA rules with forms to complete and return.