Extended Unemployment Benefits in Texas

On Monday, June 1, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) notified the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) that the state triggered State Extended Benefits (EB). The extension takes effect on May 31, 2020. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), passed as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), previously extended unemployment benefits for 13 weeks starting March 29, 2020. As a result, the first week Texans may be eligible for the additional EB is the week ending in July 4, 2020.

The Extended Benefits Program (EB) is only available during periods of high state or national unemployment. TWC can only pay claimants EB when the 12-week Insured Unemployment Rate (IUR) is 5 percent or more. As of May 31, 2020, Texas’ unemployment rate was 12.8 percent, exceeding the threshold to trigger the extension. Determination of "on" and “off” indicators can be found in TUCA 209.022.

On June 26, 2020, DOL notified TWC that the state triggered onto High Unemployment Period (HUP). Beginning July 5, 2020, HUP will allow for up to an additional seven weeks of benefit payments, or 30 percent of the claimant’s maximum benefit amount (MBA), immediately following the conclusion of EB​. The first week TWC anticipates individuals transitioning to HUP is the week ending October 3, 2020.

A High Unemployment Period (HUP) exists when the total unemployment in Texas (seasonally adjusted), as determined by the U.S. Secretary of Labor, for the most recent three months equals or exceeds 8 percent. HUP benefits end immediately when DOL determines that the unemployment rate in Texas falls below federal requirements.

In the state of Texas:

• HUP benefits are effective as of July 5, 2020 
• HUP benefits can only be paid while Texas is in the high unemployment period
• HUP benefits are added to your State EB claim 

EB benefits will end with whichever scenario happens last: 

• When the state triggers off high unemployment (less than 6 percent for the preceding 12 weeks), EB benefits will end the third week after the first week the state has triggered off
  • Example: If Texas triggers off EB on August 5, 2020, EB benefits will end on September 2, 2020 (the third week after the first week the state triggers “off”)

OR

• As soon as the 13th consecutive week of the EB period occurs
  • Example: EB benefits would end on October 18, 2020 (13 weeks after EB became effective: July 5, 2020)

Again, HUP benefits end immediately once the three-month average total unemployment rate drops below 8 percent.

State extended benefits are paid during times of high unemployment in Texas. TWC pays federal extended benefits when the U.S. Congress enacts legislation to create a federal benefit extension program. We notify all potential recipients by mail if an extension is available. Be sure to keep your address updated with us.