Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

All information regarding COVID-19 is subject to change at any time due to the changing nature of the pandemic. Please revisit this page regularly for updates.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) established The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. This program temporarily expands unemployment benefit eligibility to self-employed workers, gig economy workers, part-time workers, and others impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who might not otherwise be traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits. The CARES Act unemployment claim programs were extended by the Continued Assistance Act (CAA) on December 27, 2020.

PUA benefits may be available for those claimants who:

• Lost their jobs or self-employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Did not earn enough wages in the 18 months before they applied for benefits to qualify for a regular unemployment benefits claim
• Exhausted their regular unemployment, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and State Extended Benefits (EB) or did not qualify for these claims

The maximum number of benefit weeks under Texas’ regular unemployment insurance program is 26 weeks. The CAA extends PUA benefits by 11 weeks, from 39 to 50 weeks.

• The first payable week on this extension is the benefit week ending (BWE) January 2, 2021.
• The last date for new PUA claims is March 7, 2021.
• The last payable week for most PUA claims is BWE March 13, 2021. 
• PUA claimants who have not reached the 50-week limit may be eligible to receive benefits during a phase-out period that ends with BWE April 10, 2021. 

The 50 weeks include any week of unemployment insurance (UI) or State Extended Benefits a claimant has already received.

PUA claimants are eligible to receive a $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payment in addition to their weekly benefits from BWE January 2, 2021 through March 13, 2021. TWC cannot pay FPUC payments for any weeks from July 27, 2020 to December 27, 2020.

The CAA requires that claimants provide proof of employment. If you filed a PUA claim before January 31, 2021 or received payment of PUA on or after December 27, 2020, you must provide proof substantiating employment, self-employment, or the planned commencement of prospective employment or self-employment. You must provide the proof 90 days from the date TWC notifies you of the requirement. 

If you filed or moved to a new PUA claim on or after January 31, 2021, you must provide proof substantiating employment, self-employment, or the planned commencement of prospective employment or self-employment. You must provide the proof within 21 days of the date you filed your claim. 

If you do not send us proof of employment within the deadline, you will be found ineligible for benefits beginning December 27, 2020, and have to repay any benefits you received. You have the right to appeal any decision holding you ineligible for benefits. The requirement to provide proof  was established by law and cannot be appealed. For more information, see Proof of Employment Required.

In general, PUA provisions follow Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) regulations and procedures. The many similarities allowed the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to use existing programming to implement PUA, which enabled a smoother and quicker implementation. As a result, some PUA paperwork may refer to the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program.

In compliance with the CARES Act, TWC has added a new COVID-19-related question to the PUA payment request process.

When you request payment online at Unemployment Benefits Services (UBS) or through Tele-Serv, you are required to answer a COVID-19-related question. Depending on your answer, you may be required to respond to 13 COVID-19-related statements before you can continue and submit your payment request.

For information on other COVID -19 programs and resources, see:

• Self-Employed Texans and the CARES Act
• COVID-Resources Job Seekers
• Types of Regular and Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Claims
• Frequently Asked Questions about Unemployment Insurance Benefits Related to COVID-19
• COVID-19 Resources Employers

To receive PUA benefits, you must certify that you are able and available for work and are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work through no fault of your own because:

• You have been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.
• A member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• You are providing care for a family member or a member of your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• You are unable to reach your place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• You are unable to reach your place of employment because you have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
• You were scheduled to commence employment and do not have a job or are unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• You have become the breadwinner or major support for your household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.
• You have to quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19.
  • A qualified medical professional diagnosed you with COVID-19. Although you no longer have it, the illness caused health complications that make you unable to perform your essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Your place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• You work as an independent contractor with reportable income, but COVID-19 has severely limited your ability to continue performing your customary work activities, and thereby forced you to suspend those activities.
• A child or other person in your household for which you have primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and such school or facility care is required for you to work. For more information, see PUA Eligibility for Caregivers Impacted by Schools Closing or Reopening.

You are NOT eligible if you:

• Are receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits, including benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). However, if you are being paid for less than your customary work week you may be eligible for reduced PUA. Any paid leave you receive must meet Disaster Unemployment Assistance’s income restrictions.
• Can telework with pay. However, if you are working fewer hours than you did before the pandemic you may be eligible for reduced PUA if you meet DUA’s income restrictions.
• Are an essential worker and continue to work. Quitting work without good cause in an attempt to get PUA benefits is fraud.
• You and your employment are no longer affected by COVID-19.

If you are working full-time, but lost your part-time gig, contract, or self-employed work, you will not be eligible to receive PUA benefits. Because you are working full-time, you are considered fully employed and therefore are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

You may be eligible for benefits if you are working part-time. You must report all work and earnings each week that you worked when requesting unemployment benefit payment. You must also report any sick leave or vacation pay received or payments received from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). For more information, see our tutorial on How to calculate and report earnings.

PUA Claims Filed Before January 31, 2021

If you filed a PUA claim before January 31, 2021, you must provide proof of employment, self-employment, or planned commencement of prospective employment or self-employment. You must provide the proof 90 days from the date TWC notified you of the requirement. 

• Claims dated prior to January 3, 2021: You must provide proof for calendar year 2019 that demonstrates the existence of employment between January 1, 2019, and your claim’s filing date.
• Claims dated on or after January 3, 2021: You must provide proof for calendar year 2020 that demonstrates the existence of employment between January 1, 2020, and your claim’s filing date.

Your documentation of employment or self-employment does not need to cover the entire period that you were working. 

If you do not send us proof of employment within the deadline, you will be found ineligible for benefits beginning December 27, 2020, and have to repay any benefits you received. You have the right to appeal any decision holding you ineligible for benefits. The requirement to provide proof was established by law and cannot be appealed.

PUA Claims Filed on or after January 31, 2021

If you filed or moved to a new PUA claim on or after January 31, 2021, you must provide proof of employment, self-employment, planned commencement of prospective employment or self-employment. You must provide the proof within 21 days of the date you filed your claim. 

You must provide proof for calendar year 2020 that demonstrates the existence of employment between January 1, 2020, and the date you filed your claim. Your documentation of employment or self-employment does not need to cover the entire period that you were working. 

If you do not send us proof of employment within the deadline, you will be found ineligible for benefits beginning December 27, 2020, and have to repay any benefits you received. You have the right to appeal any decision holding you ineligible for benefits. The requirement to provide proof was established by law and cannot be appealed.

How to Submit Your Proof of Employment

PUA claimants should submit their proof of employment using TWC’s UI Submission Portal. Select DUA Proof of Employment at Time of Disaster from the Type of Submission drop-down menu. For more information see Sending TWC Proof of Employment.

If you cannot use the online portal you can submit the proof by fax or mail. Due to the heavy volume of mail, processing the proof received by fax or mail will be delayed. 

Mail or fax proof of employment to:

Texas Workforce Commission
Attn: PUA Proof
P.O. Box 149137
Austin, TX 78714-9137

Fax: 512-936-3250

Acceptable Proof of Employment

• Acceptable forms of proof of employment include:
• paycheck stubs
• earnings and leave statements showing the employer’s name and address 
• bank records if your paycheck was direct deposit
• W-2 forms 
• 1099s
• income tax return for the applicable tax year

Proof of Self-Employment

Acceptable forms of proof of self-employment include:

• state or federal employer identification numbers
• business licenses
• tax returns
• business receipts/invoices
• signed affidavits from persons verifying the individual’s self-employment
• income tax return for the applicable tax year
• bank statement

Proof of Prospective Employment

Acceptable proof of prospective employment includes one of the following:

• letters offering employment
• statements/affidavits by individuals (with name and contact information) verifying an offer of employment. 

Proof of Prospective Self-Employment

Acceptable proof of prospective self-employment  includes one of the following:

• property titles or deeds for the place of business
• rental agreement or letter from a property owner showing the claimant planned to open a business 
• other evidence that you were preparing to open a business, such as business loan documents, business-related receipts, advertising, state tax registration, business registration, Assumed Name Certificate, etc.

If you are self-employed, an independent contractor (1099) or gig worker, and you worked for the entire year of 2019, you do NOT need to provide TWC with your complete 2019 IRS tax return including Schedule C, F or SE unless your net profit for 2019 exceeded $20,800. That is the minimum amount needed to increase your PUA weekly benefit amount (WBA).

You will continue to receive the $207 minimum PUA WBA if your net profit for 2019 was less than $20,800. Providing your income tax return is optional and will not affect your weekly benefit amount if your net profit was less.

If you worked as a 1099 independent contractor, do NOT send TWC your 1099 form. Your 1099 form will have no effect on your PUA WBA.

If your net profit was more than $20,800 and you submit your IRS forms and schedules, TWC will recalculate your PUA WBA and notify you of the change. If your PUA WBA increases, TWC will pay the difference retroactively to the date your employment was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If your net profit for tax year 2019 was $20,800 or more, submit your complete 2019 IRS federal income tax return including Form 1040 and all schedules, such as C, F or SE to TWC by using our online UI Submission Upload portal (English) or UI Submission Upload portal (Spanish).

If you cannot use the online portal you can submit the proof by fax or mail. Due to the heavy volume of mail, processing the proof received by fax or mail will be delayed.

• Fax: 1-512-936-3250
• Mail: Texas Workforce Commission
  P.O. Box 149137
  Austin, TX  78714-9137

Note: Applicants who submit their tax information may not receive an immediate response. Please do not resubmit unless explicitly asked.

Go to Self-Employed Texans and the CARES Act for more information about unemployment benefits for non-traditional workers (i.e. self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, or workers seeking self-employment).

Calculating Your Weekly Benefit Amount

We calculate your PUA weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on past wages earned during the base period, which is the most recently completed calendar year, January 1 through December 31. This is a different base period than regular unemployment claims.

To determine your PUA weekly benefit amount, we use the base-period quarter with the highest wages, divide by 25 and round to the nearest dollar. Your WBA cannot exceed the maximum amount set by state law. You must have wages in at least two base-period quarters and wages totaling at least 37 times your WBA in order to qualify for more than the minimum WBA.

This calculation also applies to self-employed individuals.

Minimum Weekly Benefit Amount

The minimum weekly benefit amount for DUA and PUA is 50 percent of the state average WBA. For example, if the state average WBA is $315, then the minimum PUA weekly benefit amount would be $157. We will use the minimum weekly benefit amount if you do not have any base-period wages or if you do not have enough wages to establish a benefit amount using the calculation above.

Benefit Amount Reductions

TWC may reduce your PUA payments if you receive any of the following:

• Benefits or insurance for loss of wages due to illness or disability
• Supplemental unemployment benefits paid pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement
• Private income protection insurance
• Workers’ Compensation or survivors’ benefits if you become the major support of the family as a result of the death of the head of the household because of the disaster
• Retirement pension or annuity
• Earnings from employment or self-employment
• Subsidy or price support payments, crop insurance payments and farm disaster relief (non-DUA) payments
• A court order to pay child support
• Sick leave or vacation leave, or disaster or COVID-19 pay from your employer
• Payments received from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

To continue to be eligible for PUA benefits, you must certify for each benefit week that you are able and available for work and are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work through no fault of your own as a direct result of COVID-19 and meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• Meet one or more of the PUA eligibility criteria listed above.
• Meet all work search requirements, unless we exempt you from work search
• Request payment every two weeks on your designated filing day
• Participate in reemployment activities as required
• Respond to requests from TWC or a Workforce Solutions office as instructed

You must then certify that your responses are true and complete.

For more information, see Ongoing Eligibility Requirements for Receiving Unemployment Benefits

Appeals hearings are proceeding as scheduled. However, due to the unprecedented number of unemployment benefit claims that resulted from the pandemic, we are experiencing a significant delay processing and scheduling appeals. We are working to resolve all issues as quickly as possible.

If you have a hearing scheduled, please participate according to the directions on the Notice of Hearing. If you have any questions or concerns about participating in the hearing related to COVID-19, please contact your hearing officer directly using the contact information on your Notice of Hearing.

Answer questions accurately and truthfully. You commit fraud if you knowingly provide false or misleading information or withhold relevant information for yourself or another person, to obtain or increase benefits. Unemployment benefits fraud is punishable by law, both felony and misdemeanor, and violators could face serious penalties and consequences.

If you commit unemployment fraud, you must pay back benefits you were not entitled to receive. In addition, you could face a variety of penalties, including:

• Criminal prosecution by state or federal authorities
• A possible jail or prison sentence and/or fines
• Loss of remaining benefits on your claim

For more information see Unemployment Benefits Fraud

Your claim is confidential. However, we share some information with government agencies and their contractors for the administration and enforcement of laws, including verifying eligibility for public assistance, supporting law enforcement activities, and other purposes permitted by law. Allowable uses of confidential information may include performing statistical analysis, research and evaluation.

Disclosure may be made to entities that manage and evaluate programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and child support. We mail a notice of your claim to your last employer and may communicate with other former employers. If we pay you benefits by debit card, we share information with U.S. Bank because it manages your debit-card account. U.S. Bank and government agencies with access to information must agree to comply with state and federal laws regarding the confidentiality of claim information.