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.
