Texas Unemployment Benefits Calculator
Estimate your Texas unemployment benefits. Max weekly: $605. Max weeks: 26. Free calculator.
Estimate only — these are not official figures
The weekly benefit applies Texas's cited statutory method but deliberately APPROXIMATES the state's published benefit table or an un-reverified parameter (see methodology), so it is an estimate rather than an exact agency lookup. The monthly figure is weekly x 4.33 (a convention, not a statutory amount), and the tool does not perform a monetary-eligibility determination. The maximum weekly benefit ($605) and duration (26 weeks) are source-backed.
Do not rely on these amounts for budgeting or payment. For exact amounts, check the Texas's state unemployment insurance agency (file there and use its official benefits estimator for your actual Weekly Benefit Amount determination).
Enter Your Details
Adjust values to see instant results
Estimated Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)
Estimated • Based on your inputs
Estimated Monthly Benefit
$2,252.00
Detailed Breakdown
Cumulative Benefits
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
How This Calculator Works
Calculation methodology and assumptions
Texas computes your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) as 1/25 of your highest-earning calendar quarter's wages, capped at 47.6% of the Texas average weekly wage in covered employment, recalculated annually (Labor Code §207.002). This calculator uses a $1,271 Texas average-weekly-wage estimate, back-solved from the U.S. DOL's currently-published $605 maximum WBA at that 47.6% ratio ($605 ÷ 0.476 ≈ $1,271), since TWC's own current-year AWW page was unreachable during this build — treat the 47.6% cap as an estimate, not an independently confirmed TWC figure. WBA is floored at $75 and capped at $605. Texas pays no dependent allowance. Your maximum total benefit is the whole-dollar lesser of 27% of your total base-period wages or 26 times your WBA. DOL reports 10-26 weeks for eligible claims; this calculator does not determine monetary eligibility, so inconsistent wage inputs preserve the dollar cap and may show a shorter period with a partial final week rather than inflating the total.
Key State Information
Texas's maximum weekly UI benefit is $605, and minimum is $75. There is no dependent allowance and no state income tax (though UI benefits are still subject to federal income tax). Standard duration is 10-26 weeks depending on your base-period earnings.
How to Use This Unemployment Calculator
- 1
Enter your prior earnings
Input your gross earnings from the past 12-18 months (the "base period"). Texas use the highest quarter or recent quarters of earnings to determine your weekly benefit amount.
- 2
Enter your employment details
Indicate how you became unemployed. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own (layoff, company closure, reduction in force) to qualify. Voluntary quitting and termination for cause typically disqualify you.
- 3
Select your state
Texas administers its own unemployment program with different benefit amounts, duration, and eligibility rules. Published weekly maxima currently range from $235 (Mississippi) to $1,208 (Washington).
- 4
Review your benefit estimate
The calculator shows your estimated weekly benefit amount, maximum duration (typically 26 weeks), and total estimated benefits. Compare to your essential expenses to plan your job search timeline.
Example Calculation
Let's review the source-backed unemployment inputs for Texas.
Texas uses a state-specific statutory formula rather than the site's simplified 50%-of-wage fallback. Enter the exact quarter/base-period wage and eligibility fields requested by the calculator; the required inputs differ by state and cannot be reconstructed safely from median household income.
Result: Published maximum weekly amount: $605. Current maximum duration: 26 weeks. These are ceilings, not a typical award; the calculator above applies Texas's source-backed formula to your own wage history, and only the state agency determines eligibility.
What Affects Your Results
Prior Earnings
Benefits are calculated from your "base period" earnings (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Higher earnings yield higher benefits, up to the state maximum cap.
State Maximum
Weekly maximums vary enormously: Mississippi ($235), Arizona ($320), California ($450), New York ($869), Washington ($1,208). Texas's cap may be well below 50% of prior wages.
Reason for Separation
Layoff/reduction in force: eligible. Company closure: eligible. Fired for cause: usually ineligible. Quit voluntarily: usually ineligible unless for "good cause" (harassment, unsafe conditions, spousal relocation in some states).
Duration
Standard benefits last 26 weeks in most states (some offer 12-30 weeks). During recessions, federal extensions may add 13-20 additional weeks. After exhaustion, there are generally no further benefits.
Tips for Texas Residents
- File for unemployment the day you're separated — don't wait. Texas have a 1-week waiting period and 2-4 weeks processing time. A week's delay could mean 3-5 weeks without income.
- Unemployment benefits are taxable income (federal and most states). Opt for voluntary withholding (10% federal) to avoid a surprise tax bill. Many people spend the full benefit not realizing taxes are due.
- You must actively search for work and document your efforts to maintain eligibility. Most states require 3-5 job contacts per week. Keep a detailed log — random audits happen.
- Freelance or gig work while on unemployment may reduce (but not eliminate) your benefits. Most states allow you to earn 25-50% of your weekly benefit before reducing the payment. Report ALL earnings — fraud has serious consequences.
- Explore Texas's additional programs: job training (WIOA), trade adjustment assistance, extended benefits during high unemployment, and reemployment services. These are underutilized but valuable.
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StateCalc Team
Editorial Team
The StateCalc team builds free financial calculators using data from official government sources including the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, and state revenue departments. All formulas are validated by an automated test suite and cross-referenced against published data.
Our editorial standardsFrequently Asked Questions
How much is unemployment in Texas?
Texas pays a Weekly Benefit Amount between $75 and $605, calculated as 1/25 of your highest-earning quarter's wages, capped at 47.6% of the Texas average weekly wage. A worker with $13,000 in their highest quarter would get an estimated $520/week.
Does Texas pay extra for dependents?
No. Texas UI does not pay a dependent allowance.
How long do Texas unemployment benefits last?
Standard Texas UI claims last 10 to 26 weeks, capped at the lesser of 27% of your total base-period wages or 26 times your weekly benefit amount.
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