In Texas, unemployment compensation is also referred to as unemployment insurance benefits. There are three areas of qualification that must be met to be eligible for Texas unemployment insurance: wages, circumstances of departure from the job, and proof of ongoing job search. The following guide includes details on each of these requirements that must be met before an unemployment claim in Texas will be approved.
Review of Wages for Texas Unemployment Compensation
The applicant must have worked and earned wages from an employer that paid unemployment insurance. The first three of the past five quarters (three month periods) are used to calculate the weekly benefit amount for unemployment claims in Texas. As a result, a minimum amount of wages must e earned within these base periods to qualify. Since the minimum amount of wages changes from time to time, check with the local Texas unemployment office to see if enough wages have been earned to qualify for unemployment. This can be done at the same time as filing a Texas unemployment claim.
Typically, people who are self-employed or independent contractors are ineligible to receive unemployment benefits. Also, if the applicant was employed by a church, or other non-profit organization with fewer than four employees, they may be ineligible to receive Texas unemployment benefits. If the applicant worked for a company that either paid out $1,500 in wages within a calendar year, they probably qualify to receive benefits (provided that other qualifying criteria are met). These stipulations are outlined in Texas employment law.
Investigation of Job Departure Reasons for Texas Unemployment Insurance
The general rule is that if the job was lost through no fault of the ex-employee, then they meet the job departure requirement for unemployment. It is still possible to quit a job and get unemployment as long as the reason for quitting has a good cause. In some cases, applicants can receive unemployment benefits if they were terminated as well.
If the initial unemployment claim is denied the applicant can appeal the claim. The appeal consists of having the claim reviewed by an oversight body, and may result in an approval of the claim. Even if an appeal is denied, the applicant can appeal the finding of the initial appeal board. Of course, there is no guarantee that the claim will be approved even if multiple appeals are pursued.
Proof of Job Search to Maintain Texas Unemployment Compensation
The final qualifier for eligibility is proof of an on-going jobs search. Texas unemployment law uses the phrase being "able, willing, and available to work.” This means being available for jobs interviews, following up possible job leads, and accepting reasonable full-time work when it is found.
People receiving Texas unemployment insurance payments should always keep a log of the employers they contact each week. According to Texas employment law, they should contact a minimum of two employers per week. The Texas Workforce Commission can request documentation to provide evidence of an ongoing work search. Claimants who cannot provide this evidence are subject to termination of their Texas unemployment compensation payments.
August 2010 Update on Texas Unemployment Benefit Extension
As of July, 2010, the U.S. Congress passed additional funding for emergency unemployment benefits. Texas unemployment benefit recipients can learn more about the extension at Texas Unemployment Benefits Extension: July 2010 Update. In addition, there is also information on this issue in the following article: Apply for Texas Unemployment Compensation.
Source:
Texas Workforce Commission (accessed 8/26/2010)
Cheri Pearson - Cheri Pearson is a seasoned freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of ...
