Texans Granted Additional Weeks of Unemployment Benefits
TWC will notify all potentially eligible claimants by mail

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today announced a nine-week extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Act benefits (Tier III) for unemployed Texans. The extension comes as a result of the state’s average unemployment rate reaching an estimated 7 percent or higher over the previous three months.

Claimants currently receiving unemployment benefits will automatically have the additional benefits added to their benefit period and will receive a letter showing the additional amount of benefits they could potentially receive. Claimants do not need to contact TWC unless they receive a letter instructing them to do so.

The U.S. Department of Labor authorized TWC to begin processing claims beginning Oct. 7, 2012. This extension is not retroactive, and therefore does not cover weeks of unemployment prior to Oct. 7, 2012. 

TWC will mail letters to approximately 32,000 Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants who have exhausted prior benefits and may be eligible for the extension, with instructions on how to apply for the additional weeks of benefits. The letter will direct claimants who are still unemployed to call a special toll-free phone number, available 24 hours a day, to apply for the latest extension.

This extension brings the total number of benefit weeks an individual in Texas may qualify for to a maximum of 63 weeks. Claimants currently receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits should continue to request payment as scheduled. Claimants may update their address information online at ui.texasworkforce.org or by contacting a UI Tele-Center toll free at 800-939-6631. Reemployment services are available through local Workforce Solutions Offices statewide or job seekers may visit www.WorkInTexas.com to register and search for job postings.