twc.state.tx.us Applying For Unemployment Benefits : Texas Workforce Commission

Organization : Texas Workforce Commission
Type of Facility : Applying For Unemployment Benefits
Country: United States of America

Website : http://www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/unemployment-benefits

TWC Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits are part of an employer-paid program that provides temporary, partial income replacement to qualified individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

Related : Department of Labor New York Registering for Unemployment Insurance : www.statusin.org/26265.html

Employers pay unemployment insurance taxes and reimbursements which support unemployment benefit payments. Employees do not pay unemployment taxes and employers cannot deduct unemployment taxes from employees’ paychecks.

Unemployment benefits are available if you meet eligibility requirements set by the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act (TUCA). If you collect benefits, you are legally responsible for following the rules set by state law.

Unemployment benefits must be reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For more information, see Income Taxes & Your Unemployment Benefits.

When to Apply:
Apply for benefits as soon as you are unemployed because your claim starts the week you complete the application. However, you may not apply until after your last work day. We cannot pay benefits for weeks before your claim effective date.

Apply for benefits with the state where you worked during your base period. If you worked in more than one state, see If You Earned Wages in More than One State.

If your last job was for a temporary agency or staff leasing company, you have additional requirements:
** If your last job was for a temporary agency, you must immediately contact the temporary agency for a new assignment and wait three business days after your assignment ended before applying for benefits. The agency has three business days to offer you a new assignment.
** If your last job was for a staff leasing company, you must immediately contact the staff leasing company for a new assignment.

How to Apply:
Apply for benefits in one of two ways:
** Apply online at Unemployment Benefit Services by selecting Apply for Benefits. Read the Applying for Unemployment Benefits TutorialPDF
** for help applying online.
** Call a Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 and speak to a customer service representative.

Information You Need to Apply:
You will need:
** Your last employer’s business name, address and phone number
** First and last dates (month, day and year) you worked for your last employer. If you worked for your last employer on more than one occasion, provide the most recent employment dates.
** Number of hours worked and pay rate if you worked the week you apply for benefits (Sunday through Saturday)
** Information about the normal wage for the job you are seeking
** Alien Registration number (if not a U.S. citizen)

Your Unemployment Benefit Services Password:
When you sign up for online services, you will select a User ID and password. Your password protects your identity and privacy. It has the same legal authority as your signature on a paper document. Do not give your password to anyone, not even to a family member or TWC employee. You are responsible for any payment request made using your User ID and password.

If you have a User ID and password from WorkInTexas.com, use that User ID and password to logon to Unemployment Benefit Services. For more about the password requirements, go to Managing Your Benefits Password & PIN.

Establish & Change Payment Options:
When you apply for benefits, TWC offers you one of two ways to get your benefit payments:
** Direct deposit, which is direct payment into your personal checking or savings account in a U.S. bank or credit union
** Debit card, which is issued by the TWC-contracted bank

TWC will deposit payments to the TWC debit card account unless you sign up for direct deposit.

If you signed up for direct deposit on a prior claim, TWC will use the checking or savings account information you previously provided.

To select or change your payment option online or by phone:
** Log on to ui.texasworkforce.org and select Payment Option from the Quick Links menu.
** Call Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321 and select option 5.

Unemployment Benefits Fraud:
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. Be aware that:
** Failure to follow the rules can result in serious consequences.
** You must respond truthfully and fully to all TWC inquiries.
** In Texas, unemployment benefits fraud is routinely prosecuted at the felony level.