Are There Extension For Unemployment In Texas?

I am in Texas and unemployed. I started my Regular Unemployment Insurance in Jan.09 and once your funds are completely exhausted you can call the same day it hits $0.00, ask if you qualify and if you can you go ahead and apply for the extension over the phone. They will do it right then and there.
You will get an additional 20 weeks, check your TWC account in a few days and you'll see the second claim. They don't miss a beat so don't start to panic as I did, after all when you have two kids , rent, car payment, utilities, and food to pay for you can't help but panic alittle. But don't worry if you have a Regular Claim , aren't working , Still job searching, you'll get it.

I have $19 left in my acount and I called today to see if I need to file for an extension. I was on hold for less than 5mins and a kind man said once my account is completely empy I should call back and he will do the extension over the phone. I am just now about to finish with my first round. No one should worry just yet. Here are some phone numbers

Austin local: (512) 340-4300
Dallas local: (972) 339-6200
El Paso local: (915) 832-6400
Fort Worth local: (817) 420-1600
Houston local: (281) 983-1100
McAllen local: (956) 984-4700
San Antonio local: (210) 258-6600
Others call toll free: 1-800-939-6631

You don't have to wait for a letter. My daughter-in-law spoke to someone at TWC and was told that as soon as her balance in her account reaches 0.00, she has to simply call and wait on the line for an operator and tell them she wants to file for extended benefits. Which she did. She was quickly approved for the same number of weeks and same weekly pay as her first claim.
So the rumour about the extension being only 50% of your pay seems to be just a rumour.
Also, there is a 3rd tier extension of up to 13 additional weeks. Your best source for the truth is TWC. Be persistent, keep calling until you reach an agent. First thing in the morning is when we were able to reach a live agent!
Good Luck!

Unemployed Texans Granted 13-Week Extension of UI Benefits
TWC Will Notify All Potentially Eligible Claimants by Mail
AUSTIN - The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced today a 13-week temporary federally funded extension of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. President George W. Bush signed legislation authorizing Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation on June 30, 2008.
The legislation provides up to 13 additional weeks of UI benefits for eligible Texans who have used up their regular UI benefits and are still unemployed. The extended benefits are entirely federally funded, and employers will not be charged for any claims paid on this extension.
To be eligible for the extension, individuals must have filed a claim for regular UI benefits on or after May 7, 2006, and exhausted all of their benefits. They also must be currently unemployed and meet the qualifications to receive UI benefits. Eligible claimants will receive the same weekly benefit amount as on their regular claim. All claimants who are eligible when the bill is signed will receive benefits starting the week of July 6, 2008, and could receive a maximum of 13 weeks of extended benefits.
As many as 200,000 Texans may be eligible for the extended benefits. TWC will mail letters to all potentially eligible claimants in July to explain the application process. Claimants should not contact TWC until they receive a letter, unless their address has changed. Claimants may update their address information on the Internet through paymentrequest.texasworkforce.org or by contacting a UI TeleCenter.

My benefits will run out probably the end of August 2009. Should I feel comfortable thinking that if I do not find employment by then that I will again get to draw my unemployment for 13 weeks is it? I was laid off in February of 2009. Will TWC give me this info now on the phone or will they tell me I have to wait and see what happens? Also, for those of you calling....I suggest that you not call on Mondays and call after 3:00 in the afternoon and if you get that recording keep hanging up and redialing until it lets you hold for someone. Has always worked for me. I told them they needed to hire me to come and help answer their phones! He told me they were hiring...but unfortunately the closest place is a couple of hours away from where I live!!! Haha

My 1st round of unemployment ended May 30th and by June 8, I received a letter from TWC without having to do a thing. I picked up the phone, spent 7 minutes on hold, another 15 answering questions, and now my unemployment balance has 20 additional weeks of coverage added to it. I did not miss a single unemployment payment cycle. The rep on the phone advised that tues-thur (afternoons) are the best times to call with minimal wait time. He was very informed and showed a tremendous amount of compassion for still not finding a job. As he put it, "A new job is right around the corner!"
Hope this helps!

In the state of texas you can collect the original 26 weeks, 20 weeks of tier 1, 13 weeks of tier 2 for a total of 59 weeks. At the present time, the state qualifies for an additional 13 on top of that if they change the legislature to allow the federal money. This is under the extended benefits program. The state of texas is supposedly working on that.

I recieved a notice in the mail stating my unemployeement had run completely out so I answered a few questons on the letter and faxed it back to twc. Is this all I needed to do or do I still need to talk to an agent? Will I get my replinshment in two weeks or what? I went to my towns workforce center and it was about like talking to a tree, they can't answer any question you ask them. They look around at each other like cattle when it thunders. It bothers me that those are the people the state trains to help us out. Gee, thanks.

Texas passed another extension for those whose regular unemployment ended May 23rd 2010 or before. It will give you 13 additional weeks of unemployment at the same rate you recieved during your regular unemployment. I just called TWC 30 min ago and extended mine. I was on hold for 14 minutes and it took exactly 3 minutes for me to be approved for the extension.

For those needing Tier 2 you must have exhausted Tier 1 by May 29th 2010 in order to recieve another 13 weeks.

For those needing Tier 3, you must have exhausted Tier 2 by May 29th 2010 in order to recieve another 13 weeks.

For those who have exhausted all 3 Tiers by May 29th 2010, you may be eligible for another 20 weeks of State Extended Benefits, to be determined by your TWC office. Hope this info helps someone out there.

Keep your head up!!

*The girl who went to college, has a degree in medicine and can't get hired to save her life*

There is no tier3..Texas has EUC tier 1 and tier 2 like most other states. EUC tier2 just began on April 12, 2009 in Texas.

Is Texas giving extension's for unemployment?

Didnt Govenor Perry turn down the Obama Stimuless money which means you can't collect that long in texas.  In other states you can collect for almost 2 years

I am not sure anybody at texas workforce knows,  Will Texas qualify  to get another  federal  extension if unemployment stays over 6% in March.  Jan.  Was 6.4% and feb. 6.5%----that should be the question. That would be on top of the 13 and 7 week extensions already approved.

Texas Unemployment website says that you have to exhaust your regular benefits first. They NEVER answer the phone nor do they answer emails. Also, the emergency benefit Tier I only pays out at 80% of your regular unemployment claim, and Tier II only pays out at 50%! My concern is with their failure to answer phone calls and emails, that they will also be late getting out extension letters to those eligible AND processing them in a timely fashion so the claimant does not have a gap in payments.

Yes Texas has Unemployment Extensions.  I couldn't get through the numbers that are posted online so I actually called the governor's office and requested to speak to someone about this and got in touch and an answer with in 20 minutes.  In order to qualify for emergency unemployment you must file your final request for payment and then the very next day call and let them know that you have requested your last claim and would like to file for emergency unemployment.  They will then be able to help you and determine if you qualify for the emergency unemployment.

Can someone tell me what to do when it run out after you went threw everything??? Has it yet been ok since june 5 yet? Just need some help but if to all be blessed!!!! Lets all keep out heads up we all will be ok again soon ...and yes my question is for what to do after your done with tier 3...

Hi there, my tier one federal emergency unemployment runs out this month (end of june 2010) for the state of texas.  I have not had a job since February and no new prospects coming my way.  I have been trying to call TWC for several days and the phone is constantly busy.  This is the first time I have ever collected unemployment and I never qualified for regular benefits, so have been under emergency benefits from my original claim (that was denied in Jan 2009).  Can anyone explain to me what I need to do next?  I have one more check coming before I run completely out. HELP!

What I need to know is, has anyone heard that the government may make it possible for unemployed people to receive their benefits until December 2010? My daughter told me that she heard this on the news. But, does it effect Texas? My husband is on tier three.....that last tier in Texas, with NO luck finding a job. His last extension runs out in July.

It will be a act of GOD if Texas gets another extension.. Perry is a fool.. Keeps telling Texans we have jobs.. We just went up to 8.3% which is a lie in itself. Funny how 8.5% will trigger another Tier.. Do you really think Perry will allow another Tier?  

We at least need another state extended benefit on Tier 3.. At least 6 weeks will be great.

I think this State needs it... BADLY.

2/23/09
My funds run out on 2/28/10 and I am on the 2nd tier.  Unless the goof balls in Washington do something by the 26th of February, I am a going to have to sell everything I own to pay bills, isn't that nice?

I was laid off August 2009.  My unemployment runs out the beginning of March 2010. As explained to me by a TWC representative, because I don't exhaust my benefits by Feb 27, 2010, I will not be eligible for an extension. Congress is not working on a Tier 4 for those like me, only a $15 Billion job bill for companies to get a tax break for hiring the unemployed.  I really hope I'm a chosen candidate because I've sent my resume to over 1500 people and still have no luck with a job and no other resources for income.  I have no family or friends to move in with if my luck don't change soon.  Good Luck to all!

When I log into the TWC for Texas it says congress extended to April 3, 2010 ? Is this the cutoff date ? My first 26 weeks will end March 27, 2010. So wil I qualify for the Tier 1 20 weeks ?

Was making $75k a year offshore for the last 9 years and may be able to get a $14 an hour job rebuilding pumps in 8 more weeks from a previous interview if do not find something by then but nothing in the last 5 months... Can not pay the bills working for less than $14 and a second part time job. Savings gone.

Has anyone had luck in their field finding a job? I am looking all over the place. My industry is shot right now. I would rather be working than collecting UI, but man I am hoping to get an extension. So far I have had my regular (26) weeks, and my Temporary which looks like 18 weeks. I don't know if I will get another extension. I work in the Telecom industry and I haven't had any luck. If you had any luck, let me know.

I worked in texas and recieved unemployment benefits from texas and live in arkansas why are texas cutting off my benefits now that extended benefits have come ineffect and and saying that arkansas does not pay extended benefits, and come to find to find out arkansas does pay extended benefits.

Looks like tx extended again past the june 5 2010 time period!!!.

Yes 20 weeks

Will there be extension for the still unemployed in Port arthur texas

Number to call for unemployment in texas

My unemployment run out on june 5th 2010 will texas get another extension

They have tier 3 and that's it, then you're on your on

My unemployment ran out on feb 15 when do I get my extension

Yes, Texas has EUC which is 33 weeks.
Tier 1 is 20 weeks- 13 plus another 7
and tier 2 is 13 weeks also which starts up tomorrow April 12, 2009 in Texas if you exhausted tier 1 EUC already.

My first extensions (7+13) are expiring in a couple of weeks. I have not received any notice, and still can't find work. Are you sure there is another extension? If not, I'm selling a kidney.

A person can receive 26 weeks initially, then a 13 week extension , and then a 7 week extension for a total of 46 weeks?

When will I get my extension for my un employments benefits. I guess the congress does not care if your lights, gas or water gets cut off. Are they giving them a self a bonus before we get our money to pay bills and be able to buy groceries?

I got an application for emergency unemployment compensation and sent it to Austin , Texas but I haven't heard anything from it. What do I need to do now?

My regular benefits run out July 2 2010 Since its after May 29th am I out of luck for any extension???

Can yo still get unemployment once the  has already used, I have not found a job yet. I do know wha to do at this time

I get one more week of unemployment and still have not found a job and I apply every day, will I be able to get a extension

My unemployment runs out on February 30th 2010. Tier 2 states that I must exhaust all my benefits by February 20th 2010. Are there plans to offer Tier 2 after February 20th???

My unemployment ran out feb28 2010 . But I do work 18 hours 7.25 an hour can I still extent my unemployment

Congress meets next week and hopefully they will approve another extension for all of us who are unemployed and need assistance! I wanted to apply for STATE extended benefits but they informed me nothing will pass through till congress meets 4/12/2010.

----Crossing my fingers------

I have $0 and ended tier 2 today is it true there is no extension my claim is good until May 8, 2010 but I have no money what do I do?

Been unemployed since set 2008 than was hired bad and than laid off again in April 2009 got 2 extensions now it ran out how would I know if I will get another extention

There are 3 tiers.  But I was told after the third one ran out, to keep doing my payment request in case congress did another extention.

Are you saying if I end my normal 26 weeks at the end of July 2010 -there is stil an extension available even though a federal extension has not bee passed aso of June 22, 2010

I already exhausted my regular unemployment benefits and I am recieving the emergency unemployment benefits so I want to know when they run out will I recieve any other benefits and how many weeks does the emergency unemployment benefits last for

My regular state 26 week benefits run out at the end of June. Are you telling me that because I was laid off later in the year than others, that I can not qualify for tier 1 euc at all??

I hear lots of questions about what comes after tier 3 and such, but are all of us who's 26 weeks end after may 23rd, completely left out in the cold? Does anyone have any information on this?

Sorry to all you other Texans. I guess my original state,  California, is taking the spotlight away from our issues. Or maybe Perry is to thank? Lol.

I have exhausted my benefits but due to working part time as a substitute, but am no longer will I be eligible for an extension, I live in Texas