2023 Texas Statutes › Labor Code › Title 4 - Employment Services and Unemployment › Subtitle A - Texas Unemployment Compensation Act › Chapter 207 - Benefits › Subchapter A. Payment of Benefits › Section 207.002. Benefits for Total Unemployment

Sec. 207.002.  BENEFITS FOR TOTAL UNEMPLOYMENT.  (a)  An eligible individual who is totally unemployed in a benefit period is entitled to benefits for the benefit period at the rate of  1/25 of the wages received by the individual from employment by employers during that quarter in the individual's base period in which wages were highest.  For purposes of this subsection, the wages received by the individual from employment by employers during the individual's base period include wages ordered to be paid to the individual by a final order of the commission under Chapter 61 that:
(1)  were due to be paid to the individual by an employer during the individual's base period; and
(2)  will be credited to the date or dates on which the payment of those wages was due.
(a-1)  The commission by rule shall determine the method of crediting wages to a particular quarter for purposes of Subsection (a).
(a-2)  The rate of benefits paid under this section may not be more than the maximum weekly benefit amount computed under Subsection (b) or less than the minimum weekly benefit amount computed under Subsection (b) for each benefit period.
(b)  The maximum weekly benefit amount is 47.6 percent of the average weekly wage in covered employment in this state.  The minimum weekly benefit amount is 7.6 percent of the average weekly wage in covered employment in this state.
(c)  The commission shall determine the average weekly wage in covered employment and compute the maximum and minimum weekly benefit amount not later than October 1 of each year based on the annual average weekly wage for the preceding year.  If a benefit amount computed under this subsection includes cents, the commission shall adjust the benefit amount as follows:
(1)  if the computed benefit amount includes at least one cent but not more than 49 cents, the commission shall round the benefit down to the nearest multiple of $1; and
(2)  if the computed benefit amount includes at least 50 cents but not more than 99 cents, the commission shall round the benefit amount up to the nearest multiple of $1.
(c-1)  An increase in the maximum weekly benefit amount may not exceed $14 in any year.  An increase in the minimum weekly benefit amount may not exceed $1 in any year.
(d)  An increase in maximum and minimum benefit amounts under this section takes effect on October 1.
(e)  The maximum benefit amount payable to an individual for a benefit period under this section on the effective date of a valid claim is the maximum benefit amount payable to that individual until the individual establishes a new benefit year.
(f)  In this section, "wages" has the meaning assigned in Subchapter F, Chapter 201, except that the limitation of wages provided in Section 201.082(1) does not apply.
Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 803, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1104 (H.B. 2273), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1052 (H.B. 2120), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.