When I was laid off, I knew I’d get “unemployment”, whatever that was. But there really was precious few actually helpful articles online. So, here’s my general guide for a Texas employee:
What you get paid
If you worked for the last year, and generally made a good living — something like over $50,000 a year, you’ll get paid $380 a week. There’s a lot of talk about certain percentages of prior wages, blagh blagh blagh, but it maxes out at $380 a week. We’re currently getting a $20 bonus per week courtesy of the 2009 ARRA stimulus, so just think $400 a week, or $1600 a month.
If you have a spouse, and she was also laid off, she’ll get the same payments as you do.
How you get paid
Once approved for benefits, you’ll get mailed a Chase debit card. It gets funds deposited every two weeks. For me, I applied for payment on Sunday, and it was ready for withdrawals on Tuesday.
What sucks about the debit card
Getting money into your checking account sucks. Since I use Chase for my regular banking, I wanted to be able to easily transfer funds from the debit card to my checking account. Ummm, no deal. You have to physically go to the bank to do it, in one of two ways:
- Giving your card to the bank teller: This option works, but they always make it seem like its some big favor they are doing. I think to the tellers, they treat it the same like a cash advance from a credit card. Also, having to explain that you have a “deposited benefits card” is sort of the suck.
- Just using the ATM: this is the pro way to go. You still have to go to the bank, but do three withdrawals at the max ($400 withdrawal, $400 withdrawal, then $20 withdrawal). Deposit your cash and go spend the remaining $4 balance at starbucks.
What you have to do to get money
Well, first you have to apply for benefits — this process is online and pretty automated, but of the three people I know that did this lately, we each had three different outcomes and processes. If you lost your job and you wanted to keep your job, the state will work with you to help you out.
To keep getting your money, you need to do three “job related searches” per week. Sunday to Saturday. So here’s the deal: apply for three jobs per week, minimum. Track the job title, the company name, and the job posting’s URL in a google document, along with the date you applied.
You can get asked for your documentation at any time. So, although I haven’t been asked, I’m glad to know I have the documentation to prove my activities.
Other less frequently asked questions
- Can you work while on unemployment?: Yes; in fact, it’s encouraged, obviously. So here’s how that works: You can work either on commission only, or self-employed. When you file for benefits every two weeks, the site asks you if you worked. You’ll say yes, and enter your wages for the week.
If you’re doing the self-employed thing, you’ll enter your profits for the week. Also, you can earn another $100, per week, in wages before the state will decrease your deposit. So if you earn $80, you still get teh $400 deposit. Earn $120 and you’ll get $380 deposit.
- Does the self-employment stop my benefits: No (at least, it hasn’t for me). You get 40 weeks of benefits in a 52 week period, so being able to work for stretches at a time fits. Use it!
Website Resources
- Texas Workforce Commission — apply for initial benefits and ongoing payments
- Payment Estimator — Worried about percentages for the $380 a week – estimate benefits here
- COBRA on DOL — Lost your job, well you lost benefits too. Know your rights.
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