Texas Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Texas unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Texas minimum ($75) and maximum ($605) weekly benefit amounts and the 10 to 26 weeks of benefits payable. The weekly amount is an estimate: it uses about 50% wage replacement (which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule) and is capped at the state minimum and maximum. Your state agency sets the exact figure from your base-period wage history, and eligibility rules apply. The minimum, maximum, and number of weeks are the official 2026 figures, sourced from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance.
In Texas, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $75 to $605, payable for 10 to 26 weeks (up to $15,730 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Texas unemployment benefits work
Texas pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your earnings during the base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The WBA is subject to a state minimum of $75 and a maximum of $605, and is payable for 10 to 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $75), $605)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 26 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
Texas unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $75 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $605 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 10 to 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Editor's insight: why Texas caps and durations shift
Texas runs one of the larger unemployment programs in the country, and its numbers reflect a wide spread: a weekly benefit from $75 up to $605, payable for 10 to 26 weeks. The maximum is not static. Texas recalculates it each year against the statewide average weekly wage, so the $605 ceiling can drift upward from one benefit year to the next, which is exactly why an old bookmark or screenshot can mislead you.
The state sets your weekly amount by dividing your highest base-period quarter of wages by 25, then applying the $75 to $605 floor and cap. This tool approximates that with a flat 50 percent replacement, so treat the output as a ballpark rather than your monetary determination. Because Texas has no state income tax, nothing is withheld at the state level, but the benefit remains federally taxable and you can elect voluntary federal withholding when you file.
Duration is the part people misread most often. The 26 weeks is a maximum, not a default: your actual entitlement depends on total base-period wages, and many claimants qualify for fewer weeks. A worker with a single strong quarter and thin earnings across the rest of the base period can hit the $605 weekly cap yet still exhaust benefits well before week 26. Read the award notice for both figures, the weekly amount and the maximum benefit total.
Texas unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Texas for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Texas is $605 for 2026. The minimum is $75. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $15,730 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Texas?
Texas pays benefits for 10 to 26 weeks; the exact number depends on your base-period wages and, in some states, the state unemployment rate.
How much unemployment will I get in Texas?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Texas minimum of $75 and maximum of $605. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Texas sets your exact amount from your base-period wage history.
Is this the exact unemployment amount I will receive?
No. The minimum, maximum, and weeks shown are the official 2026 figures, but the weekly amount here is an estimate (about 50% wage replacement, which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule). Your state agency computes the exact figure from your reported wages, and eligibility rules apply.
Official sources
- Texas unemployment weekly benefit and duration (tax year 2026): U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice; file your claim with your state agency.