Coronavirus means Texas could see unemployment claims for 1 month equal its 2019 total
More than half a million Texans have filed for unemployment benefits in the past 18 days since the novel coronavirus began spreading through the state, prompting officials to shut down nonessential businesses.
“If we continue at this pace, we are on track to help the same number of Texans that filed for all of 2019 in just a little over a month’s time, which is over 700,000 claims,” said Cisco Gamez, a spokesman for the Texas Workforce Commission, which oversees unemployment benefits.
Total Texas unemployment claim numbers for March won’t be available until mid-April.
Across the country, though, more than 6.6 million Americans — up from 3.3 million the week before — lost their jobs and filed for unemployment, according to numbers released Thursday by the Labor Department.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused unprecedented changes to the lives of individuals all across Texas and across the globe,” Gamez said.
So many Texans have been trying to apply for unemployment benefits that they’ve overwhelmed the state’s system. Many still are struggling to get through to file their claims.
Before the stay at home orders, the Texas Workforce Commission’s 800 numbers logged about 13,000 calls a day.
On March 26, the agency received a record 1.7 million calls from people seeking information about unemployment and trying to file claims, Gamez said.
Anyone who hasn’t been able to file a claim should keep trying.
Gamez said the agency is increasing its technological and staff capabilities, and has extended its hours.
Some tips:
▪ Apply for benefits, or check the status of claims, at any time online at ui.texasworkforce.org.
▪ The workforce commission is waiving work search requirements for unemployment applicants as well as the waiting period for people who file for unemployment because of coronavirus. It generally takes about 21 days for a person to receive a check from when they apply and qualify for benefits.
▪ The best time to apply online, when the fewest people are trying to access the website, is between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
▪ You also can apply for benefits by phone. The 800-939-6631 number is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
“To those who have been laid off, are unsure about your employment situation or are worried for your business: we see you, we hear you and we are working around the clock to provide the resources and help that you need,” Gamez said.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 11:57 AM.
