State Unemployment Benefits in Texas
The Texas Workforce Commission administers unemployment benefits. TWC publishes one death-related procedure: when a claimant who owes an overpayment dies, the person managing the deceased person's affairs mails or faxes a copy of the death certificate to TWC, and TWC may seek repayment from a probated estate.
Administering agency
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — Unemployment Benefits
State Unemployment Benefits in Texas: key facts
- Administering agency
- Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Unemployment Benefits program.
- Tele-Center
- 800-939-6631 (speak with a customer service representative).
- Tele-Serv
- 800-558-8321 (automated claim status, payment history, and payment requests).
- Death of a claimant who owes an overpayment
- The person managing the deceased person's affairs mails or faxes a copy of the death certificate to TWC. The death certificate does not need to be certified. If there is a Texas Comptroller payment hold on the account, TWC will request that the overpayment be repaid from a probated estate and from funds payable under the deceased claimant's Social Security number.
- Where to send the death certificate
- TWC Benefit Overpayment Collections, 101 E. 15th St, Rm 556, Austin, TX 78778-0001; fax 512-936-3799. The Collections department answers repayment questions at 512-936-3338.
- Unpaid benefits after a death
- TWC publishes no procedure for a survivor or estate to collect benefits a claimant had not yet been paid. Case-specific questions go to the Tele-Center at 800-939-6631.
- Overpayments generally
- State law requires TWC to recover all unemployment benefit overpayments. There is no statute of limitations on debts owed to the state, TWC cannot forgive or dismiss an overpayment, and there is no exception for hardship.
Steps to take when someone dies
- Confirm whether the deceased claimant owed TWC an overpayment — that is the situation TWC's published procedure covers.
- Mail or fax a copy of the death certificate (it does not need to be certified) to TWC Benefit Overpayment Collections, 101 E. 15th St, Rm 556, Austin, TX 78778-0001, or fax 512-936-3799.
- Expect TWC to request repayment of the overpayment from a probated estate if a Texas Comptroller payment hold exists on the account.
- Call the Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 with any question TWC does not answer on its site, including whether anything remains payable on the claim.
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — Unemployment Benefits
Phone: 800-939-6631
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
The Texas Workforce Commission administers unemployment benefits. Claimants and families reach a customer service representative at the TWC Tele-Center at 800-939-6631, or use the automated Tele-Serv line at 800-558-8321 for claim status and payment history.
The person managing the deceased person's affairs mails or faxes a copy of the death certificate to TWC — it does not need to be certified. If there is a Texas Comptroller payment hold on the account, TWC will request that the overpayment be repaid from a probated estate and from funds payable under the deceased claimant's Social Security number. State law requires TWC to recover overpayments, and there is no hardship exception.
Mail or fax a copy of the death certificate to TWC Benefit Overpayment Collections, 101 E. 15th St, Rm 556, Austin, TX 78778-0001, or fax 512-936-3799. The Collections department also takes repayment questions at 512-936-3338, and the Tele-Center handles claim questions at 800-939-6631.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unemployment Benefits in Texas primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — Unemployment Benefits