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.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Unemployment

Texas

twc.texas.gov/programs/unemployment-benefits→

Administering agency

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — Unemployment Benefits

Phone800-939-6631

WebsiteVisit website →

Verified Jul 2026

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.

When someone dies

Steps after a death in Texas

4-step process for Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — Unemployment Benefits.

View details →

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

twc.texas.gov

Data sourced from State Unemployment Benefits in Texas primary sources (3 pages reviewed). How we research.

Unemployment

Texas

twc.texas.gov/programs/unemployment-benefits→

Administering agency

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — Unemployment Benefits

Phone800-939-6631

WebsiteVisit website →

Verified Jul 2026

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.