Article: Your base-period wages include the first four out of five fully complete calendar quarters that you worked.  This period starts at the date you are applying for benefits, not when you became unemployed.  You may receive a “statement of wages and potential benefits amounts” from the state of Texas.  This statement will include the following information about your base-period wages:  Weekly benefit allowance (WBA) Maximum benefit amount (MBA) How the Texas Workforce Commission calculated your base-period wages. Ask for an alternate base period if you were out of work for at least seven weeks due to illness, injury, disability, or pregnancy within 24 months of the date you file. Use the information presented in your “statement of wages and potential benefits amounts” to calculate your benefit amounts.  You will use your base-payments to discover your weekly benefit allowance (WBA) and maximum benefit amount (MBA).  Take the following steps to learn what your benefits might be:  For your WBA, find your base period quarter with the highest wages.  Divide those wages by 25 then round to the nearest dollar.  This number cannot exceed the maximum allowed on your benefit statement. An example of finding your WBA would be $1,500/25, which is a WBA of $60. To find your MBA, multiply your weekly amount by 26 and find what 27% of all your wages in the base period would be.  Whichever number is lower is your MBA. An example MBA might be 60*26=$1560 compared to 20% of $1,500 which is $300.  $300 in this case would be the MBA. Multiply your WBA by 37.  If this number is less than your base period wages, you won't qualify for a claim. If you don't have your statement of wages and potential benefits amounts, but you know your basic income details, you can use the official on-line calculator.  This calculator can be an easy way to get learn if you qualify and an get an estimate of how much you may receive.  Go to https://apps.twc.state.tx.us/UBS/benefitsEstimator.do to find the calculator. You will need your W2 tax forms to learn what wages you earned. Find your wages for each pay quarter.  These amounts are the Gross Pay. The calculator assumes you worked full time.  If not, estimate your monthly or quarterly wages. Enter this information into the calculator and click “estimate” to finish the process.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find out what your base-period wages are. Calculate your expected benefits. Use the official on-line calculator.