When an appeal is received from either the employer or the claimant, the Appeal Tribunal schedules a hearing and notifies all interested parties of the time and place of the hearing. Testimony given in an appeal hearing is recorded and is under oath.

IMPORTANT: The Commission provides access to telephones, speakerphones and fax machines for individuals involved in appeal hearings. If a party does not have a private phone, needs a fax machine to send information or needs a speakerphone to present witnesses' testimony, the Commission will provide one. The Commission has staff available to assist anyone who may need help in operating the equipment. We try to provide hearing participants as much privacy as possible. When the claimant or employer receives the hearing notice and if either party needs access to any equipment but did not request an accommodation in the appeal, they can do the following:

Extended benefits are additional payments of unemployment benefits equal to 50% of regular benefits, which may be made to a claimant during a period of high unemployment after all of his regular unemployment benefits are exhausted. The period of time during which these additional payments may be made is called an "extended benefit period." Whether an extended benefit period exists is determined by the percentage rate of unemployment amount insured workers statewide during a specific period of high unemployment. Texas is not in an extended benefits period. However, on June 30, 2008, the President signed, The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 which includes a provision for Emergency Unemployment Compensation. This provides emergency benefits to eligible claimants in all 50 states. Emergency Unemployment Compensation paid to claimants under this Act are federally funded and will not affect employer tax rates or chargebacks.

Fifty percent of extended benefits paid is financed by the Federal government. The other 50% is financed in the same manner as regular benefits. Governmental employers must pay 100% of any extended benefits paid to their former employees.

An employing unit is a subject employer, and its workers are covered under the program, if in the current or preceding calendar year.

1. It paid as much as $1,500 in wages in any calendar quarter or had in employment at least one individual for some portion of the day in each of 20 different days, each day being in a different calendar week. (There are some exceptions. See Are All Employees Covered By This Program? for the list of excluded services.)
   
   
2. Any individual or employing unit that acquires or otherwise receives, through any means, all or part of the organization, trade, or workforce of another that was an employer subject to this Act at the time of the acquisition.
   
   
3. It is a nonprofit organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue code which is exempt from income tax under Section 501(a) of such code and had as many as four or more individuals in employment for some portion of 20 days, each day being in a different calendar week. (Churches and organizations operated primarily for religious purposes are excluded.)
   
   
4. It elected to become a subject employer.
   
   
5. It is subject to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and had any employees in Texas, or is required by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act to be covered by the state.
   
   
6. It is a political subdivision of a State or an instrumentality of a political subdivision which is wholly owned by one or more political subdivisions.
   
   
7. It paid wages in cash of $1,000 or more in a calendar quarter for domestic service.
   
   
8. Farm or ranch labor is considered to be covered employment if performed by a seasonal worker employed on a truck farm, orchard or vineyard. Other farm or ranch employment is covered if the employing unit employs three (3) or more workers in 20 weeks or pays cash wages of $6,250 or more in a calendar quarter. Migrant workers on a farm or ranch are covered immediately and seasonal workers will be covered immediately if work is performed at the same time and at the same location with migrant workers.
   
   

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