Will I be receive unemployment benefits?

Can i continue to receive unemployment benefits in texas after going back to school as a part time student?

• i was employed for 8 years before being laid off due to damages caused by hurricane ike...i've been receiving unemployment benefits since march and will soon run out of these funds at the end of august...even if i am approved for an extension, it will only last me an extra 13 weeks(until mid-november)...i was accepted into the nursing program this past february, and i don't officially start until this fall semester which happens to start at the end of august(the same time my benefits run out)...i have already registered for the fall semester which does not end until december(a bit after the benefits extension will end)...from this fall semester until completion of the nursing program, i will only be going to school as a part time student....will i still be eligible to receive unemployment benefits as a part time student even after the extension runs out?

• Answer:

  I'm a bit confused by all the details above. Specifically the sequence of events. BTW, I'm also from Texas. And I have in the past filed for and received compensation via the TX WorkForce Commission. You might want to check out the following link. It appears someone has preceded you and asked about receiving benefits while they were going back for their MBA. While there was a lot of different opinions, the consensus is that TX would NOT allow it. After all, by going to school (even part time) you are making yourself unavailable to work (which is a key requirement) to draw benefits. Lastly, TX does follow up and mandate that you keep written records of what you are doing to find yourself a job. Failure to do this means they can take back any benefits received, and possibly garnish future wages. In other words (and I'm not saying you would do this), don't expect to sit back and sip lemonade on the back porch while a check comes to your mailbox each week. When I was drawing unemployment I actually worked harder finding a job, because I knew Austin could request evidence of what I doing.