TEXAS, USA — Six additional counties, including two in the Big Country, have been added for eligibility in the Texas Workforce Commission's applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) after being impacted by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 26.
The amended FEMA disaster declaration includes Eastland, Jones, Hardin, Harris, Jasper, Lamar, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker and Waller counties.
Workers and people who are self-employed in the designated counties who have been unable to work because of damage caused by the severe weather could be eligible for DUA benefits. You can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling TWC at 800-939-6631 between 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday. Deadline for applications under this declaration is July 16, 2024.
You should specify that your applications are related to the damage caused by severe weather.
DUA, an unemployment insurance benefit made available especially for victims of disaster, is available to individuals who:
- Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits, or do not qualify for unemployment benefits;
- Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area;
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster;
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household; or
- Were unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster.
To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed. Required documentation includes Social Security number and documentation to support that you were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred or were about to start work or self-employment and could not do so because of the disaster.
TWC must have documents that prove you were working, or scheduled to start working, at the time of the disaster. If you do not send us proof of employment by the 21-day deadline, TWC will stop paying you DUA and you will have to repay any benefits you received.
In some cases, TWC can use information in our system, such as wage records, to prove you were employed at the time of the disaster.
Submit your proof of employment using TWC’s online UI Submission Portal for the fastest review. Select DUA Proof of Employment at Time of Disaster from the Type of Submission drop-down menu.
If you cannot use the online portal, you can submit the proof by fax or mail.
- Texas Workforce Commission
- Attn: DUA Proof
- P.O. Box 149137
- Austin, TX 78714-9137
- Fax: 512-936-3250
TWC’s website contains more information about local Workforce Solutions offices for access to job search resources, job postings and training programs, as well as assistance with exploring career options, résumé and application preparation, career development and more.
Customers also may connect with potential employers through TWC’s online job-search engine by visiting WorkinTexas.com.
