AUSTIN — Individuals whose employment or self-employment was impacted by severe storms and flooding in the Hill Country have until Sept. 4 to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Workforce Commission issued the reminder last week, with the jobless deadline falling two months after the devastating July 4 flooding that killed 137 people.
“Texans who lost their jobs or had their work disrupted by the catastrophic Fourth of July floods should know that recovery resources remain available to them,” Abbott said.
“Disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) provides a lifeline for families as they continue to recover and rebuild,” the governor said. “Impacted Texans need to apply before the Sept. 4 deadline so they can get the support they need and deserve.”
Under President Donald Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration, workers and self-employed individuals in Burnet, Kerr, Guadalupe, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from severe weather may be eligible for the DUA benefits.
Individuals affected by the severe weather in the designated counties can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling TWC at (800) 939-6631.
DUA, which is 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.
• 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 applicants were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred or were about to start work or self-employment and could not do so due to the disaster.
If an applicant does not send proof of employment by the 21-day deadline, TWC will halt DUA payments, and the applicant will be responsible for repaying any benefits you received.
In some cases, TWC can use already available information, such as wage records, to prove an applicant was employed at the time of the disaster. Applicants must submit 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 dropdown menu. Applicants without access to the online portal, can submit proof by fax or mail.
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