Date: September 20, 2017
Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline Extended for 39 Counties
Individuals from disaster-declared counties have until Oct. 31 to file
AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today announced that the deadline has been extended to October 31, 2017 for individuals filing for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in all 39 counties declared in Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA 4332-DR. This deadline extension will allow affected individuals, who may be eligible but have not yet applied, with additional time to apply for disaster unemployment assistance.
TWC is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from individuals whose employment or self-employment was impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Applications from individuals who live in, work in, or travel through these counties must be submitted by October 31, 2017. TWC’s website contains more information about Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
The following counties are included in the disaster declaration and amendments:
- Aransas, Austin County, Bastrop, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Waller, Walker, and Wharton Counties
Applications can be taken online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling a TWC Tele-Center during the extended hours of Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-939-6631. Individuals should specify that their applications are related to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.
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 from any state, 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
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, a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs, and documentation to support that you were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred.
Applicants must mail in or fax all required documentation within 21 days from the date of the DUA application. Send mailed documentation to: Texas Workforce Commission, UI Operations & Customer Support, Attn: DUA, 101 E. 15th St., N. Lamar, Austin, TX, 78778-0001, or fax it to 512-936-3250.
Job seekers may visit 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.