Workers Affected by Hurricane Ike Have 30 Days to Apply For Assistance

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has announced that as a result of Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1791-DR, TWC is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Ike starting September 7, 2008, and continuing. Applications for DUA must be filed by Wednesday, October 15, 2008.
Texas counties included in the disaster declaration are Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington.
DUA is available to individuals who:
worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment,
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,
do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state,
cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster, or
who became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.
Applications filed after Wednesday, October 15, 2008, will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after the deadline.
Individuals will need their Social Security number, a copy of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs, or documentation to support they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed.


To file for disaster-related unemployment assistance, click here
or call the nearest TWC Tele-Center from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time at (800) 939-6631 Houston local: (281) 983-1100