Hurricane Harvey survivors have access to disaster unemployment assistance in 39 counties included in the presidential disaster declaration -- and the time to apply has been extended to Oct. 31.
DUA is available to survivors who:
• Would not be eligible for normal unemployment benefits, such as self-employed persons and farm workers.
• Worked or were self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area.
• Can no longer work or perform service due to physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey.
• Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform is a direct result of Hurricane Harvey.
• Cannot perform work or self-employment due to an injury as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey.
• Became the breadwinner or major support of household due to the death of the head of household.
Applications may be made online through Texas Workforce Center’s website, twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/disaster-unemployment-assistance, or by calling the TWC’s TeleCenter at 800-939-6631 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days of when the DUA application is filed.
This 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.
DUA is available in the following counties: Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzalez, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller and Wharton.