AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) reminds individuals, whose employment or self-employment was impacted by the winter storm, that the deadline is approaching to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). TWC continues to accept applications for DUA from individuals whose employment or self-employment was impacted by the winter storm.

Applications for DUA from Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, DeWitt, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Kendall, Lavaca, Liberty, Limestone, Lubbock, Madison, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, Medina, Milam, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Nacogdoches, Nueces, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Polk, Rusk, Rockwall, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Scurry, Shelby, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Taylor, Tom Green, Travis, Tyler, Upshur, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise, and Wood Counties must be submitted by March 26, 2021.  

Applications for DUA in Atascosa, Bandera, Brooks, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Goliad, Howard, Jim Hogg, Karnes, Kleberg, Leon, Llano, Newton, Robertson, Trinity, Webb, and Willacy Counties must be submitted by April 1, 2021.

Applications can be received online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling a TWC Tele-Center between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. seven days a week at 800-939-6631.

Individuals should specify that their applications are related to the damage caused by the winter storm.

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.

Submit your proof of employment using TWC’s UI Submission Portal at https://twc.texas.gov/uidocs. 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. Due to the heavy volume of mail, processing the proof received by fax or mail will be delayed.