Disaster Aid Available for Workers

In Guadalupe Henderson Nueces Van Zandt Walker and Zavala Counties
Published 08-10-07

AUSTIN – According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) individuals who worked in Guadalupe Henderson Nueces Van Zandt Walker and Zavala counties who lost work or earnings due to severe storms tornadoes and flooding between June 16 2007 and August 5 2007 have until Monday September 10 2007 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1709-DR.

Individuals who worked in the following counties may apply for DUA:

Guadalupe Henderson Nueces Van Zandt Walker Zavala counties

Bee and Medina counties

Brown Cherokee Comanche Hamilton Llano Runnels Smith Travis counties

 Archer Bell Burnet Eastland Hood Parker Starr Victoria Webb Wichita Williamson counties

To be eligible for help under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1709-DR you must:

·    Have worked or been scheduled to work in the disaster area but because of the disaster no longer have a job or a place to work in the area or you could not get to your place of work because of disaster damage;

·    Have been prevented from working by an injury or illness as a direct result of the disaster; or

·    Have become the head of the household and need employment because the head of the household died as a result of the disaster.

To claim DUA affected individuals’ unemployment must be a direct result of one of the following:

·    The physical damage or destruction of the place of employment;

·    The physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal state or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or

·    Lack of work or loss of revenues if prior to the disaster the employer or self-employed business received at least a majority of its revenue or income from an entity in the major disaster area that was damaged or destroyed in the disaster or an entity in the major disaster area closed by the federal state or local government.

Often business owners who are self-employed are not aware of potential benefits to which they may be entitled. If you are self-employed but have lost all or part of your livelihood as a result of severe storms tornadoes and flooding you may well be eligible for benefits. You must provide federal income tax forms (Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F) to receive disaster unemployment benefits.

To receive DUA benefits self-employed individuals and workers must provide documentation within 21 days from the day the claim was filed indicating an employment record at the time of the disaster or verification of the weeks the applicant was scheduled to work. TWC officials understand that because of property losses some individuals may not have necessary information readily available. Each claim is considered individually therefore if you believe you may be eligible for assistance please call the TWC Tele-Center network at one of the numbers listed below Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time to talk with a representative or file a claim. 
 

Austin local:                  (512) 340-4300
Houston local:               (281) 983-1100

Dallas local:                  (214) 252-1200
McAllen local:                (956) 984-4700

El Paso local:                (915) 832-6400
San Antonio local:         (210) 258-6600

Fort Worth local:           (817) 420-1600
Others call toll free:       (800) 939-6631