Houston Daily

Individuals in the Hill Country who lost their jobs or had their work disrupted by severe storms and flooding earlier this summer have until September 4 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), according to a reminder issued by Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

“Texans who lost their jobs or had their work disrupted by the catastrophic Fourth of July floods should know that recovery resources remain available to them,” said Governor Abbott. “Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides a lifeline for families as they continue to recover and rebuild. Impacted Texans need to apply before the September 4 deadline so they can get the support they need and deserve.”

The DUA program is available under President Donald J. Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration for workers and self-employed individuals in Burnet, Kerr, Guadalupe, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties. Those unable to work due to storm-related damage may be eligible for these benefits.

Applications can be submitted online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling TWC at (800) 939-6631. The final day to submit an application is September 4, 2025.

DUA is designed for people who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits but whose employment was affected by disaster events. Eligibility criteria include having used all regular unemployment benefits or being ineligible for them; having worked or been scheduled to start work in the disaster area; being unable to work because of damage caused by the disaster; having lost primary income due to disaster impact; being injured as a direct result of the event; becoming the main provider after a household head’s death; or being unable to reach work because travel routes are blocked.

Applicants must provide documentation within 21 days from filing their DUA application. Required documents include a Social Security number and proof of employment or planned employment at the time of the disaster. If proof is not provided within this timeframe, payments will stop and any benefits received must be repaid. In some cases, wage records already held by TWC may be used as proof.

For faster processing, applicants are encouraged to use TWC’s online UI Submission Portal and select "DUA Proof of Employment at Time of Disaster." Proof can also be sent via fax or mail if online access is unavailable:

Texas Workforce Commission

Attn: DUA Proof

P.O. Box 149137 Austin, TX 78714-9137

Fax: (512) 322-2867

Additional information about job search resources, training programs, résumé assistance and more can be found on the TWC website or through local Workforce Solutions offices. Job seekers may also use WorkinTexas.com to connect with employers.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management urges residents to report property damage using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT), which helps officials determine eligibility for federal aid such as DUA.