Texans impacted by the Fourth of July weekend's severe flooding have received a crucial extension for applying to Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), offering a financial lifeline to those whose livelihoods have been unsettled by the storms. Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the application deadline has now pushed to September 29, allowing some additional weeks for victims to seek aid.
In the wake of the disaster that left many Texans grappling with income loss, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) confirmed the federal approval for this extension. Individuals from the declared disaster areas, including the counties of Burnet, Kerr, Guadalupe, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson, are potentially eligible for the DUA benefits. Governor Abbott, adhering to his commitment to support the citizens, stated, "By extending the Disaster Unemployment Assistance deadline, more hardworking Texans will have the resources and support they need to rebuild." Quoting Governor Abbott, "Texans who qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance will now have until September 29 to apply," as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Eligibility for DUA includes a variety of scenarios, such as the inability to work due to physical damage or destruction of the workplace, injury caused directly by the disaster, or death of a family's primary earner because of the event. These benefits are particularly targeted towards those who don't qualify for regular unemployment benefits, have exhausted them, or were about to commence work before the disaster struck.
To help expedite the application process, the TWC has provided an online portal for Unemployment Benefit Services, and can also be reached via phone at (800) 939-6631 for those seeking to apply for DUA. Also, being encouraged by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texans with home or business damage due to the storms should report using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT), which will assist in determining their eligibility for federal help, like the DUA benefits.
