FEMA 4223-DR amended to add Red River County for individual assistance
AUSTIN – Victims of flooding in Red River County may now apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as a result of an amendment to the Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA 4223-DR). Workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to flooding in Red River County may apply for Individual Assistance.
Applications for DUA must be submitted by August 21, 2015 for residents of Red River County. DUA is available for workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. Severe weather, including destructive flooding, has devastated multiple counties and hundreds of homes and businesses have been lost, resulting in disaster-related unemployment.
Individuals affected by the recent severe storms in these counties can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling the TWC Tele-Center, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 800-939-6631. Individuals should specify that their applications are related to the damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in one of the counties listed in the amended disaster declaration. In these designated areas, affected individuals can find the nearest FEMA DRC by entering their zip code in the Disaster Recovery Center Locator.
Flood victims can also visit any Workforce Solutions office to apply for DUA. Victims of the floods in counties listed below must submit DUA applications by the following deadlines:
- Fayette – July 27, 2015
- Bowie, Brazoria, Cherokee, Ellis and Harrison – August 5, 2015
- Angelina, Erath, Frio, Jim Wells, Montgomery and Trinity – August 12, 2015
- Hood, Madison, Shelby and Wharton – August 19, 2015
Applications for DUA filed after the above deadlines will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for applying late. The application deadline for Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Fannin, Fort Bend, Gaines, Grayson, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Liberty, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Nueces, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Walker, Wichita, Williamson, Wise and Van Zandt counties have expired.
DUA, which is unemployment insurance benefits 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 mailed or faxed 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, or documentation to support that affected individuals were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred.
Send documentation to: Texas Workforce Commission, UI Support Services Department, Attn: DUA,
101 E. 15th St., Room 354, Austin, TX, 78778-0001, or fax it to 512-936-3250.
After applying for DUA, you must actively search for full-time employment unless TWC informs you that you are exempt from the work search requirement. Job seekers may visit local Workforce Solutions offices for access to job-search resources, job postings and training programs, as well as assistance with exploring career options, résumé and application preparation, career development and more. Customers also may connect with potential employers through TWC’s online job-search engine, by visiting WorkinTexas.com.