Winter storm disaster aid available in 18 additional counties

​​​AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in 18 additional counties as a resu​lt of the February winter storm. 

Atascosa, Bandera, Brooks, D​​​uva​​​l, Eastland, Ector, Goliad, Howard, Jim Hogg, Karnes, Kleberg, Leon, Llano, Newton, Robertson, Trinity, Webb, and Willacy Counties join 108 counties announced last week. 

Workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from the storm may be eligible. 

To be eligible, an individual must:​

• have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits, from any state, or must not qualify for unemployment benefits;

• have worked or been self-employed or was scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area;

• 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;

• not be able to perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster;

• have become the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household; or

• have been unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster.

Applications for DUA in these 18 counties must be submitted by April 1, 2021. Applications in the other 108 counties are due by March 26, 2021. 

Individuals may apply 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 severe storms.

Applicants must mail in or fax all required documentation within 21 days from the date of the application. 

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