Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available in 20 Counties Impacted by July Storms and Flooding

AUSTIN -The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is now accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) due to severe storms and flooding that occurred between July 12 and August 4, 2026.

Under the Presidential Disaster Declaration (DR-4935-TX) dated Sept. 1, 2026, workers and self-employed individuals in the designated counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the July storms and flooding may be eligible for DUA benefits: Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Crockett, Dimmit, Frio, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Medina, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala counties.

Individuals affected by the severe weather in the designated counties can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling TWC at (800) 939-6631 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., CST Monday through Friday. Applications for DUA benefits under this declaration must be submitted by December 29, 2026.

Individuals should specify that their applications are related to the damage caused by the July storms and flooding.

DUA, which is an unemployment insurance benefit made available especially for victims of disaster, is available to individuals who:

• Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits, 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; or
• Were 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.

Unemployment may be considered a direct result of the disaster when it results from physical damage to the workplace, physical inaccessibility caused by a government closure in immediate response to the disaster, or certain immediate losses of work or revenue connected to a damaged, destroyed, or government-closed entity in the disaster area.

To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed. Applicants must provide their Social Security number when filing. They must also submit documentation establishing that they were employed, self-employed, or scheduled to begin employment or self-employment when the disaster occurred.

TWC must have documents that prove you were working, or scheduled to start working, at the time of the disaster. If you do not send us proof of employment by the 21-day deadline, TWC will halt DUA payments, and you will be responsible for repaying any benefits you received. In some cases, TWC can use information in our system, such as wage records, to prove you were employed at the time of the disaster.

Submit your proof of employment using TWC's online UI Submission Portal for the fastest review. Select DUA Proof of Employment at Time of Disaster from the Type of Submission drop-down menu. If you cannot use the online portal, you can submit the proof by fax or mail.

Texas Workforce Commission
Attn: DUA Proof
P.O. Box 149137
Austin, TX 78714-9137

Fax: (512) 322-2867

Visit the TWC website for more information about connecting with local Workforce Solutions offices to access 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.

Additional counties affected by the July storms and flooding may be added to this disaster declaration. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) encourages Texans to report damage to homes and businesses using the online Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). These surveys help emergency officials determine eligibility for federal assistance such as DUA.

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Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and its services in coordination with its local workforce development boards network, call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Subscribe to email updates to receive notifications about TWC programs and services.