Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline Approaching
for Workers in 34 Counties Affected by Hurricane Ike

Workers encouraged to file online by Friday, December 12, deadline

AUSTIN – The last day to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is Friday, December 12, 2008, under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1791-DR for individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Ike between Sunday, September 7, and Thursday, October 2, 2008.

Individuals affected in Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Washington counties can apply.

Unemployed Texans Granted an Additional 7-Week Extension of Emergency UI Benefits

TWC Will Notify All Potentially Eligible Claimants by Mail

AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced today a seven-week federally funded extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. Congress passed the legislation, which President George W. Bush signed into law, authorizing the extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC).

The legislation provides up to seven additional weeks of emergency UI benefits for eligible Texans who have exhausted their UI benefits and are still unemployed. The extended benefits are entirely federally funded, and employers will not be charged for any claims paid on this extension.

TWC will send a letter with written instructions to all claimants who have exhausted their benefits from the first extension. The letter will explain how and when to make their first payment request. To expedite the process, TWC is asking claimants to mail their responses in the prepaid envelopes provided with the letter. Eligible claimants who are currently receiving emergency benefits should continue to request payment on their scheduled day.

Claimants may update their address information online through paymentrequest.texasworkforce.org or by contacting a UI Tele-Center listed below.

Austin local:                (512) 340-4300

Dallas local:                 (214) 252-1200

El Paso local:               (915) 832-6400

Fort Worth local:          (817) 420-1600

Houston local:             (281) 983-1100

McAllen local:             (956) 984-4700

San Antonio local:       (210) 258-6600

Others call toll free:     (800) 939-6631

Reemployment services are available through Texas Workforce Centers or by accessing http://www.WorkInTexas.com for information.