Congressman Gonzalez Encourages Hidalgo County Residents with Weather-Related Unemployment Issues to Seek FEMA Assistance

July 25, 2018
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) is encouraging Hidalgo County residents that suffered temporary or permanent job loss, as a result of recent severe storms and flooding from June 19 to July 13, 2018, to apply for available Disaster Unemployment Assistance, offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Recently, after Texas' Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend suffered severe storms and flooding, the President announced a Federal Disaster Declaration, DR-4377-FEMA, after multiple requests from Congressman Gonzalez.

"Nobody in the 15th District of Texas should face financial uncertainty in the wake of natural disasters," Congressman Gonzalez said. "It would be my hope that this assistance can provide affected residents with temporary aid as they enter back into the workforce. I encourage all to seek assistance from FEMA."

Eligible applicants for Disaster Unemployment Assistance are individuals who:

  • Would not be eligible for normal unemployment benefits, such as self-employed persons and farm workers.
  • Worked or were self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the declared disaster counties.
  • Can no longer work or perform service due to physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the flooding.
  • Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform is a direct result of the flooding.
  • Cannot perform work or self-employment due to an injury as a direct result of the flooding.
  • Became the breadwinner or major support of household due to the death of the head of household.

Applications may be made online through Texas Workforce Center's website, twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/disaster-unemployment-assistance, or by calling the TWC's Tele-Center at (800) 939-6631 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. CT on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT on weekends.

To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days of when the DUA application is filed. This includes Social Security number, a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs, and documentation to support that you were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred.

The congressman will continue to work with local, state, and federal officials to continue to help South Texans rebuild and recover.

Issues:Economy