HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — If Hurricane Beryl has affected your income, you might be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits.
Hurricane Beryl made the start of the work week challenging as the Category 1 storm hit early Monday morning. The storm caused flooding, power outages, and structural damage, preventing many from working.
Before receiving disaster unemployment benefits, individuals need to report their impact to the state.
Juliet Stipeche, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions, emphasized the need for at least 800 households in the affected area to report damage. A dedicated website has been set up for impacted individuals to fill out forms, including self-employed workers.
On Friday night, the Texas Workforce Commission announced federal approval for individual assistance, including disaster unemployment benefits. Eligibility criteria include:
– Exhaustion of regular unemployment benefits or ineligibility for such benefits
– Employment or self-employment in the disaster area, or scheduled to commence work there
– Inability to work due to physical damage to the workplace caused directly by the disaster
– Primary income loss due to the disaster
– Inability to work due to disaster-related injury
– Becoming the primary breadwinner due to the death of the household head
– Inability to reach work or self-employment location due to disaster-related travel disruptions
Applications can be submitted online or by calling (800) 939-6631 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline for applications is Sept. 9, 2024.
Workers impacted by earlier weather events in 2024, such as April flooding or May’s severe wind event, may also qualify for disaster benefits. Residents of Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Liberty, Polk, or Waller counties have until Aug. 15 to apply for these benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission.
