Texans who worked in the affected counties and are unemployed as a result of Hurricane Rita may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits. The DUA program, funded by FEMA and administered by the State of Texas, further extends coverage to self-employed people, farm workers and others who are usually ineligible for Texas Workforce Commission unemployment benefits.

To apply for DUA benefits, individuals must first file for unemployment insurance by calling the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Tele-Center network at 800/939-6631 or applying online at http://www.texasworkforce.org. Telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) users can communicate with TWC offices by using Relay Texas at 800/735-2989. Workers have until Nov. 30, 2005, to apply for DUA under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-1606-DR.

Individuals may be eligible for DUA benefits, if they:

• Have worked or been scheduled to work in the disaster area but because of the disaster no longer have a job, a place to work in the area or could not get to the place of work because of disaster damage.

• Have been prevented from working by a disaster-related injury or illness.

• Have become the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household.

• Were self-employed and lost all or part of their livelihood as a result of the disaster.

Job seekers may visit Texas Workforce Commission centers for access to job-search resources, job postings, training programs and other employment support services. Individuals may connect with potential employers through the TWC online job-search engine, http://www.WorkInTexas.com. Individuals also may call the U.S Department of Labor Hurricane Recovery Job Connection at 877/872-5627 or go online to http://www.dol.gov.

Evacuees who lost their jobs and left home because of Hurricane Katrina or Rita may be eligible to receive unemployment compensation where they currently live. Unemployed evacuees should register for assistance by calling the following toll-free numbers: for displaced Alabama workers--866/234-5382; for displaced Louisiana workers--800/430-8076; for displaced Mississippi workers--888/844-3577.

The 22 counties in Texas designated for assistance are: Angelina, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler and Walker. (10/31)