Texas Workforce Commission accepting applications for workers impacted by July flooding

The Texas Workforce Commission is accepting applications for disaster unemployment assistance for workers and self-employed individuals impacted by severe storms and flooding across Texas between July 12 and Aug. 4, 2026.  The assistance is available under a federal disaster declaration issued Sept. 1.  According to the Texas Workforce Commission, individuals in 20 designated counties may qualify if their employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the storms and flooding.

The designated counties include Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Crockett, Dimmit, Frio, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Medina, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde and Zavala.

The Texas Workforce Commission says eligible individuals can include those who exhausted regular unemployment benefits, do not qualify for traditional unemployment benefits or can no longer work because of disaster-related damage, injuries or restricted access to their workplace.  Individuals whose primary source of income was affected by the disaster may also qualify under certain circumstances, including those who were scheduled to begin employment when the storms occurred.

Applications can be submitted online through the Texas Workforce Commission’s Unemployment Benefits Services portal or by calling 800-939-6631.  Phone assistance is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time.

Applicants should identify their claim as related to damage caused by the July storms and flooding.  The deadline to apply for assistance under the disaster declaration is Dec. 29, 2026.