Anyone denied Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from TWC? Need to know why!

Yes, I got denied for DUA last year after the tornado damage in East Texas. My denial was also for "insufficient proof of self-employment" even though I sent in my Schedule C and proof of income. What I learned through the appeal process is that TWC requires very specific documentation: 1. You need proof you were working at the time of the disaster (recent invoices/contracts) 2. You need proof of income from the tax year prior to the disaster (2024 taxes in your case) 3. You need documentation that directly shows how the disaster prevented you from working (canceled contracts specifically mentioning the flooding) For my appeal, I submitted client statements confirming canceled work, photos of damage to my work equipment, and a more detailed explanation of how the disaster impacted my ability to work. My appeal was approved after about 3 weeks.

i got denied too after harvey years ago. total bs. twc ALWAYS denies first application for dua. they hope u give up!!!! they dont want to pay self employed ppl.

This happened to my brother too! He's a plumber and got denied because he couldn't prove he had jobs scheduled during the exact week of the disaster. Make sure you have documentation showing you had specific work planned during the affected period. That's what tripped him up.

I successfully appealed a DUA denial last year. The key is to be extremely specific about how the disaster directly prevented you from working. For landscaping, you should highlight: 1. Properties you normally service were inaccessible due to flooding 2. Customers canceled because they were dealing with their own flood damage 3. Your equipment was damaged or you couldn't transport it through flooded areas 4. Safety concerns prevented you from working in flooded areas Also, make sure you clearly establish that your business was active and profitable before the disaster. Bank statements showing regular deposits from clients in the months before the flood are extremely helpful. One more thing - you only have 14 days to appeal, but make sure your appeal is thorough even if it means taking most of that time. A rushed, incomplete appeal often leads to a second denial.

I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get through to TWC after my DUA denial!!! Every day, calling 20+ times, always busy signals or disconnects after waiting for an hour! FINALLY I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to a TWC agent in less than 15 minutes. It was a lifesaver - the agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal and even noted in my file that I had called to discuss the issue. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh or their website claimyr.com. Seriously worth it when you're on a 14-day appeal deadline!

wait im confused... isnt DUA different from regular unemployment? i thought disaster assistance was from FEMA not TWC? can someone clarify this for me

omg i am literally going through the same thing right now with my photography business!!! so frustrating when everything was underwater and they're like "but where's your proof" 🙄

As someone who's helped many clients through DUA appeals, the most common reasons for denial are: 1. Insufficient proof that your unemployment is a direct result of the disaster (rather than other factors) 2. Inadequate documentation of pre-disaster self-employment activity 3. Not meeting the minimum income requirements from the previous tax year 4. Missing the application deadline (30 days after disaster declaration) 5. Eligibility for regular UI benefits (which would disqualify you from DUA) For your appeal, focus on point #1 - establishing a clear causal link between the flooding and your inability to continue your landscaping business. Photos of affected work sites, communications with clients specifically mentioning the flooding, and a detailed timeline showing your business activity before and after the disaster are crucial. Also, be aware that DUA has a maximum benefit period (typically 26 weeks). If the disaster happened over a month ago, make sure you're documenting ongoing impacts to your business that continue to prevent normal operations.

Anyone know if they backpay DUA from the date of the disaster or just from when your appeal gets approved? I'm thinking about appealing my denial too.

Quick update - I spent all morning gathering documentation for my appeal. I found emails from 8 different clients canceling jobs specifically due to flood damage, photos of three job sites that were underwater, and my work calendar showing all the scheduled jobs for the month. I'm also writing a detailed letter explaining exactly how the flooding made it impossible to continue my landscaping work. Hoping this will be enough for the appeal!