TWC Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) questions - approved for minimum amount with no way to reach agents

Yes, you can definitely get the DUA amount increased! When you initially apply, TWC often approves the minimum amount first while they wait for income verification. Your partner needs to submit proof of earnings ASAP - they typically allow 21 days from the application date. For DUA specifically, you'll need to submit documentation of employment and income for the tax year prior to the disaster. This can be: - Tax returns (Schedule C if self-employed) - Pay stubs - W2 forms - Bank statements showing deposits - Business records if self-employed You can upload these documents through the TWC unemployment portal under the "Disaster Unemployment Assistance" section. Look for "Provide Additional Information" or "Document Upload" options.

I went thru this exact same thing after the flood damaged our business!!!! Got approved for the minimum DUA then couldn't get anyone to ANSWER when I called. It took me SEVEN DAYS of calling to finally get a human!!!! This is so frustrating when your trying to just get by after a disaster!!!!

For getting through to TWC on the phone, try using Claimyr.com - it was a total game changer for me. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when they get a TWC agent. I was skeptical at first, but after trying for almost 2 weeks on my own, I gave it a shot and got through to TWC in about 45 minutes. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh For the DUA amount, I was also initially approved at the minimum. The agent explained they need proof of income specifically from the tax year before the disaster. I uploaded my tax forms through the portal, but having an agent note my account really seemed to speed things up. They adjusted my weekly benefit amount within 10 days after that call.

when i got dua last time they gave me min amount too... u gotta send them ur tax returns from last year... not this years but the one b4... they usually give u like 21 days to send this stuff in or the amount stays the same... but good luck cause twc website is always crashing when u try to upload stuff lol

To answer your follow-up question - it's definitely helpful to include a brief cover letter explaining that you're submitting income verification for DUA recalculation. Include your partner's name, last 4 of SSN, and the TWC claim ID number at the top. Also important: DUA uses a different calculation method than regular unemployment. They look at the tax year BEFORE the disaster, not the base period used for regular UI claims. Make sure you're submitting documents from the correct time period. Once submitted, I recommend requesting a payment every two weeks as normal while waiting for the recalculation. They'll typically pay the minimum amount first, then issue a supplemental payment for the difference once they adjust the weekly benefit amount.

The exact same thing happened to me! Got approved for minimum DUA ($264) and couldn't understand why. I was making almost $950/week before the disaster. Turns out they couldn't verify my income because I had switched jobs in the last year. The frustrating part was trying to reach someone at TWC to explain what documents I needed. I ended up driving to a local Workforce Solutions office and getting help in person. The staff there helped me submit the right documents and my weekly amount was adjusted about 10 days later. They also backdated the increase to cover all my previous payments.

In response to the question about Claimyr - yes, it definitely worked for me. They don't need your SSN or anything sensitive - just your phone number so they can call you when they get a TWC agent on the line. I was super skeptical too but was at my wit's end after days of busy signals. One important thing about DUA that nobody mentioned yet: it's really important to continue requesting payments every two weeks even while you're trying to get the amount adjusted. If you miss a payment request period, it can cause bigger problems than just the low amount issue.

I handle DUA claims professionally, and there's a lot of confusion about how this program works. Here are the key facts: 1. DUA minimum payments are automatically issued when TWC can't immediately verify your income. This is BY DESIGN to get money flowing quickly after a disaster. 2. You have 21 calendar days (not business days) from your initial application date to submit income verification for recalculation. 3. For the income documents, TWC specifically needs proof from the most recently completed tax year before the disaster - not the base period used for regular UI. 4. Common mistakes: submitting incomplete tax returns, only sending partial pay documentation, or sending current year information instead of prior year. 5. Submit everything through the TWC portal using the DUA document upload section specifically - not the regular UI document upload. You can also contact your state representative's office if you continue having trouble reaching TWC. They often have dedicated channels to help constituents with unemployment issues.

Yes, for combined W-2 and 1099 income, you should submit the complete tax return including all schedules along with any W-2 forms. TWC will consider the total income when recalculating the DUA amount. Make sure the return is signed (even if e-filed) and includes all pages of Schedule C for any self-employment. If possible, also include a signed statement breaking down how much came from each source of income. This isn't strictly required, but it helps the claims examiner process things faster since they don't have to spend time figuring out which portions came from which source.