TWC denied my DUA claim saying I wasn't in disaster area - but I am! Has this happened to anyone?

Yes!!! This EXACT SAME THING happened to me last week! I'm in Montgomery County (also definitely in the disaster zone) and got denied for the same ridiculous reason. I'm convinced they're just auto-denying DUA claims hoping people won't appeal. I just filed my appeal yesterday. The whole system is broken!!

I had something similar happen with my DUA claim after the 2024 hurricane. This is actually a common error in their system when processing disaster claims. The most likely explanation is that they didn't properly match your address to the FEMA disaster declaration map. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call TWC and specifically ask to speak with a DUA specialist (not just any agent) 2. Have your FEMA disaster declaration number ready (should be on the TWC website) 3. Provide proof that your address is in the declared county (utility bill, etc.) 4. Ask them to expedite a review rather than waiting for the full appeal hearing In my case, they were able to reverse the decision within 10 days instead of going through the entire appeal process, which would have taken 6-8 weeks.

I work with a lot of self-employed people who had DUA claims after the floods, and I've seen this exact error multiple times. It's actually a coding issue in their system. When you submitted your business address, did you use a PO Box by any chance? Or is your mailing address different from your physical business location? The TWC system sometimes only checks the mailing address against the disaster zone map, not your actual work location. For your appeal, make sure you include: 1. A map showing your business location within the disaster area 2. The specific disaster declaration number for the March floods (TX-DR-4759) 3. A statement clearly explaining this is an address verification error Don't just rely on the appeal - try reaching TWC directly to expedite. Good luck!

The same thing happened to my neighbor and she got it fixed without going through the whole appeal process. She said she had to talk to a supervisor though, not just the regular phone people.

I used Claimyr to reach TWC when I had problems with my disaster claim. After trying for weeks to get through the normal way, Claimyr got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it when my benefits were at stake. They called me back when it was my turn in line so I didn't have to stay on hold. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Their website is claimyr.com if you want to look into it. The agent I spoke with was able to flag my account for immediate review by a DUA specialist.

this all sounds like way too much work just to get what ur entitled to. the twc agents dont even know their own rules half the time. i got denied 3 times for reglar unemploymnt before i got approved last year. keep appealing and eventually somone competent will look at ur case

I handled several DUA appeals after the March floods. This is what's likely happening: TWC uses an automated system to check addresses against FEMA's disaster declaration database. Common errors include: - Address format mismatches (St. vs Street, directions like N/S/E/W in wrong field) - ZIP code boundary issues (some ZIP codes cross county lines) - Business vs residential address confusion - Data entry errors by TWC staff The good news: This type of denial has a very high reversal rate on appeal because it's objectively verifiable. While waiting for your appeal, I recommend: 1. Contact your state representative's office - they can often expedite TWC issues 2. Submit a TWC password reset request through the portal - this often triggers a call back from TWC within 48 hours (unusual trick but works) 3. Prepare a simple one-page document with your address highlighted on a FEMA disaster map Be persistent. DUA benefits are federally funded but state-administered, so TWC has to follow specific verification protocols.

Just wanted to follow up - did anyone get this resolved? I'm now assisting another client with the exact same issue and would love to know what ultimately worked. The TWC appeal process timeframes seem to be all over the place lately.