Why you might be receiving more unemployment claims.

If you have noticed an unusual uptick in unemployment claims, even from existing employees, it may be because the Texas Workforce Commission is the agency that administers Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or DUA.  Workers who may have lost jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work do to Hurricane Harvey are applying for DUA.  Because the application for DUA and unemployment benefits both come from TWC, an employer may be surprised to receive a claim from an individual that the employer characterized as an independent contractor.