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Disaster Unemployment Assistance Is Available Now

BISMARCK, N.D. — People whose employment was affected by the severe storms and flooding beginning March 13 and continuing may apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds the program, which is administered by Job Service North Dakota. Residents in the 26 counties designated for Individual Assistance may qualify, as well as persons residing outside a designated county whose employment was affected in a designated county. The claims period began March 13; deadline to apply is May 13.

"It is a priority for us to work with FEMA to administer Disaster Unemployment Assistance and help address disaster victims' needs for financial assistance during this difficult time," Maren Daley, executive director of Job Service North Dakota, said. "We encourage North Dakotans who have lost employment or wages due to severe storms or flooding to apply for benefits through this program."

DUA differs from traditional unemployment insurance in that it is available to workers who are self-employed, including farmers and ranchers. People who were scheduled to begin work but were not able to due to the disaster are also eligible.

DUA is available to individuals who:



* Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
* Establish that work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;
* Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state;
* Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster;
* Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household, or
* Cannot reach their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.



Counties declared for Individual Assistance are Adams, Barnes, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill and Williams.



The initial application for DUA can be filed by completing the form(s) that can be found under the Disaster Unemployment link on www.jobsnd.com and returning the form(s) to Job Service by mail or fax. Mail to Job Service North Dakota, Benefits Unit, P.O. Box 5507, Bismarck, ND 58506-5507 or fax to 701-328-2728.

Claims may also be filed by calling Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-1630, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For local reemployment services, job seekers and employers should contact their local Job Service North Dakota office, listed at www.jobsnd.com.

The first possible week of compensation for DUA purposes is the week ending Saturday, March 21, continuing until Saturday, September 26, 2009, as long as the unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Benefits are based on past income earned during calendar year 2008 and range from $141 to $406 per week.

To file a claim, individuals will need items such as their Social Security numbers, a copy of their 2008 federal income tax forms, business financial statements, pay stubs/vouchers, trip tickets, crop elevator receipts/credits, bank receipts; and a statement from their last employer affirming they were working at the time of the disaster or a copy of a letter of hire.

Self-employed individuals should include a copy of Schedule C, F, SE or K with Form 1040. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the claim was filed. Claims filed after May 13 will be denied unless the claimant can provide a valid reason for the delay.

For more information on North Dakota disaster recovery operations, visit http://www.fema.gov/midwestfloods.