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Disaster unemployment assistance available

27 Counties elegible for additional benefits

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to workers in Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton and Williamson counties who are out of work as a direct result of severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30th, 2010, and are continuing, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James Neeley reported today.  The declaration number is FEMA-1909-DR.

“This is a direct line of assistance for those who are out of work due to this natural disaster,” said Commissioner Neeley.  “These counties are the starting point, and we’ll open this assistance to other counties as they are declared disaster areas by FEMA.”

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the program on behalf of the federal government.  According to Neeley, persons unemployed as a direct result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes must file their claim for DUA benefits within 30 days of this announcement.

Individuals who are not covered for regular unemployment benefits may qualify for disaster unemployment benefits.  This includes self-employed workers and others not covered by the state unemployment insurance program whose source of income has been interrupted by the disaster damage.

If possible, individuals should have access to their 2009 income tax return, Social Security Number, and any papers with wage and employment information prior to the disaster.

Weekly DUA benefit amounts are determined in the same way as regular unemployment benefits.  Benefits range from $114.00 to $275.00 per week and are payable up to 26 weeks after the day of declaration, which was May 4th, 2010.  DUA benefits will end if unemployment is no longer the direct result of the disaster.

If your unemployment claim is a direct result of the disaster, do not file your unemployment claim by Internet to avoid delays.

Persons who are unemployed as a result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30th, 2010, who need to file an unemployment claim may call (615) 253-0800, extension 7599 locally or 1-877-813-0950, extension 7599, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays or report in person to one of the following TDLWD Career Centers.  Designated Career Centers take claims on Mondays at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm; Thursdays at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm; and Fridays at 8:30 am

Your local Career Center is located at Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 406 and will be taking unemployment claims as a result of the disaster.  These are the 22 career centers that take mass lack-of-work claims on a regular basis.

For updates, please check the agency’s Web site at www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/ .

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