Benefit claims must be filed within 30 days
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development announced Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available for workers in Dyer, Lake, Obion, Shelby and Stewart counties as a direct result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding for the incident period beginning on April 19th, 2011, and continuing. The declaration number is FEMA-1979-DR.
“As expected, a second disaster declaration has been issued by FEMA to address the damage, destruction and hardship caused by the flood waters of the Mississippi River,” stated Labor Commissioner Karla Davis. “It will take some time and a lot of hard work to recover, but labor staff is ready to provide assistance through regular unemployment and Disaster Unemployment Assistance.”
This brings the total to 15 counties that have been approved for individual assistance.
Persons affected by the disaster under FEMA-1979-DR for the approved counties of Dyer, Lake, Obion, Shelby and Stewart will have until June 9th, 2011, to file for disaster unemployment benefits.
Persons affected by the disaster under FEMA-1974-DR for the approved counties of Bledsoe, Cocke, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe and Rhea have until June 6th, 2011, to file for disaster unemployment benefits.
Persons affected by the disaster under FEMA-1974-DR for the approved counties of Bradley, Greene, Hamilton and Washington have until June 2nd, 2011, to file for disaster unemployment benefits.
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 your unemployment claim is a direct result of the disaster, do not file your claim by internet to avoid delays. You may call 1-866-331-1271, extension 7599, between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm weekdays.
If possible, individuals should have access to their 2010 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 $112.00 to $275.00 per week and are payable up to 26 weeks after the day of declaration, which was May 9th, 2011. DUA benefits will end if unemployment is no longer the direct result of the disaster.
Persons who are unemployed as a direct result of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and associated flooding for incident period beginning April 19th, 2011, who need to file a Tennessee unemployment claim or DUA claim may call 615-253-0800, extension 7599, or 1-866-331-1271, extension 7599, from 8:00am to 4:30pm weekdays or report in person to one of the following TDLWD Career Centers. Designated Career Centers take claims on Mondays and Thursdays at 8:30am.
These are the 22 career centers that take mass lack-of-work claims on a regular basis.
Athens | 410 Congress Parkway |
Bristol | 1712 West State Street |
Chattanooga | 5600 Brainerd Road, Suite A-5 |
Clarksville | Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 406 |
Columbia | 119 Nashville Highway, Suite 106, Northway Shopping Ctr. |
Cookeville | 580 South Jefferson Ave., Suite A |
Crossville | 60 Ridley Street |
Dyersburg | 439 McGaughey Street |
Gallatin | 175 College Street |
Humboldt | 1481 Mullins Street |
Jacksboro | 1016 Main Street |
Jackson | 362 Carriage House Drive |
Johnson City | 2515 Wesley Street |
Knoxville | 1610 University Avenue |
Lawrenceburg | 702 Mahr Avenue |
McMinnville | 107 Lyon Street |
Murfreesboro | 1313 Old Fort Parkway |
Nashville | 2200 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. (previously Metro Center Blvd.) |
Paris | 1023 Mineral Wells Avenue, Suite F |
Rogersville | 1112 East Main Street |
Talbott/Morristown | 6057 W. Andrew Johnson Highway, Alpha Square, Suite A |
Tullahoma | 111 East Lincoln Street |
If persons affected by the disaster are located in Shelby County they may file their DUA claim by calling 615-253-0800, extension 7599, or 1-866-331-1271, extension 7599. The following Tennessee Career Centers process walk-in unemployment claims from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday:
Memphis – Mendenhall | 5368 South Mendenhall Mall |
Memphis – Raleigh | 2850 Austin Peay Hwy., Suite 132 |
Memphis – Poplar | 1295 Poplar Avenue |
Collierville | 942 West Poplar, Suite 4 |
Somerville | 121 West Court Square |
Ripley | 301C Lake Drive |
Covington | 973 Highway 51 North Bypass |
For updates, please check our agency’s Web site at www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/.