Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance available in 30 Indiana counties

Deadline for applications is July 19, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - As a result of the recent federal disaster declaration issued for Indiana, some workers in Adams, Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Posey, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, and Wayne counties may be eligible for special Disaster Unemployment Assistance Benefits (DUA). The disaster declaration was issued as a result of severe storms and flooding which took place since May 30, 2008.

To be eligible for assistance, workers or self-employed individuals, such as farmers, must be unemployed as a result of a federally declared major disaster. 

The deadline for affected workers to file is Saturday, July 19, 2008.

The Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1974 provides assistance to individuals who have lost their employment as a direct result of a major disaster. Federal assistance becomes available to eligible individuals when an area is declared a major disaster by President Bush.

Following a request from Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, President Bush signed a disaster declaration making 30 Indiana counties eligible for an array of federal disaster relief programs.

Unemployment assistance is available to unemployed workers if, as a direct result of the disaster, the individual:

• No longer has a job.
• Is unable to reach his or her place of work
• Was to commence work and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job.
• Has become the primary means of support for the household because the head of household died as a direct result of the disaster.
• Cannot work because of a disaster-related injury.

Interested claimants may apply for benefits at their local WorkOne center. To find the location of your closest WorkOne center go to http://www.in.gov/dwd/WorkOne/regions.html.

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