Eight More Iowa Counties Receiving Disaster Unemployment Assistance 

Release Date: July 15, 2008
Release Number: 1763-090

» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Disaster victims who lost work because of recent storms, tornadoes and floods, including farmers, farm workers and the self-employed, may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in eight more Iowa counties.

That means the assistance is available in all 62 Iowa counties designated eligible for Individual Assistance because of severe storms, tornadoes and floods beginning May 25 and continuing.

The program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), helps those who lost work because of the disaster.

Residents in the latest eight counties to qualify - Clinton, Decatur, Dubuque, Greene, Keokuk, Pottawattamie, Van Buren and Washington - must file claims for the disaster unemployment assistance by August 12, 2008. Details are available at any Iowa Workforce Development Center, or online at www.iowaworkforce.org.

In addition, Iowa Governor Chet Culver has announced that all counties included in the federal disaster declaration will now have until August 12 to file disaster unemployment claims. Many counties - including Butler, Black Hawk and Buchanan - had expired or upcoming filing deadlines.

"Hardworking Iowans now have one more resource available to them as we continue our statewide efforts to rebuild Iowa," said Gov. Culver. By extending the deadline for the previous counties, all declared counties will now have until August 12 to file.

The benefits cover self-employed workers not usually entitled to unemployment insurance, including Iowa farmers and farm workers, according to Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development, the state agency that administers the benefits.

Also eligible are those who could not reach their job or self-employment location because of the disaster. Those who were to start work or self-employment but could not do so because of the conditions are also eligible.

Self-employed workers who were injured as a direct result of the disaster are eligible, as is someone who became the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of household died as a direct result of the disaster.

Individuals filing a claim must provide proof of past earnings, such as business records or bank statements, and their most recent income tax filing.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Jul-2008 10:21:14