Federal Aid Programs for California Disaster Recovery
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Release Number: HQ-07-027Factsheet
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Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's major disaster declaration issued for California.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
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Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
- Other relief programs: Food Commodities. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Explanation of Disaster Unemployment Assistance:
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DUA is funded by FEMA and administered, under a delegation of authority, by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). DUA provides unemployment benefits and re-employment services to individuals, including self-employed individuals, who were living or working in the affected areas at the time of the major disaster, who are unemployed as a result of the major disaster, and who are not covered under the regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program.
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Applicants must apply through California 's Employment Development Department (EDD) by phone, internet access or in person at local claims offices for benefit-eligibility determinations for either UI or DUA.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance, for individuals unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster, may begin with the week (as defined in state law) following the beginning date of the incident period and continue for as long as the claimant remains unemployed because of the disaster, but no longer than the 26 th week after the disaster declaration date.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 14-Mar-2007 09:00:14