Disaster Unemployment Help Available; Filing Times Short
Release Date: October 12, 2002
Release Number: 1437-36
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Lili
Baton Rouge, LA -- People who lost their job as a result of damage by Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance.
Self-employed and unemployed workers who are not covered by regular state unemployment insurance programs may apply for this federally funded assistance.
Program officials point out that there is a difference between emergency and regular unemployment benefits. There is a 30-day period for filing for emergency unemployment, which is shorter than the filing window for regular benefits.
Emergency unemployment claims for Tropical Storm Isidore must be filed by October 31, 2002. The cutoff date for filing a claim for Hurricane Lili is November 7, 2002.
Applicants should take their social security numbers with them when visiting the nearest state or parish unemployment registration office.
Disaster unemployment assistance covers those who:
- Are unable to work because their place of employment was put out of operation, or they were unable to travel to their workplace because of flood damage to roads and bridges;
- Are self-employed but are prevented from working due to the effects of flood damage;
- Have become the major support of a household because of severe injury or death to the usual head of the household; and
- Cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.
Listed below are parishes that were declared eligible for the temporary disaster unemployment benefits:
| Region | Addresses and phone numbers |
|---|---|
Alexandria Region Avoyelles |
1118 3rd St. P.O. Box 631 Alexandria, La. 71309-0631 Phone # (318) 487-5532 |
| Baton Rouge Region Ascension, Iberville, Livingston, |
1991 Wooddale Blvd. Baton Rouge, La. 70806 Phone # (225) 925-4311 |
Houma Region Assumption, Lafourche, |
7528 Main St. Houma, La. 70360 Phone # (985) 857-3640 |
Lafayette Region Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Layfayette, |
706 East Vermillion P.O. Box 3447 Lafayette, La. 70502-3447 Phone # (337) 262-5540 |
Lake Charles Region Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, |
1028 Enterprise Blvd. P.O. Box 1867 Lake Charles, La. 70602-1867 Phone # (337) 491-2411 |
New Orleans Region Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, |
1516 Thalia Street New Orleans, La. 70130-4426 Phone # (504) 568-7280 |
Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Apr-2003 13:23:43