Disaster Unemployment Deadline For 27 Counties is One Week Away 

Release Date: April 18, 2006
Release Number: 1631-038

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

COLUMBIA , Mo. -- For 27 Missouri counties, Tuesday, April 25, 2006, is the last day to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). This assistance is for people who are out of work due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred in Missouri beginning March 11 through March 13, 2006.

The 27 Missouri counties where the DUA deadline is April 25 are: Bates, Benton , Boone, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cooper, Greene, Henry, Howard, Iron, Jefferson, Lawrence , Lincoln , Mississippi , Montgomery , Morgan, New Madrid , Newton , Phelps, Putnam, Scott, St. Clair, Taney, Vernon , Webster and Wright.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance extends coverage to those who are not eligible under the regular state unemployment insurance program. Those who may qualify include self-employed persons, farm workers and individuals who are unable to work due to injury caused by the disaster. Those whose workplace was or is closed because of the disaster may also be eligible. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) urge those who are unsure whether they qualify to apply anyway.

Farmers or other self-employed individuals and individuals who are denied regular unemployment insurance benefits may now be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance.

Funds for this program are provided by the federal government and do not come from the state employer payroll taxes used to finance regular unemployment insurance benefits.

Those interested in applying for Disaster Unemployment Assistance should call the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (800) 788-4002, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is administered by the State of Missouri and funded by FEMA.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Apr-2006 08:51:37