Disaster Unemployment Benefits Available
Release Date: May 22, 2003
Release Number: 1464-29
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
Nashville, TN -- Residents in the 46 Tennessee counties designated as eligible for individual federal disaster assistance may be eligible for compensation if they lost income as a direct result of the violent weather, even if self-employed.
Federal disaster assistance extends income compensation to anyone in the declared counties who have lost income because of the disaster, including farm or self-employed workers or others who are normally ineligible for state unemployment benefits for whatever reason.
"This program should help these folks recover from lost income they suffered during this spring's severe storms and tornadoes, " said John D. White, state coordinator of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). "If a person has exhausted their regular benefits, they may still be eligible for this program."
"The 26-week program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and administered by the State of Tennessee through its Labor and Workforce Development offices. Applicants must document their pre-disaster employment and earnings at a state Labor and Workforce Development office to determine if they are eligible," said White.
The benefits are administered by the same procedures as the regular state unemployment program. Compensation may be available to residents of any county who lost their source of income in a declared county as a direct result of the disaster. Unemployed persons should contact the Labor and Workforce Development office serving their county. For more information, call 1-800-344-8337 and select option 4.
To apply for other types of disaster assistance, residents should register using FEMA's toll-free telephone number, 1-800-621-3362 (1-800-462-7585 for persons with hearing or speech impairments).
Last Modified: Thursday, 22-May-2003 12:54:51