Disaster-Related Unemployment Program Extended
Release Date: October 21, 1999
Release Number: 1292-76
» More Information on North Carolina Hurricane Floyd & Irene
RALEIGH, N.C. -- As the long-term impact of Hurricane Floyd on Eastern North Carolina becomes clearer, federal and state officials have agreed to extend the filing period for a special federal/state unemployment compensation program triggered by the storm.
The program allows people who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster to collect special unemployment benefits.
J. Parker Chesson, Jr., chairman of the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, said the new deadline for applicants has been extended to November 22nd.
The following applicants may be eligible under the program:
- Self-employed individuals including farmers and fishermen
- Small business owners
- Individuals injured as a result of the disaster
- Any individual not otherwise eligible for regular state unemployment insurance benefits
The federally funded supplemental disaster unemployment benefits are administered by the state in the same way as the North Carolina unemployment program. Individual claims should be filed at local Employment Security Commission offices. The disaster unemployment compensation program extends coverage only to people who would otherwise be ineligible for unemployment compensation under the regular state program.
"We're willing to go the extra mile if it helps disaster victims," said Glenn C. Woodard, federal coordinating officer. Woodard urged victims who have not filed unemployment claims related to the storm to take advantage of the extra window of opportunity to contact a nearby employment security commission office.
For assistance in filing claims, residents may call the ESC Unemployment Assistance Center's toll free number, 1-888-834-6284 or visit the Employment Security Commission's Web site at www.esc.state.nc.us.
Last Modified: Thursday, 11-Dec-2003 14:03:43