Disaster Unemployment Assistance Now Available for Illinois Flood Victims
Release Date: July 10, 2008
Release Number: 1771-015
» More Information on Illinois Severe Storms and Flooding
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Residents located in Illinois' 18 disaster-declared counties who are out of work as a direct result of the severe storms and flood of June 1 and continuing may be eligible for weekly benefit payments under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program.
Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the program is administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
On July 1, 2008, 14 counties were designated for DUA. They are: Adams, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper,
Lake, Lawrence, Mercer and Winnebago. The deadline to apply for unemployment assistance in those counties is July 30, 2008.
Four additional counties were designated July 8 and they are: Calhoun, Jersey, Rock Island and Whiteside. The deadline to apply for unemployment assistance in those counties is Aug. 7, 2008.
The number of weeks an individual may be eligible for unemployment payments may vary depending upon their particular circumstances; however, the unemployment must be a result of the major disaster. The maximum weekly benefit amount is determined by the state.
Under the DUA program, certain individuals who normally would not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits, for example, farmers, self-employed persons, independent contractors and workers who have not earned sufficient wage credits would be eligible to apply.
Other applicants eligible to apply are those who: (1) became the major support for a household because of the disaster-related death of the head of the household, (2) cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster, (3) could not work or lost work as a result of physical damage or destruction of a business, or (4) are unable to work because of the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal government.
Except for persons with an injury or self-employed individuals trying to restart their businesses, individuals must be able to work and available for work, which are the same requirements for regular state unemployment insurance benefits.
Applicants can register for assistance by calling or visiting their local IDES office, which is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Jul-2008 13:19:22