Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available
Release Date: November 3, 2005
Release Number: 1610-005
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MERRIMACK, N.H. -- Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been approved for Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Sullivan Counties in New Hampshire.
Individuals, including self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas at the time of the major disaster, may be eligible for assistance under either the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Program or the Unemployment Compensation Program. Individuals eligible for DUA may also include:
- Individuals who were unable to get to their job because they were required to travel through the affected area and were prevented from doing so by the disaster.
- Individuals who were about to commence employment but were prevented from doing so because of the disaster.
- Individuals who became the breadwinner or major supporter for a household because of the death of the former head of household in the disaster.
- Individuals who cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.
DUA is a wholly federally financed program which provides assistance to those individuals suffering the loss or interruption of employment, which has been their principal source of income and livelihood as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for Unemployment Compensation under the regular Unemployment Insurance Programs.
Disaster Unemployment claims must be filed by 11-26-05. DUA is available to eligible individuals starting with the week ending October 15, 2005. It is available to an individual as long as the individual’s unemployment caused by the major disaster continues, but no longer than 26 weeks after the declaration of the major disaster. Apply by calling 1-800-468-1608 to open a claim. Applicants filing DUA claims will be asked about their work history for the last 18 months and may be asked to provide paperwork that shows their earnings.
Local New Hampshire Employment Security offices will provide employment services offices (including counseling and referrals to suitable work opportunities and suitable training) to assist individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster in obtaining suitable work as soon as possible.
For more info, call the DUA Coordinator at 603-656-6607.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 03-Nov-2005 15:47:09