Six More Counties Receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance 

Release Date: July 3, 2008
Release Number: 1763-062

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

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Disaster victims who lost work because of recent storms and floods, including farmers, farm workers and the self-employed, may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in six more counties.

That means the assistance is available in all 54 Iowa counties designated eligible for individual assistance because of severe storms, tornadoes and floods beginning May 25 and continuing.

The program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), helps those who lost work because of the disaster.

The benefits cover self-employed workers not usually entitled to unemployment insurance, including Iowa farmers and farm workers, according to Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development, the state agency that administers the benefits.

Residents in the latest six counties to qualify - Dallas, Davis, Iowa, Lucas, Mitchell and Worth - must file claims for the disaster unemployment assistance by July 31, 2008. Filing deadlines are earlier for residents of the other counties declared as federal disaster areas. Details are available at any Iowa Workforce Development Center, or online at www.iowaworkforce.org.

The benefit is not just for those who lost work as a direct result of the storms and flooding. Also eligible are those who could not reach their job or self-employment location because of the disaster. Those who were to start work or self-employment but could not do so because of the conditions are also eligible.

Self-employed workers who were injured as a direct result of the disaster are eligible. And someone who became the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of household died as a direct result of the disaster is also eligible.

Individuals filing a claim must provide proof of past earnings, such as business records or bank statements, and their most recent income tax filing.

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, 03-Jul-2008 18:31:31