Disaster unemployment benefits available

Jun. 16--OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. -- The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in Washington and Osage counties until July 10.

Additionally, those who work in Kay, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner, Creek, Muskogee, Mayes, Delaware, Payne, Okmulgee, Pottawatomie, Sequoyah, Canadian, Logan and Ottawa counties can apply for DUA with varying deadlines.

Nowata County employees are not eligible at this time, the OESC said.

Under a disaster declaration signed by President Donald Trump, workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to the disaster in eligible counties may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. Applications submitted after the deadline dates will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after the deadline.

Before filing for DUA, OESC must determine state eligibility before determining eligibility for DUA. All individuals must file a regular state unemployment insurance claim by going to https://unemployment.state.ok.us/.

Once the claim is filed, if the individual is found to be ineligible, individuals affected by the recent severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and floods can call OESC at 1-800-555-1554, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Individuals who file should advise the Commission representative that the application is related to the damage caused by the severe storms, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding.

DUA, which is an unemployment insurance benefit made available for victims of a disaster, is available to individuals who: -- Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits or do not qualify for unemployment benefits;

-- Worked for an employer, were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area; -- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage, destruction, or inaccessibility of the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;

-- Are unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so due to the disaster;

-- Establish that work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;

-- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster;

-- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.

To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the DUA application is filed. Required documentation includes the individual's Social Security number, proof of earnings such asa copy of the most recent income tax forms, a current check stub, and proof of employment such as a documentation to support that you were working or were self-employed.

Either mail this documentation to: OESC P O Box 52006 Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2006 Attn: DUA desk; or Fax this information to 405-962-7524 Attn: DUA desk.

Job seekers may visit any Workforce Oklahoma offices for help in registering for work, accessing other resources as job readiness workshops, and labor market information. An office listing can be found online at https://www.ok.gov/oesc/. In addition, job seekers will be required to register for work in the OESC job search engine, OKJobMatch.

The website address for OKJobMatch is https://okjobmatch.com/ada/r/.

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