Employment assistance available to area residents impacted by severe weather

Jul. 15--ENID, Okla. -- Local residents whose employment was impacted by May and June severe weather can apply for employment assistance following a presidential disaster declaration.

Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred between May 7 and June 9.

Under a presidential disaster declaration issued on June 1, and amended on June 17, workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to the disaster in Cherokee, Le Flore, Noble and Nowata counties may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance benefits.

The end of the filing period for these individuals is July 18. The presidential disaster declaration was amended one additional time to include other counties. The application deadline for individuals affected by storms in Alfalfa, Craig, Garfield, Kingfisher, Pawnee and Woods counties is July 22.

OESC must determine state eligibility before determining eligibility for DUA. All individuals must file a regular state unemployment insurance claim by going to wwwunemployment.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 in the affected counties can apply for DUA benefits by calling OESC at (800) 555-1554 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Select option one to file a claim or request specific information about your claim, then select option five to speak with a claims representative.

Individuals who file should advise the commission representative the application is related to the damage caused by the severe weather.

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 day the DUA application is filed. Required documentation includes the individual's Social Security number, proof of earnings such as a 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 to (405) 962-7524 Attn: DUA desk.

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