Unemployment assistance for workers affected by storms

May 04--Workers who became unemployed because of severe storms and tornadoes in Cullman, Etowah and Calhoun counties may qualify for unemployment assitance.

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced the assistance Friday.

People who live in or worked in these counties and became unemployed due to the severe storms and tornadoes during the period of March 19-20 may be eligible for assistance under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program, which was triggered when President Donald Trump designated the area as a disaster area on April 26.

"Generally, those who are eligible for state unemployment benefits are not eligible for DUA, but a claimant may qualify if state unemployment compensation benefits are exhausted," said Washington. "If you believe you are entitled to these benefits, I urge you to file a claim to see if you are eligible."

People who may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance include the following: individuals who no longer have a job, are unable to reach the place of employment, or were scheduled to start work in the major disaster area and the job no longer exists; those who became the breadwinner or major support of the family because the head of household died, or those who cannot work because of an injury incurred during the major disaster. All of the previously described circumstances must be as a direct result of the storms. Self-employed individuals must provide a copy of their 2017 income tax records.

Claims can be filed through ADOL's website at labor.alabama.gov or by calling 1-866-234-5382. The deadline to file a DUA claim is May 29, 2018, for Calhoun, Cullman and Etowah counties.

___

(c)2018 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)

Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.