Disaster Unemployment Assistance

News Release

Disaster Unemployment Assistance available to individuals affected by severe storms, tornadoes, associated flooding that began May 24

LITTLE ROCK - Individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of the severe storms, tornadoes and associated flooding that began in Franklin and Johnson counties on May 24, 2011, may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

At the request of Gov. Mike Beebe, President Barack Obama on July 8, 2011, declared Franklin and Johnson counties federal disaster areas. Among the different types of assistance available to individuals and households by the president’s declaration is unemployment assistance. Individuals who have temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits or Emergency Unemployment Compensation (such as self-employed individuals) may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, which provides unemployment benefits up to 32 weeks. The first possible week of compensation for DUA purposes is the week ending June 4, 2011, and the last possible week of compensation is the week ending January 7, 2012.

DUA claims may be filed at the following DWS offices:

Filing period from July 13, 2011 through August 11, 2011

Claims for these two counties must be filed between July 13, 2011, and August 11, 2011, at DWS offices from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours will be extended as needed. DWS offices also will provide re-employment assistance where appropriate. Claims filed after the deadline will be considered untimely and benefits denied, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date. 

To be eligible for benefits, individuals must have worked or have been scheduled to work in the disaster area, but because of the disaster, they no longer have a job, a place to work in the area or could not get to their place of work because of disaster damage. They also may qualify if they have been prevented from working because of an injury or illness resulting from the disaster or if they have become the head of household and need employment because the head of the household died as a result of the disaster. This benefit also may be available to self-employed individuals who have lost all or part of their livelihood as a result of the disaster.

Each claim is considered individually; therefore, individuals who believe they may be eligible should bring their Social Security card, the name and address of their last place of employment, and documents verifying income, such as income tax statements, recent pay stubs, W-2 forms or other proof of net income for 2010.

DWS officials understand that because of property losses some claimants may not have the necessary 2010 income information. Although some delays may result without this information, DWS staff will make every effort to work with DUA claimants to confirm their income information and expedite the claims-taking procedure.

News Release

Seven additional counties authorized for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

LITTLE ROCK - On June 22, 2011, Carroll, Chicot, Clark, Crawford, Dallas, Desha and Hot Spring counties were added to the list of Arkansas counties authorized for Disaster Unemployment Assistance as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and associated flooding that began on April 14, 2011. At the request of Gov. Mike Beebe, President Barack Obama previously declared Arkansas, Benton, Boone, Clay, Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Garland, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Madison, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saint Francis, Saline, Washington, White and Woodruff counties federal disaster areas.

Among the different types of assistance available to individuals and households by the president's declaration is unemployment assistance. Individuals who have temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits or Emergency Unemployment Compensation (such as self-employed individuals) may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, which provides unemployment benefits up to 29 weeks. The first possible week of compensation for DUA purposes is the week ending April 23, 2011, and the last possible week of compensation is the week ending November 5, 2011.

DUA claims may be filed at the following DWS offices:

Filing period from June 27, 2011 through July 26, 2011

Claims for the seven counties must be filed between June 27, 2011, and July 26, 2011, at DWS offices from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours will be extended as needed. DWS offices also will provide re-employment assistance where appropriate. Claims filed after the deadline will be considered untimely and benefits denied, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date. 

To be eligible for benefits, individuals must have worked or have been scheduled to work in the disaster area, but because of the disaster, they no longer have a job, a place to work in the area or could not get to their place of work because of disaster damage. They also may qualify if they have been prevented from working because of an injury or illness resulting from the disaster or if they have become the head of household and need employment because the head of the household died as a result of the disaster. This benefit also may be available to self-employed individuals who have lost all or part of their livelihood as a result of the disaster.

Each claim is considered individually; therefore, individuals who believe they may be eligible should bring their Social Security card, the name and address of their last place of employment, and documents verifying income, such as income tax statements, recent pay stubs, W-2 forms or other proof of net income for 2010.

DWS officials understand that because of property losses some claimants may not have the necessary 2010 income information. Although some delays may result without this information, DWS staff will make every effort to work with DUA claimants to confirm their income information and expedite the claims-taking procedure.