Federal Disaster Assistance to Help Unemployed

CHICAGO - Individuals and business owners out of work as a direct result of this summer's severe rain storms and flooding might be eligible for federal disaster relief funds, the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced today.

"This summer's flooding continues to challenge many our families throughout Illinois, and I am pleased federal authorities agree with me that more needs to be done," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "This is another way we can help our friends and neighbors whose jobs were interrupted or lost as a direct result of the rain and floods in late July and early August."

The federal government has declared that the rains and flooding that occurred between July 22 and Aug. 7, 2010 created disaster areas in Cook, DuPage, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. Individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of the rain and flooding in those seven counties might be eligible for financial assistance. The federal disaster declaration enables people in the area to access temporary housing, grants or loans to help with flood-related losses. Businesses might qualify for low-interest loans.

Applications are available at IDES offices. Office locations are below. Office locations also are available by calling IDES at (888) 367-4382 and at ides.state.il.us. Internet access is available at Illinois libraries and WorkNet centers. Deadline to apply is Thursday, Sept. 23 2010.

To apply, individuals will need their Social Security number; the name and address of their employer; and proof that flooding interrupted the opportunity to work. A copy of the most recent federal income tax forms or check stub might also be required. Self-employed individuals also should provide Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F from their tax returns.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency designated this disaster FEMA-1935-DR. Individuals generally can receive benefits as long as their unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Eligibility for benefits will be determined on a week-to-week basis.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development.         

Applications for DUA must be filed by Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA- 1935 DR, individuals:
• Must be an unemployed or self-unemployed whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President
• Must be a U.S. national or a qualified alien; and
• Must not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state; and
• Must have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
• Must establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.

Also eligible to apply for DUA are individuals who
• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster; or
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster; or
• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of the disaster.

Individuals will need their Social Security Number and the name and address of their last employer or prospective employer to file for DUA. Applicants are required to provide proof (at the time of filing or within 21 days of filing their DUA claim) that they were employed or self-employed at the time the disaster occurred or were scheduled to begin (or resume) a job or self-employment when the disaster occurred.  A copy of the most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs may also be required (self-employed individuals should also provide Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F.)

Applications filed after Thursday, Sept. 23 will be considered untimely unless the individual provides good cause.  Individuals generally can receive up to 26 weeks of DUA benefits as long as his/her unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Eligibility for DUA benefits will be determined on a week-to-week basis.

Individuals who might be eligible for assistance must file a claim at their nearest Illinois Department of Employment Security office. Residents of the below Counties are served by the following IDES offices, which are open from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Cook County;
715 East 47th Street, Chicago, IL 60653  Phone # (773) 538-9811
1657 South Blue Island, Chicago, IL 60608  Phone # (773) 243-5100
1515  East 71st Street, Chicago, IL 60619  Phone # (773) 947-2500
3500 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651  Phone # (773) 227-7117
8750 South Stony Island, Chicago, IL 60617 Phone # (773) 221-3737
2444 West Lawrence, Chicago, IL 60625  Phone # (773) 334-6833
4931 West Diversey, Chicago, IL 60639  Phone # (773) 889-6820
837 West  119th Street, Chicago, IL 60643
5608 West 75th Place, Burbank, IL 60459  Phone # (708) 458-0500
1010 Dixie Highway, Chicago Heights, IL 60411  Phone # (708) 709-3000
16845 South Halsted, Harvey, IL 60426 Phone # (708) 596-2325
35 South 19th Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153  Phone # (708) 338-6900
1615 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201  Phone # (847) 864-3530

DuPage County:
837 South Westmore-Meyers Road Suite B1, Lombard, IL 60148  Phone # (630) 495-4345
30 DuPage Court, Elgin, ILL.,60120-6424 Phone # (847) 888-7900
501 College Ave. Suite 100, Aurora, ILL.,  60505 Phone # (630) 978-9396
5608 West 75th Place, Burbank, IL 60459  Phone # (708) 458-0500
 
Carroll,  Jo Daviess, Ogle,  Stephenson and Winnebago County
1826 South West Ave., Freeport, ILL. 61032 Phone # (815) 232-7171
303 N. Main Street, Rockford, ILL. 61109-2202 Phone # (815) 395-6600
2323 East Lincolnway, Sterling, ILL. 61081-3047