Federal Disaster Assistance to Help Unemployed

CHICAGO – Individuals and business owners out of work as a direct result of severe rain storms and flooding in April and May in Wabash County might be eligible for federal disaster relief funds, the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced today. Wabash County was added to a list of 14 Southern Illinois counties previously determined eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

The federal government has declared that the rains and flooding that occurred beginning April 19 created disaster areas in Wabash County in addition to Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Lawrence, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, White and Williamson counties. Individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of the rain and flooding in those 15 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.illinois.gov Internet access is available at Illinois libraries and WorkNet centers. Deadline to apply involving Wabash County is Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011. Deadline for the other counties is Thursday, July 21, 2011.

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-1991-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, July 21, 2011 or Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011. Details above.

To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA- 1991 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, July 21, 2011 or Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, as listed above, 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.

Murphysboro: 223 S. 13th St., Murphysboro, IL, 62966 (618) 687-2341
Marion: 8195 Express Drive, Marion, IL 62959 (618) 997-6835
Mt. Vernon: 333 Potomac Blvd, Suite E, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 (618) 244-1700
Effingham: 2311 Hoffman Drive, Effingham, IL 62401 (217) 342-4149
Belleville: 4519 W. Main St., Belleville, IL 62223 (618) 277-5678