Today is the last day for residents affected by severe storms between May 24 and 27 to file for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance in Baxter and Fulton counties in Arkansas, and residents of Howell, Shannon and Texas counties impacted by storms between May 19 and 27 have until Sept. 23.
The late May storms produced tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds, causing widespread damage in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Those who have not registered for federal disaster assistance may do so online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or downloading the FEMA mobile app.
In addition to FEMA assistance, the Missouri Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Security will be accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) through the Sept. 23 deadline. DUA provides unemployment benefits and re-employment assistance services to survivors affected by a disaster. This assistance is only available to those survivors who are not eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. Eligibility for DUA will be determined on a week-to-week basis and an individual can only receive benefits for as long as his or her unemployment continues as a direct result of the disaster.
To be eligible for DUA benefits under the declaring, applicants must be an unemployed or self-employed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the disaster; be a U.S. national or a qualified alien; not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state; have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the named counties; and 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 those 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, cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster, became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household or cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.
Applicants are required to provide proof that they were employed or self-employed at the time the disaster occurred or were scheduled to begin work when the disaster occurred. This proof of employment must be filed with the initial claim or within 21 days of filling their DUA claim. To claim, individuals will need their Social Security Number and the name and address of their last employer or prospective employer. A copy of the most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs may also be required. Self-employed workers should also provide Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F.
To file a DUA claim online any time, visit uinteract.labor.mo.gov. For assistance with filing a claim, call 800-320-2519 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
