Hurricane-Affected Workers May Be Eligible for Disaster Unemployment

11.13.2012
HR & Safety

The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) reminds residents and employers that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for certain workers, including self”employed individuals, who are unemployed as a direct result of damages caused by Hurricane Sandy.

On Oct 30, the President declared Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and New London counties and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Mohegan Tribal Nation located within New London County a federal disaster area. The DUA program is a part of the federal disaster assistance process, administered by the state DOL. To be eligible for DUA benefits, individuals must work or live in one of the federally designated areas, and have lost their jobs directly due to the disaster. Other eligible individuals include those who:

  • Are unable to reach their job because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster.
  • Were to commence employment but were prevented by the disaster.
  • Became the major support for a household because of the death of the head of the household as a result of the disaster.
  • Cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.

Before an individual can be determined eligible for DUA, the DOL must establish that the individual is otherwise not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under any state or federal law.

Residents who lost their jobs due to this disaster should file a claim with their local TeleBenefits line. To determine your local TeleBenefits number, check the blue pages of your telephone directory, visit the DOL’s website or contact Infoline at 2″1″1.

Under federal guidelines, the deadline for filing for DUA benefits is December 3, 2012. DUA claims filed after the deadline may be ineligible for payment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected with CBIA News Digests

The latest news and information delivered directly to your inbox.

CBIA IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CONNECTICUT A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.