FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2003
DEADLINE
FOR DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IN TEN OKLAHOMA COUNTIES APPROACHING
FAST
OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is reminding
Oklahomans that the deadline to take advantage of Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA) for residents in ten Oklahoma counties is looming. .
Following the severe storms on and around May 8, 2003, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) amended the major disaster declaration
to include these additional areas, opening the door for qualified
unemployed workers and unemployed self-employed individuals to receive DUA
benefits. The incident period for this assistance is May 8, 2003 to May
30, 2003. Effective May 28, 2003, Disaster Unemployment Assistance
was made available to the following counties:
|
•
CARTER |
•
KAY |
•
OKFUSKEE |
•
PONTOTOC |
•
TEXAS |
|
•
DELAWARE |
•
MUSKOGEE |
•
OSAGE |
•
ROGER MILLS |
•
WASHINGTON |
These
counties are on a list that includes Canadian, Cherokee, Cleveland, Creek,
Garvin, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Nowata, Oklahoma,
Okmulgee, Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties.
DUA provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster, but who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. Individuals living or working in these ten counties who were unemployed between May 8, 2003 and May 30, 2003 as a direct result of the storms may be eligible for DUA. The first payable week for DUA related to this disaster is May 11, 2003. For the ten additional counties, DUA applications will be taken through July 13, 2003. To file an application, contact your nearest Workforce Oklahoma office at (888) 840-9675.