FEMA Announces Additional 15 Counties Eligible for DUA

Monday, May 10, 2010 | 11:14am

42 Counties Now Authorized for Disaster Unemployment Benefits

NASHVILLE - Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to workers in Chester, Clay, DeKalb, Hardin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Trousdale, Wayne and Wilson counties as a direct result of severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30, 2010, and are continuing, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James Neeley reported today. This amends the declaration for the State of Tennessee (FEMA-1909-DR).

These additional counties eligible for DUA are added to the previously 27 declared counties of Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton and Williamson.

“This is a direct line of assistance for those who are out of work due to this natural disaster,” said Commissioner Neeley. “These counties are the starting point, and we’ll open this assistance to other counties as they are declared disaster areas by FEMA.”

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the program on behalf of the federal government. According to Neeley, persons unemployed as a direct result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes must file their claim for DUA benefits within 30 days of this announcement.

Individuals who are not covered for regular unemployment benefits may qualify for disaster unemployment benefits. This includes self-employed workers and others not covered by the state unemployment insurance program whose source of income has been interrupted by the disaster damage.

If possible, individuals should have access to their 2009 income tax return, Social Security Number, and any papers with wage and employment information prior to the disaster.

Weekly DUA benefit amounts are determined in the same way as regular unemployment benefits. Benefits range from $114 to $275 per week and are payable up to 26 weeks after the day of declaration, which was May 4, 2010. DUA benefits will end if unemployment is no longer the direct result of the disaster.

If your unemployment claim is a direct result of the disaster, do not file your unemployment claim by Internet to avoid delays.

Persons who are unemployed as a result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30, 2010, who need to file an unemployment claim may call (615)253-0800, extension 7599 locally or 1-877-813-0950, extension 7599, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays or report in person to one of the following TDLWD Career Centers. Designated Career Centers take claims on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and Fridays at 8:30 a.m.

The following Career Centers will be taking unemployment claims as a result of the disaster. These are the 22 career centers that take mass lack-of-work claims on a regular basis.

Athens	410 Congress Parkway
Bristol	1712 West State Street
Chattanooga	5600 Brainerd Road, Suite A-5
Clarksville	Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 406
Columbia	119 Nashville Highway, Suite 106, Northway Shopping Ctr.
Cookeville	3300 Williams Enterprise Drive
Crossville	60 Ridley Street
Dyersburg	439 McGaughey Street
Gallatin	175 College Street
Humboldt	1481 Mullins Street
Jacksboro	1016 Main Street
Jackson	362 Carriage House Drive
Johnson City	2515 Wesley Street
Knoxville	1610 University Avenue
Lawrenceburg	702 Mahr Avenue
McMinnville	107 Lyon Street
Murfreesboro	1313 Old Fort Parkway
Nashville	2200 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. (previously Metro Center Blvd.)
Paris	1023 Mineral Wells Avenue, Suite F
Rogersville	1112 East Main Street
Talbott/Morristown	6057 W. Andrew Johnson Highway, Alpha Square, Suite A
Tullahoma	111 East Lincoln Street

Residents in Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton counties should apply for unemployment benefits in the following Career Centers that process walk-in unemployment claims from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday:

Memphis - Mendenhall	5368 Mendenhall Mall
Memphis - Raleigh	2850 Austin Peay Hwy., Suite 132
Memphis - Poplar	1295 Poplar Avenue
Collierville	942 West Poplar, Suite 4
Somerville	121 West Court Square
Ripley	301C Lake Drive
Covington	724 East Lucky Plaza Hwy 51N

For updates, please check our agency’s Web site at www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/ .

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