There Is Still Time To Apply For Disaster Unemployment Assistance

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Workers in Jefferson County have until Sept. 20 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Farmers and self-employed business owners, who normally are not eligible for unemployment, may qualify for benefits if wages or business were lost due to the Aug. 4 severe storms and flooding.

Federal Emergency Management Agency and Commonwealth officials urge workers, who may qualify for disaster-related employment assistance, to apply for benefits through the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

There are three ways to apply for DUA.

* Call 859-547-3362 Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

* Go online at www.oet.ky.gov. Then, on the webpage, click on Unemployment Claim Filing which is located in the "Online" banner on the right side of the page. The online service is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. EST. Claims cannot be filed on Saturday.

* Or file in person at one of the following locations:

Kentuckiana Works One Stop 600 West Cedar Louisville, KY 40202

Office of Employment and Training 6201 G. Preston Hwy. Louisville, KY 40209

It is important to note that all regular unemployment insurance benefits must have been exhausted prior to receiving any disaster benefits. To file a claim, the following personal information is needed:

* Social Security number;

* Complete mailing address;

* Name, address, and phone number for each employer the last 18 months;

* The exact day work began at each job;

* The last day worked at each job; and

* Self-employed residents are required to provide a copy of their current income tax return.

OET helps individuals prepare for, secure, and maintain employment; assists employers in locating and selecting the best qualified workers for their job openings; and provides income maintenance to ease the financial burden on individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. For more information about the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet go online at www.educationcabinet.ky.gov, www.workforce.ky.gov or call 502-564-0372.

Anyone with disaster-related losses or damage, not related to unemployment insurance benefits, can still register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. The toll-free numbers are operational daily from 6 a.m. to midnight and online registrations can be made at any time.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.