Contact:
Rose Lynch, Director of Communications, 608-266-6753
Madison – Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman today issued a reminder to workers in many Wisconsin counties that the deadline for filing for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is approaching.
Workers in Adams, Brown, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, LaCrosse, Lafayette, Marathon, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, and Wood counties must apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for the weeks ending May 15, 2004 and May 22, 2004 by November 26, 2004.
These two additional weeks were made available after the Federal Emergency Management Agency amended the date when storms and flooding began in the 44-county area.
“Anyone who lives or works in any of these affected counties, and lost work as a direct result of these storms, may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance,” Secretary Gassman said. “Those who intend to file claims for these two weeks must remember to do so on or before November 26.”
DUA is a federal program that provides financial assistance to workers, including self employed farm and non-farm workers, who became unemployed or partially unemployed as a direct result of the disaster, were unable to reach their place of employment, or lost work due to an injury and are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
Individuals who became the major supporter of a household because the head of the household died as a result of the storms and flooding are also potentially eligible for DUA benefits. DUA benefits are based on a person’s earnings for the most recent tax year. As a result, applicants will be asked to provide earnings data from their 2003 federal tax returns. DUA benefits can range from $126 to $329 per week, depending on income and wages.
Applications must be filled by telephone by calling the state Unemployment Insurance Division in Madison at 608-232-0678, in Milwaukee at (414) 438-7700, or toll-free at (800) 822-5246. A special (TTY) number for the hearing impaired is also available at (888) 393-8914.
