Application deadlines for Disaster Unemployment Assistance have been extended by 30 days for Presidential-declared disaster areas.
Individuals who were living or working in an affected area at the time of the flooding and whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to flooding may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. The areas approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and their new extended application deadlines are as follows:
- Burleigh and Ward counties – New application deadline August 26, 2011
- McHenry, Morton and Renville counties – New application deadline August 31, 2011
- Spirit Lake Nation and Barnes, Ramsey and Richland counties – New application deadline September 14, 2011
Individuals are urged to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance as soon as possible. Claims filed after the appropriate application deadline will be considered untimely and benefits will be denied unless individuals provide good cause for filing after this date.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to individuals (including self-employed business owners and farmers) who:
- Worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment, but were unable to do so because of the disaster
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster
- Establish that work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income
- Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state
- Cannot perform work or self-employment due to an injury resulting directly from the disaster
- Have become the breadwinners or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household due to the disaster
- Cannot reach their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
The first possible week of Disaster Unemployment Assistance compensation is the week beginning February 20, 2011 and ending February 26, 2011. Benefit payments can continue through November 12, 2011 as long as an individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. The Disaster Unemployment Assistance weekly benefit amount is based on wages or self-employment income earned during calendar year 2010 and is determined by North Dakota unemployment insurance law.
To file a claim, individuals need their Social Security Number, a copy of their 2010 federal income tax forms, business financial statements, pay stubs/vouchers, trip tickets, crop elevator receipts/credits, bank receipts, a statement from their last employer affirming their employment at the time of the disaster, or a copy of a letter of hire. In addition, self-employed individuals and farmers need to include a copy of Schedule C, F, SE or K with Form 1040. All required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the claim was filed in order to receive benefits.
Individuals can file initial Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefit claims:
- Online at jobsnd.com
- By mail or fax – Forms are located under the Disaster Unemployment link on jobsnd.com. Simply print, complete and return as indicated on the forms.
- By phone – Call Job Service at 701-328-1152, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Job seekers can also contact their local Job Service office for reemployment assistance. Go to jobsnd.com to find the Job Service office nearest you.
