JSND issues aid requirements

Job Service North Dakota has issued eligibility requirements for Disaster Unemployment Assistance for the presidential-declared disaster FEMA-1829-DR for individuals in counties including Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Stutsman as a result of the severe storms and flooding in North Dakota, beginning, March 13.

DUA is available to individuals who:

• Worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment.

• 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 the 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 because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.

• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.

• Cannot reach their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.

Claims filed after May 13 will be considered untimely and benefits will be denied, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after this date.

The first possible week of compensation for DUA purposes is the week ending March 21, and up to Sept. 26,, as long as the unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. The Disaster Unemployment Benefit amount is determined based on past income earned during calendar year 2008 and ranges from $141 to $406 per week.

To file a claim, individuals will need their Social Security numbers, a copy of their 2008 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 they were working at the time of the disaster, or a copy of a letter of hire. Self-employed individuals should include a copy of Schedule C, F, SE or K with Form 1040. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the claim was filed.

The initial application for DUA can be filed either by completing the form(s) that are under the Disaster Unemployment link on www.jobsnd.com and re-turning the form(s) to Job Service by mail or fax. Claims may also be filed by calling Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-1630, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For local reemployment services, job seekers and employers should contact their local Job Service North Dakota office, listed at www.jobsnd.com.

Tags: business, job, service, disaster, unemployment