Unemployment assistance available for residents whose jobs were affected by January 12 tornadoes

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Picture of Selma damage from Katie Britt

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced on Thursday that workers who became unemployed as a direct result of severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes in Coosa, Elmore, and Hale Counties may qualify for unemployment assistance.

Washington has already announced available assistance for workers in Autauga and Dallas Counties. The City of Selma was largely destroyed by a tornado. Seven people were killed by tornados in rural Autauga County.

The workers became eligible for assistance when President Joe Biden announced that the damage in Coosa, Elmore, and Hale Counties were declared natural disaster areas. Biden had already declared Dallas and Autauga Counties a disaster area.

People who live in or worked in these counties and became unemployed due to severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes during the period of January 12, 2023, may be eligible for assistance under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program, which was triggered when President Biden designated the area as a disaster area on January 15, 2023.

“Generally, those who are eligible for state unemployment benefits are not eligible for DUA, but a claimant may qualify if state unemployment compensation benefits are exhausted,” Washington said in a press release. “If you believe you are entitled to these benefits, I urge you to file a claim to see if you are eligible.”

People who may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance include the following:

·       individuals who no longer have a job, are unable to reach the place of employment, or were scheduled to start work in the major disaster area and the job no longer exists

·       those who became the breadwinner or major support of the family because the head of household died, or those who cannot work because of an injury incurred during the major disaster.

All of the previously described circumstances must be as a direct result of the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes.

Claims can be filed through ADOL’s website or by calling 1-866-234-5382. The deadline to file a DUA claim is March 1, 2023.

There is federal disaster assistance available to persons in the five counties that were impacted by the severe weather on Jan. 12.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.