DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO HURRICANE VICTIMS

The President has declared several major disasters due to Hurricane Katrina.

These declarations mean several programs of individual assistance are available, including the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program. DUA provides assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are NOT eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. The U.S. Department of Labor oversees DUA and coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provides the funds for payment of DUA and state administration. DUA is administered by the state workforce agency responsible for providing state unemployment insurance (UI) through agreement with the Department of Labor. Additional information related to filing and eligibility for DUA and UI, jobs and training programs can be obtained from the state workforce agencies’ Websites that are linked to this Website.

Individuals who reside in AL, FL, MS, LA and TX and those who evacuated to other states may file a claim for unemployment insurance (UI) or a claim for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Contact information for both UI and DUA in these four states follows:

Alabama claims are filed by calling 1-866-234-5382 or TDY at 1-800-449-2035. General questions about UI and DUA are answered at 1-800-361-4524.

Florida claims are filed over the Internet at http://www.floridajobs.org/unemployment/uc_emp_claims.html or by calling 1-800-204-2418.

Louisiana applicants may file an Unemployment Insurance claim at www.laworks.net or at the nearest Louisiana Job Service Center. Inquiries about existing claims should be directed to 1-866-783-5567. Address changes may be made at www.laworks.net, at the nearest Louisiana Job Service Center or by calling 1-866-783-5567.

Mississippi claims are filed by calling 1-888-844-3577 or by visiting any office of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. A list of the offices currently open is available at mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal/#null.

Texas claims are filed by calling 1-800-939-6631 or TDD users may use RELAY Texas at 1-800-735-2989.

Information on filing for benefits and office locations may also be obtained by calling the Department of Labor's toll-free number at 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627). Office locations throughout the country are available from America's Service Locator at servicelocator.org. Additional information on federal and state administered benefit programs can be obtained at GovBenefits.gov or at the FEMA website.

For income tax information, please visit irs.gov.

For IRS disaster relief information, please visit this IRS site.