Disaster unemployment assistance available

By TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development

November 19, 2002

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to workers in Anderson, Bedford, Carroll, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Gibson, Henderson, Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan, Rutherford, Scott, Sumner and Tipton who were out of work as a direct result of tornadoes and severe storms that occurred November 9-10, 2002, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, Mark Reineke reported.

“This is a very difficult time for area residents, and we want to make sure that workers who have lost their jobs and are eligible for benefits receive their checks as quickly as possible,” Reineke said. “Any workers who feel they may be eligible for benefits should go immediately to their local Tennessee Career Center or Labor and Workforce Development office to register for DUA.”

Benefits will be paid under provision of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which became available when President Bush granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration in Tennessee at Governor Sundquist’s request.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the program on behalf of the federal government. According to Reineke, persons unemployed as a direct result of the tornadoes and severe storms must file their claim for DUA benefits within 30 days of this announcement.

“Individuals who are not covered for regular unemployment benefits may qualify for disaster unemployment benefits,” Reineke explained. “This includes self-employed workers and others not covered by the state unemployment insurance program whose source of income has been interrupted by the tornado damage.”

Individuals should bring with them to the local office income tax returns for 2001, a social security number and any papers with wage and employment information prior to the disaster.

Weekly DUA benefit amounts are determined in the same way as regular unemployment benefits. Benefits range from $104.00 to $275.00 per week and are payable up to 26 weeks after the day of declaration, which was November 13, 2002. DUA benefits will end if unemployment is no longer caused by the tornadoes. Staff at the local Labor and Workforce Development offices will also provide reemployment assistance.

Persons who are unemployed should contact the Labor and Workforce Development office serving their county or an office conveniently located near them as shown below:

County	Tennessee Career Center/TDLWD Office Address	Phone Number
Anderson	599 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite B, Oak Ridge	(865)483-7474
Bedford	301 N. Main Street, Shelbyville	(931)685-5000
Carroll	19870 East Main Street, Huntingdon	(731)986-8217
Coffee	111 East Lincoln Street, Tullahoma	(931)454-1905
Crockett	1481 Mullins Street, Humboldt	(781)784-3552
Cumberland	60 Ridley Street, Suite 107, Crossville	(931)484-4651
Gibson	1481 Mullins Street, Humboldt	(781)784-3552
Henderson	67 West Church Street, Lexington	(731)968-8159
Madison	416 East Lafayette Street, Jackson	(731)423-5860
Marshall	980 South Ellington Parkway, Lewisburg	(931)359-9726
Montgomery	350 Pageant Lane, Suite 406, Clarksville	(931)648-5530
Morgan	1082 North Gateway Avenue, Rockwood	(865)376-3082
Rutherford	220 East Vine Street, Murfreesboro	(615)898-8050
Scott	19962 Alberta Street, Suite 1, Oneida	(423)569-6361
Tipton	724 East Lucky Plaza, Hwy. 51 N., Covington	(901)475-2529

*Sumner County will be serviced by the Call Center (615) 253-0800 or 1-877-813-0950