Flood victims eligible for DUA

ATLANTA - Flood victims in eight Georgia counties - including Stephens (the Toccoa area) - have been declared eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) because of last week's flooding.

Walker County is the latest county to be added to the list.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to compensate for loss of income directly resulting from the storms and flooding.

Carroll, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Stephens were approved earlier, bringing the total to eight Georgia counties. Presently, these are the only counties authorized for DUA benefits, but other counties may be added as federal officials assess the damage.

DUA is a federal program established to help workers whose primary income is lost or interrupted as a direct result of a disaster declared by the President. DUA differs from state unemployment insurance in that it also provides benefits to self-employed business people, farmers, diversified farming operators, loggers, commission-paid employees and others who are not eligible for Georgia’s regular unemployment insurance program.

In applying for DUA benefits, applicants will need to provide their social security number. Because verification of income may be required, applicants are strongly urged to bring proof of earnings for the most recently completed tax year. Examples of acceptable documents include: copies of their most recently completed income tax returns, copies of quarterly estimated income tax payment records, or similar documents.

Under certain circumstance, DUA benefits may also be available to individuals who become the breadwinner or major support of a household because the head of household has died as direct result of the disaster.

Potentially eligible workers should contact their nearest Georgia Department of Labor Career Center. Workers may call the Georgia Department of Labor’s toll-free customer service line at (877) 709-8185 or visit www.dol.state.ga.us to obtain career center information.

Link: Ga. Dept.of Labor