(La Porte, IN) - La Porte is among the Indiana counties where assistance is available to employees who lost their jobs or had them interrupted by severe weather earlier this month.
Governor Mike Braun made the announcement today. Individual assistance is now available in La Porte and 20 other counties declared as major disasters.
"If these storms cost you your job or are keeping you from being able to work, you shouldn't have to wonder how you're going to put food on the table or keep a roof over your family's head,” Braun said.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is another resource now available to help families bridge the gap as they recover. Employed or self-employed Hoosiers in the 21 counties covered by the major disaster declaration can apply for Disaster Unemployment Insurance (DUA).
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in the following counties: Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne counties.
Applications for DUA must be filed by October 27. To be eligible for DUA benefits, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Be an unemployed or self-unemployed worker whose unemployment was a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President;
- Be a U.S. national or a qualified alien;
- Not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;
- Have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
Individuals in the following circumstances are included in those who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster:
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster;
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster;
- Became the major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household; or?
- Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.
Before apply filing for DUA, individuals should gather these items:
- Social Security Number (SSN);
- Name and address of their last employer or scheduled employer;
- A copy of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs that show earnings and employment.
