May 2, 2011
Jackson -
Today, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security began accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance from those living or working in counties that received a federal disaster declaration because of tornadoes and straight-line winds.
President Barack Obama declared 11 Mississippi counties eligible for individual assistance, opening the door to affected workers to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance. As of May 2, this declaration includes Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clarke, Greene, Hinds, Jasper, Kemper, Lafayette, Monroe, Neshoba and Webster counties.
Affected workers have until June 1, 2011 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
Self-employed workers also may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
Workers can apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Mississippi Department of Employment Security website — mdes.ms.gov. Workers also may call the agency’s call centers — 601-855-3133 or 888-844-3577 — between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Workers who do not qualify for the state’s regular Unemployment Insurance program may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. This includes workers who:
• Are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster.
• Cannot work or perform jobs because of disaster-related injuries.
• Are unable to reach their workplaces or job sites because of the disaster.
• Were to have started work, but are unable to get to or perform their jobs.
• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because the head of household died as a result of the disaster.
A federally funded state agency, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security provides job search and placement assistance and manages the state’s Unemployment Insurance trust fund.
For more information, please contact the Mississippi Department of Employment Security
Phone: 601-321-6141
Email: LaBrown@mdes.ms.gov
Fax: 601-321-6004
Address: 1235 Echelon Parkway
P.O. Box 1699
Jackson, MS 39215-1699
|
