Next week, the RI Department of Labor and Training will hold additional claims filing sessions for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in Providence, West Warwick and Westerly. Special claims-filing sessions for Disaster Unemployment Assistance will be held at the following:
- Providence netWORKri, One Reservoir Ave.: Tuesday-Thursday, April 20-22, 4 to 7 p.m.
- West Warwick netWORKri, 1330 Main St.: Tuesday-Thursday, April 20-22, 4 to 7 p.m.
- Westerly Disaster Recovery Center, South County Community Action, 34 Pond St.: Tuesday-Thursday, April 20-22, 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a federally funded program for those who have become unemployed due to the severe storms and flooding in that began March 12, 2010 and who would otherwise not be eligible for unemployment insurance. Impacted counties include Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence and Washington Counties. Eligible claimants may include:
- Those injured in the disaster and unable to work;
- Those whose workplaces were damaged, destroyed or made inaccessible due to the disaster;
- Those for whom transportation to work is unavailable;
- Those whose transportation route is inaccessible due to the disaster and for whom other means of transportation are unavailable; and
- Those, such as self-employed workers, who derive most of their income from areas affected by the disaster, and have experienced a decline in business a result of the disaster.
- Those attending the special claims-filing sessions must bring the following information with them to the one-stop centers:
- Social Security number
- Driver's license or a Rhode Island I.D.
- Mailing address and zip code
- Income tax for 2009 with profit and loss statement
- Business license
- Telephone number where the worker can be reached for additional information
- Alien registration card, if applicable
- Names and addresses of any other employers (in addition to self-employment) during the past 18 months
Rhode Island residents have through May 6, 2010 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Please note that Disaster Unemployment Assistance differs from regular unemployment insurance benefits, and that unlike regular unemployment insurance claims, Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims filing must be staff-assisted.
Employees of businesses that have laid them off temporarily due to flooding may be eligible for regular unemployment insurance; they do not need to attend the special claims-filing sessions, and may simply file online for unemployment insurance at www.dlt.ri.gov, indicating that their unemployment is due to flooding. If their employer is registered as eligible with the department, then the employees' one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance will be waived.
More information about unemployment insurance can be found online at www.dlt.ri.gov.
All Rhode Islanders in need of flood disaster assistance in addition to unemployment insurance benefits should register with FEMA at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).
The RI Department of Labor and Training offers employment services,
educational services and economic opportunity to both individuals and
employers. DLT protects Rhode Island’s workforce by enforcing labor
laws, prevailing wage rates and workplace health and safety standards.
The department also provides temporary income support to unemployed
and temporarily disabled workers. For more information on the programs
and services available to all Rhode Islanders, please call the RI Department
of Labor and Training at (401) 462-8000 or visit the web site at www.dlt.ri.gov.
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