Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Burns Phillips, Interim Commissioner

updated 5/25/2010

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) unemployment benefits are available for workers in 45 Tennessee counties as a direct result of severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30, 2010.  The declaration for the State of Tennessee is FEMA-1909-DR.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the program on behalf of the federal government.  Individuals who are not covered for regular unemployment benefits may qualify for disaster unemployment benefits. This includes self-employed workers and others not covered by the state unemployment insurance program whose source of income has been interrupted by the disaster damage.  If possible, individuals should have access to their 2009 income tax return, Social Security Number, and any papers with wage and employment information prior to the disaster.

A claim must be filed by a specific deadline relative to their county.

The following counties have a June 7, 2010 deadline for filing for DUA unemployment claims:  Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton and Williamson.

The following counties have a June 9, 2010 deadline for filing for DUA unemployment claims: Chester, Clay, DeKalb, Hardin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Trousdale, Wayne and Wilson.

The following counties have a June 21, 2010 deadline for filing for DUA unemployment claims:  Cannon, Giles, and Marshall.

If your unemployment claim is a direct result of the disaster, do not file your unemployment claim by Internet to avoid delays.

Persons who are unemployed as a result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30, 2010, who need to file an unemployment claim may call (615)253-0800, extension 7599 locally or 1-877-813-0950, extension 7599, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays or report in person to one of the following TDLWD Career Centers. Designated Career Centers take claims on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and Fridays at 8:30 a.m.

The following Career Centers will be taking unemployment claims as a result of the disaster. These are the 22 career centers that take mass lack-of-work claims on a regular basis.
  

Residents in Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale and Tipton counties should apply for unemployment benefits in the following Career Centers that process walk-in unemployment claims from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday:

Weekly DUA benefit amounts are determined in the same way as regular unemployment benefits. Benefits range from $114 to $275 per week and are payable up to 26 weeks after the day of declaration, which was May 4, 2010. DUA benefits will end if unemployment is no longer the direct result of the disaster.

For updates, please check our agency’s Web site at www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/