Jul 16th 2008, 02:45

Help for Unemployed Flood Victims

After severe flooding caused extensive damage to homes and property in affected states in the Midwest, residents are still trying to reassemble their lives and come to terms with what the disaster has cost them. And in cases like these, survivors don't just lose their homes or their loved ones – they also stand to lose the very things that support their livelihoods. Businesses in hard-hit areas have stalled or shut down, forcing workers out of their jobs and into unemployment.

In Iowa alone, flood-related unemployment rates have gone up, with around 100 people filing their claims each day. That's a huge jump, considering that the Iowa Workforce Development used to receive an average of only 10 unemployment claims daily. To help those whose jobs have been swept away by the floods, a program called Disaster Unemployment Assistance can extend financial aid to flood victims and help them make ends meet until they can be financially self-sufficient again.

The state-administered program offers unemployment benefits to all citizens and qualified aliens who are unable to continue working because of a severe disaster, particularly if their place of employment was destroyed by the flood, or if they sustained flood-related injuries that prevent them from going back to work sooner. You are also eligible to receive financial aid if you've suddenly become the breadwinner of your household because of flood-related deaths.

Some restrictions still apply, however. You can't qualify for the program if you're already eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, and the loss of property or crops doesn't automatically make you a candidate for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Take action as soon as you can: file your unemployment claim and find out more about how the government can help you by visiting your State Unemployment Insurance Agency.



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