Anyone who lost work because of Hurricane Irene – and is not eligible for traditional unemployment insurance – can apply for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or DUA, Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco said today. “This is another safety net for those who have lost jobs because of Hurricane Irene,” DiCicco, R-Gloucester and Camden, said. “People who may be eligible should apply as soon as possible for help getting back on their feet.”
DUA is designed to cover workers and self-employed individuals such as artists, farmers, freelancers and others who normally would not be eligible for traditional unemployment.
“When in doubt, don’t delay. Apply immediately and let the state Labor Department determine what you are eligible for,” DiCicco said. “I don’t want to see anyone left out of this program because they incorrectly thought it did not apply.”
Anyone filing for this assistance must do so by early October. The deadline is Oct. 7 for residents in Gloucester, Camden, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth Ocean, Sussex, Warren and Union counties. The deadline for Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties is Oct. 3.
To file for either state Unemployment Insurance, or the federal DUA, call the state’s regional Reemployment Call Center. For South Jersey, the center is in Cumberland: (856) 507-2340. The other centers are in Freehold (732) 761-2020 and Union City (201) 601-4100.
More information is available through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development at http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/index.html or at FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers. Gloucester County’s center opened this week at the Gloucester County Government Services Building 1200 N. Delsea Drive in Clayton.
It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide information about different types of assistance programs, help completing applications for residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations, referrals to volunteer organizations and tips to reduce the impact of future disaster losses.
Residents are urged to register before visiting a center at www.disasterassistance.gov or calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. To find the nearest DRC, visit http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.
“The losses many have suffered can be overwhelming, but there is help available to make sure we emerge from this disaster,” DiCicco said. “If anyone is unsure where to turn, they should not hesitate to use the resources available from the state and federal government.
“My office is also available to help constituents find help recovering from Hurricane Irene,” DiCicco added.
Constituents with questions about disaster relief may visit DiCicco’s legislative office – 137 Egg Harbor Road, Unit K, in Sewell; e-mail [email protected]; or call (856) 228-0923. TLS.