Dec. 20—charleston — Gov. Jim Justice and WorkForce West Virginia announced Thursday that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to qualifying individuals living or working in Mercer County.
Mercer County was designated as a major disaster area by President Joe Biden on Dec. 9 following an official request by the governor. This declaration covers the incident period of Sept. 25 to 28 when high winds and flooding from Hurricane Helene hit the county.
Individuals living or working in the county who lost their job due to the severe storms may apply for federal unemployment benefits, Justice said.
Claims must be filed by Feb. 7, 2025. Mercer County’s storm event is listed as Disaster Number 4851.
The DUA benefits are available to self-employed workers, including farmers, who are usually not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits. Those who apply must provide proof of past earnings, such as business records or bank statements and income tax forms, no more than 21 days after the application has been filed.
People who are unemployed due to the Sept. 25 to 28 storm must contact WorkForce West Virginia by sending an email to ucpolicy@wv.gov or by calling 304-558-3340 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The people who are eligible for DUA benefits include: — Individuals who are unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster. — Individuals who were to commence employment or self-employment but were prevented by the disaster. — Individuals who became the breadwinner or major support for a household because of the death of the head of the household due to the disaster. — Individuals who cannot work or perform services in self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.
Unemployment is a direct result of the major disaster if the unemployment resulted from: — The physical damage or destruction of the place of employment. — The physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state or local government in immediate response to the disaster. — Lack of work, or loss of revenues, if, prior to the disaster, the employer or self-employed business received at least a majority of its revenue or income from an entity in the major disaster area that was damaged or destroyed in the disaster or an entity in the major disaster area closed by the federal, state or local government.
In addition to helping file a DUA claim, WorkForce West Virginia offers reemployment services, including resume services, job search assistance and job placement. For more information or to report fraud, call 1-800-252-JOBS (5627).
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com