Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available to Linn County Residents

If you're a Linn County resident who had the August 10 derecho take away your job, you can now apply for up to 27-weeks of Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). There are a variety of ways that you can be eligible.

Here are the scenarios that make you eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance:

• Your employment or self-employment was either interrupted or lost as a direct result of the derecho that hit Linn County on Monday, August 10.
• You must be a U.S. national or qualified alien and
• You don't qualify for normal unemployment benefits from any state and
• You were just self-employed, working, or were scheduled to start working or self-employment in Linn County when the storm hit and
• You must be able to show that your self-employment or work that you can no longer do was your primary income source.

You can also apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in Linn County if one of these applies:

• Physical damage or destruction of your place of employment directly related to the derecho prevents you from working or performing services or
• An injury sustained as a direct result of the derecho prevents you from performing your work or self-employment or
• Due to the death of the head of the household you became the major financial supporter of a household or
• A federal government facility closure prevents you from work or self-employment.

Here's what you'll need to apply:

• Social Security Number
• Name and address of your last employer or the prospective employer.
• Must be able to show within 21 days that you were either employed, self-employed, or scheduled to start or resume either a job or self-employment when the derecho hit.
• Copies of your most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs may also be needed. If you're self-employed, Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F will also be required.

The Major Disaster Declaration signed by President Trump on Monday, August 17 provides for DUA. Applications need to be filed by Thursday, September 24, 2020. Even though benefits are possible for as much as 27 weeks, eligibility is determined weekly.

You can file your DUA claim through Iowa Workforce Development HERE. If you need help, call Iowa Workforce Development at 866-239-0843. After you file, you can look for additional information HERE.