A federal disaster declaration was issued last week at the request of Governor Asa Hutchinson designating 13 Arkansas counties, including Fulton and Boone, as federal disaster areas due to the storms and flooding parts of the state experienced between April 26th and May 19th. As a result, Arkansas Department of Workforce Services Director Daryl Bassett reports individuals in these areas becoming unemployed as a direct result of the recent weather conditions may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance.
Claims for the 13 counties must be filed at Department fo Workforce Services offices weekdays from eight a.m. to 4:30 p.m. no later than July 19th. Fulton County residents can go to the Batesville local office at 396 Barnett Drive, and Boone County claims can be filed at the Harrison local office at 818 North Highway 62-65. The offices will also provide re-employment assistance where appropriate.
To be eligible for benefits, individuals must have worked or have been scheduled to work in the disaster area, but because of that disaster, they no longer have a job or a place to work, or they could not get to their place of work because of disaster damage. They might also qualify if they were prevented from working because of an injury or illness resulting from the disaster or if they become the new head of household and need employment cause the previous head of household died as a result of the disaster. Benefits may also be available to self-employed individuals who lost all or part of their livelihood as a result of the disaster.
Individuals believing they may be eligible for benefits should bring a copy of their government-issued photo identification, Social Security card, the name and address of their most recent employment and documents verifying income. For more information, Fulton County residents can call the workforce office at 870-793-4156, and Boone County residents can call 870-741-8236.
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