Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Wednesday that Kentucky’s request for a 30-day extension to the registration period for those impacted by April’s severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began on April 2 has been approved.
The deadline has been extended until July 25 for disaster survivors in all counties designated for Individual Assistance in DR-4864-KY.
On April 24, President Donald Trump approved Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to devastating severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began in Kentucky on April 2.
On May 14, Trump approved an amendment to that declaration, expanding Individual Assistance to an additional 24 counties following requests submitted by Beshear on April 28 and May 5.
Beshear’s requests for Public Assistance and hazard mitigation for the entire state are still under review.
Originally, Individual Assistance was made available for residents in the following 13 counties: Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford.
The 24 additional counties added by the amendment for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) eligibility were: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Daviess, Garrard, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Lincoln, McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Powell, Trimble, Warren and Webster.
Individuals – including unemployed and self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas and became unemployed or had work interrupted as a direct result the flooding that occurred in Kentucky beginning on April 2 and continue to be out of work – are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance.
DUA is available to individuals who:
- Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of a disaster, which can also include 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
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income
- Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state
- Cannot work or resume self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster
- As a result of the disaster, became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household.
In order to qualify for DUA benefits, claimants in eligible counties must show that their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster and that they are not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under state or federal law.
Farmers and other self-employed individuals who traditionally are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may qualify for DUA.
To receive DUA benefits, the federal program requires individuals to provide documents, including a copy of their most recent federal or state income tax forms or check stubs, a bill showing their physical address at the time of the disaster and a photo ID. All required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the individual’s DUA application is filed.
DUA is available for up to 29 weeks of unemployment beginning April 6 until October 25, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.
How To File a Claim
Affected individuals should visit the Kentucky Career Center website at kcc.ky.gov or call 502-564-2900 to file their initial claim. The deadline to apply for assistance is July 25.
Updated information will be communicated on the Kentucky Career Center website and through future press releases with detailed information. DUA is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and benefits are not charged to employers.
(Photo: A Jeffersontown business destroyed by an EF-3 tornado, courtesy of The National Weather Service)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
