Disaster Unemployment Assistance extended for those affected by tornadoes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If you were affected by the devastating tornadoes in central and western Kentucky, the state is now accepting applications for disaster unemployment assistance.

The assistance, stemming from the Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA 4360, was approved for 16 counties – Barren, Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Taylor and Warren. 

Many of these counties were hit by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding and tornadoes.

Many of these counties were already approved for individual assistance.

State officials said in order to qualify for these benefits, those eligible must show 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.

Those who are farmers and other self-employed individuals who would not be eligible for regular unemployment insurance may qualify for the disaster unemployment assistance.

There are certain documents you must provide including:

• Federal income tax forms or check stubs
• A bill showing your physical address at the time of the disaster
• A photo ID

RELATED: Biden: Federal government will cover 100% of emergency service costs in western Kentucky after tornadoes

If you don’t have these documents, officials will work to help you obtain new documents. The required documents will have to be submitted within 21 days from the date the disaster assistance application is filed.

If you need to apply for assistance you can visit the Kentucky Career Center website or call (502) 875-0442 to file the initial claim.

The Office of Unemployment Insurance will be offering in-person assistance at two locations Jan. 11 through Jan. 14:

• 262 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, Ky. (The old Sears store in the Greenwood Mall) -- 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11 through Jan. 13; 8 a.m. until noon on Jan. 14.
• 351 Charles Drive, Mayfield, Ky. -- 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11 through Jan. 13; 8 a.m. until noon on Jan. 14.

The deadline to apply for assistance was extended to Jan. 28, 2022.

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