State Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said today that workers in two additional Georgia counties may now be eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to compensate for income lost directly resulting from Hurricane Helene, which affected the areas from September 24, 2024, through October 30, 2024.
The Department of Labor press release Wednesday listed Stephens and Wilkes counties as newly eligible for relief. They are added to the more than 60 other Georgia counties on a list of eligible areas to apply for DUA relief, following the recovery from Helene's long-term hardship on the region.
Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) Commissioner Bruce Thompson says, "Federal Disaster Unemployment Benefits provide critical financial support as our communities come together to recover and rebuild, helping individuals and families regain a sense of stability and hope for the future.”
DUA is a federal program established to help workers whose primary income is lost or interrupted as a direct result of a disaster declared by the President. It differs from regular state unemployment insurance in that it provides benefits to people who are self-employed, farmers, diversified farming operators, loggers, commission-paid employees, and others who are not eligible under the state’s program.
GDOL Applicants may be eligible for a weekly benefit of as much as $365 beginning the week of September 29, 2024. Individuals in the authorized counties directly affected by Hurricane Helene must first apply for regular unemployment insurance on the GDOL website at dol.georgia.gov or in person at any GDOL career center. The GDOL will notify claimants if they are eligible to file for DUA.
Eligible claimants in the newly added counties of Stephens and Wilkes must apply for DUA no later than December 6, 2024.
