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| Thu, Aug. 28, 2008 |  |
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Union, Marion counties added to unemployment assistance list after Feb. 5 storms Friday, Feb 22, 2008 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Residents of Union and Marion counties who have temporarily lost their jobs as a result of tornadoes and severe storms that devastated parts of the state on Feb. 5 may now qualify for disaster unemployment assistance. President George Bush on Wednesday declared Marion County a disaster area, authorizing the county for the assistance. Union County had already been declared a disaster area but had not yet been authorized for the assistance, said Kimberly Friedman of the Department of Workforce Services. The two counties join eight other counties that already had been authorized for the assistance after Bush declared them disaster areas at Gov. Mike Beebe's request. Individuals who have temporarily lost their jobs because of the storm and do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, such as those who are self-employed, may be eligible for the assistance, which provides benefits for up to 26 weeks. To qualify, individuals must have worked or have been scheduled to work in the disaster area, but because of the disaster no longer have a job or a place to work or cannot get to their place of work because of the disaster damage. Those prevented from working because of an injury of illness resulting from the disaster may also qualify. Affected residents of Union and Marion counties must file claims by March 24. Claims can be filed at local Department of Workforce Services offices, as well as other temporary locations. |
