Unemployment Benefits Expand to Additional Louisiana Parishes Affected by Floods

Historic Louisiana Flooding Sees Unemployment Assistance Expanded

As the impacts of the historic flooding in Louisiana become more evident, additional parishes in the state [link url=”http://www.wbrz.com/news/additional-affected-parishes-eligible-for-disaster-unemployment-assistance/” title=”are now eligible for disaster unemployment assistance”].

Flooding in Baton Rouge, a city situated on the Mississippi River’s eastern bank, inundated homes and businesses across the area, resulting in an estimated $20 billion dollars in damage. In a [link url=”https://amuedge.com/edm-wednesday-briefing-severe-weather-baton-rouge-protests-general-mills-infrastructure-climate-change-power-grid/” title=”city already reeling”] from a tumultuous [link url=”https://amuedge.com/edm-monday-briefing-police-ambush-open-carry-gun-restrictions-nice-attack-aftermath/” title=”summer of violence”], the assistance is vital to ensuring positive recovery efforts.

Additional Eight Parishes Now Eligible for Unemployment Benefits

Originally, a total of twelve parishes were eligible for disaster unemployment assistance, but the list has expanded to include eight additional parishes that were impacted by the flooding: Avoyelles, Evangeline, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Washington, and West Feliciana.

The original list of twelve parishes included Acadia, Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tangipahoa, and Vermillion.

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Meet the Deadline: Apply Online or By Phone

The deadline to apply for the disaster unemployment assistance in Louisiana is September 21, and the following are just a few of the requirements that must be met:

•  Must have been scheduled to work, were working, or were self-employed.
• The ability to work has been interrupted by physical damage to place of employment – damage must be related directly to disaster.
• Injury or inability to work is a direct result of the disaster.
• Work performed or self-employment was the principal income source.
• Must be able to provide documentation that supports claims of work or self-employment when the disaster occurred: paycheck stubs, social security number and other documents.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission encourages applicants to file online at [link url=”http://www.laworks.net” title=”www.laworks.net”], or by calling 1-866-783-5567 and speaking with members of the Benefits Analysis Team between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday. The Commission warned that high call volumes may result in lengthy wait times when using the phone to file claims.