Capps (CA23) :: Press Release :: Capps' Statement On Presidential Disaster Declaration For Parts Of The State Of California

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s major disaster declaration for some affected counties in the State of California.

“I am pleased the President Bush has finally acknowledged the devastating January freeze by issuing a major disaster declaration for some affected counties in the State of California, including Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. The President’s declaration makes Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Food Commodities available to affected individuals in the counties named in the President’s disaster declaration. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the California Congressional delegation to obtain much needed disaster relief for those individuals impacted by the freeze including agricultural producers, manufacturers and workers on the Central and South Coasts.”

Additional Information On The Disaster Unemployment Assistance Provided By The FEMA Office Of Legislative Affairs Follows:

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

CFDA #: 97.034

The purpose of the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program is to help provide for unemployment benefits and re-employment services to individuals who have become unemployed because of the disaster and are unable to secure regular unemployment benefits. This fact sheet outlines the general situations, conditions, and limitations of the DUA program.

Background on Disaster Unemployment Assistance

When the President declares a disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is now incorporated within the Department of Homeland Security, provides unemployment compensation for certain disaster victims through a delegation to the Department of Labor and under the authority of Section 410 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707).

The 30-day application period for DUA begins with the first day following the date of the public announcement of DUA availability, which the State Employment Security Agency (SESA) is required to advertise, in combination with FEMA’s Public Information Officer.

All unemployed individuals must register with the State’s SESA before they can receive DUA benefits. Most States have a provision that an individual must be able and available to accept employment opportunities comparable to the employment the individual held before the disaster, however, not all States require an individual to search for work. Re-employment services are provided by the State under other laws. If other laws do not meet the needs of victims, FEMA may authorize and reimburse DOL or another organization to provide re-employment assistance as necessary.

General Situations for Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed victims who:

Worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in an area declared as a federal disaster area;

Note: Suffering a monetary loss due to damage of property or crops does not automatically entitle an individual to DUA.

Conditions and Limitations of Disaster Unemployment Assistance

· Non-discrimination: All forms of FEMA disaster assistance are available to any affected household that meets the conditions of eligibility. No Federal entity or official (or their agent) may discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or economic status.

· Residency status in the United States and its territories: To be considered for DUA, you or an adult household member must provide proof of identity and sign a declaration stating that you/they are a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.

· Supplemental Assistance: DUA shall not be paid to an individual, who receives regular unemployment compensation or private income protection insurance compensation unless that person’s other program eligibility expires and weeks of unemployment continue in the disaster assistance period. DUA will then be paid to those individuals at the same weekly benefit rate they were receiving under the other compensation program.

· Documentation: It is the individual’s responsibility to provide all documentation necessary for the local claims office to evaluate their eligibility.

· Duration of Assistance: The DUA benefit period begins with the week (as defined in State law) following the disaster incident or date thereafter that the individual became unemployed and it can extend up to 26 weeks after the date of declaration or until the individual become re-employed, whichever is earlier. The DUA benefit amount may not exceed the maximum weekly amount authorized under the unemployment compensation law of the State in which the disaster occurred.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

Hearing/speech impaired, please call TTY 1-800-462-7585

Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.


	For Immediate Release
	March 14, 2007

	Capps' Statement On Presidential Disaster Declaration For Parts Of The State Of California

	Major Disaster Declaration Triggers Release Of Federal Funds To Aid Communities Recovering From The Severe January Freeze

	WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s major disaster declaration for some affected counties in the State of California. “I am pleased the President Bush has finally acknowledged the devastating January freeze by issuing a major disaster declaration for some affected counties in the State of California, including Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. The President’s declaration makes Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Food Commodities available to affected individuals in the counties named in the President’s disaster declaration. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the California Congressional delegation to obtain much needed disaster relief for those individuals impacted by the freeze including agricultural producers, manufacturers and workers on the Central and South Coasts.” Additional Information On The Disaster Unemployment Assistance Provided By The FEMA Office Of Legislative Affairs Follows: Disaster Unemployment Assistance CFDA #: 97.034 The purpose of the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program is to help provide for unemployment benefits and re-employment services to individuals who have become unemployed because of the disaster and are unable to secure regular unemployment benefits. This fact sheet outlines the general situations, conditions, and limitations of the DUA program. Background on Disaster Unemployment Assistance When the President declares a disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is now incorporated within the Department of Homeland Security, provides unemployment compensation for certain disaster victims through a delegation to the Department of Labor and under the authority of Section 410 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The 30-day application period for DUA begins with the first day following the date of the public announcement of DUA availability, which the State Employment Security Agency (SESA) is required to advertise, in combination with FEMA’s Public Information Officer. All unemployed individuals must register with the State’s SESA before they can receive DUA benefits. Most States have a provision that an individual must be able and available to accept employment opportunities comparable to the employment the individual held before the disaster, however, not all States require an individual to search for work. Re-employment services are provided by the State under other laws. If other laws do not meet the needs of victims, FEMA may authorize and reimburse DOL or another organization to provide re-employment assistance as necessary. General Situations for Unemployment Assistance Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed victims who: Worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in an area declared as a federal disaster area; Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a 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 perform work or self-employment because of an injury or because they were incapacitated as a direct result of the disaster; Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household; Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government; or Lose a majority of income or revenue because the employer or self-employed business was damaged, destroyed, or closed by the federal government; *Note:* Suffering a monetary loss due to damage of property or crops does not automatically entitle an individual to DUA. Conditions and Limitations of Disaster Unemployment Assistance · Non-discrimination: All forms of FEMA disaster assistance are available to any affected household that meets the conditions of eligibility. No Federal entity or official (or their agent) may discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or economic status. · Residency status in the United States and its territories: To be considered for DUA, you or an adult household member must provide proof of identity and sign a declaration stating that you/they are a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien. · Supplemental Assistance: DUA shall not be paid to an individual, who receives regular unemployment compensation or private income protection insurance compensation unless that person’s other program eligibility expires and weeks of unemployment continue in the disaster assistance period. DUA will then be paid to those individuals at the same weekly benefit rate they were receiving under the other compensation program. · Documentation: It is the individual’s responsibility to provide all documentation necessary for the local claims office to evaluate their eligibility. · Duration of Assistance: The DUA benefit period begins with the week (as defined in State law) following the disaster incident or date thereafter that the individual became unemployed and it can extend up to 26 weeks after the date of declaration or until the individual become re-employed, whichever is earlier. The DUA benefit amount may not exceed the maximum weekly amount authorized under the unemployment compensation law of the State in which the disaster occurred. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL THE FEMA DISASTER HELPLINE AT 1-800-621-FEMA Hearing/speech impaired, please call TTY 1-800-462-7585 ### Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.