Public Employee Press

Outside assistance available to members who suffered losses from Hurricane Sandy

If, because of Hurricane Sandy, you are unable to work, or, your place of employment is closed, you may be eligible for unemployment assistance from New York State. The following are the available services.

1. What is the full scope of assistance available to members who suffered losses from the hurricane?

This link provides information on assistance available through various federal, state and local programs: http://www.mynewyorklegalhelp.com/hurricanesandynyassistance/

2. Housing assistance under Federal Emergency Management Agency

Are income rules for low-income housing going to be waived?

Yes. Go to http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Treasury-and-IRS-Expand-Availability-of-Housing-for-Hurricane-Sandy-Victims

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that they will waive low-income housing tax credit rules that prohibit owners of low-income housing from providing housing to victims of Hurricane Sandy who do not qualify as low-income.

3. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

File your application with the New York State Department of Labor as soon as possible. The application deadline is Dec. 3.

You will not qualify if you are eligible for a regular unemployment insurance claim.

For those impacted by Hurricane Sandy, if you qualify, the maximum payable period is 27 weeks, beginning Oct. 29, 2012 through May 5, 2013. (www.labor.ny.gov/formsdocs/ui/P814.pdf)

The DUA benefits for part-time workers are generally pro-rated based on the hours they worked as a percent of a 40-hour work week.

DUA benefits are reduced by any other wage-loss compensation, including private insurance, Supplemental Unemployment Benefits, worker's compensation, and a pro-rated amount of a retirement pension or annuity.

How much does DUA pay?

$152 minimum weekly benefit/$405 maximum in New York.

I am an employer. Will my account be charged if my workers collect DUA? No.

Qualifying for DUA

When a major disaster has been declared by the president, DUA is generally available to any unemployed worker or self-employed individual who lived, worked, or was scheduled to work in the disaster area at the time of the disaster, and, due to the disaster:

• is no longer has a job or a place to work
• cannot reach the place of work
• cannot work due to damage to the place of work; or
• cannot work because of an injury caused by the disaster.

An individual who becomes the head of household and is seeking work because the former head of household died as a result of the disaster may also qualify for DUA benefits.

See also: http://www.labor.ny.gov/unemployment-guidance-for-state-government-employees.shtm (not disaster specific).