Eagle Times Staff
Montpelier, Vt. – Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available to Vermonters in Orleans County, making it the ninth county in the state eligible for benefits.
Under the program, individuals in Orleans County have until Aug. 28 to file a Disaster Unemployment Assistance application. The first payable benefit week has been identified as July 9 to 15.
Under the federal disaster declaration, individuals living, working, or scheduled to work in these counties may be eligible for assistance. This includes independent contractors, those who are self-employed and agricultural workers.
Individuals seeking assistance through the program must first file for regular unemployment insurance benefits. As part of the application process, claimants should indicate that their employment was impacted by the disaster. The Department of Labor will determine if the claimant is eligible for regular unemployment first, as required by the Federal Emergency Management Administration. If the claimant is deemed ineligible for regular unemployment insurance, the applicant will be provided with the Disaster Unemployment Assistance application. Eligible Vermonters can collect benefits for the weeks during which they meet the necessary program criteria.
Individuals interested in learning more about Disaster Unemployment Assistance can find more information online at https://labor.vermont.gov/dua or by calling the Claimant Assistance Center at 1-877-214-3330.
Applications for Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor county residents are due by Aug. 21; Caledonia and Orange county residents must file by Aug. 25 and Orleans County residents have until Aug. 28 to apply for assistance.
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