Having Insurance Doesn’t Stop Disaster Aid

Think you are not eligible for federal and Commonwealth disaster assistance because you have property insurance?

Although insurance is essential to a swift recovery from the Aug. 4 severe storms and flooding in Jefferson County, you still may be eligible for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Commonwealth of Kentucky even if you settle with your insurance company.

If you have not already contacted your insurance agent to file a claim, do it as soon as possible. Failure to do so may affect your eligibility for disaster assistance. After submitting a claim, FEMA may be able to provide assistance if:

• Your insurance settlement is delayed. Delayed means it’s been more than 30 days since you filed a claim with your insurance company and there’s still been no decision. You will need to write a letter to FEMA explaining the circumstance. You should include documentation from the insurance company proving you filed the claim. If you submitted your claim over the telephone, you should include the claim number, the date you filed and an estimate of how long it will take to receive your settlement. Any help awarded by FEMA is considered an advance and must be repaid to FEMA once an insurance settlement is received.
• Your insurance settlement is insufficient. If you have received the maximum settlement from insurance, and still have an unmet disaster-related need, you will need to write a letter to FEMA explaining your request. You should send a copy of any documentation received from your insurance company related to your settlement.
• You have used up the “Additional Living Expenses” provided by your insurance company. If you have received the maximum settlement for additional living expenses and still need temporary housing as a result of the disaster, you should provide documentation of the exhausted insurance benefits and your permanent housing plan.
• You are unable to locate rental housing. The FEMA Helpline has a list of rental resources in the disaster area. If nothing is available in your county, then the helpline agent can provide available housing options in an adjacent county.

You have up to 12 months from the date you registered with FEMA to submit your insurance information for review. By law, FEMA cannot provide money for losses that are covered by insurance.

For more information and instructions, call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or the TTY line at 800-462-7585 for the hearing-or-speech impaired. The helpline is open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily until further notice. You can register by phone or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

For more information on Kentucky’s recovery from this disaster, visit www.kyem.ky.gov, www.fema.gov or http://twitter.com/FEMAregion4

There is Still Time to Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Workers in Jefferson County have until Sept. 20 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Farmers and self-employed business owners, who normally are     not eligible for unemployment, may qualify for benefits if wages or business were lost due to the      Aug. 4 severe storms and flooding.

Federal Emergency Management Agency and Commonwealth officials urge workers, who may    qualify for disaster-related employment assistance, to apply for benefits through the Kentucky Office   of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce  Development Cabinet.

There are three ways to apply for DUA.

1. Call 859-547-3362 Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

2. Go online at www.oet.ky.gov. Then, on the webpage, click on Unemployment Claim Filing which is located in the “Online” banner on the right side of the page. The online service is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. EST. Claims cannot be filed on Saturday.

3. Or file in person at one of the following locations:

Kentuckiana Works One Stop                     Office of Employment and Training

600 West Cedar                                                          6201 G. Preston Hwy.

Louisville, KY 40202                                               Louisville, KY 40209

It is important to note that all regular unemployment insurance benefits must have been exhausted prior to receiving any disaster benefits. To file a claim, the following personal information is needed:

· Social Security number;

· Complete mailing address;

· Name, address, and phone number for each employer the last 18 months;

· The exact day work began at each job;

· The last day worked at each job; and

· Self-employed residents are required to provide a copy of their current income tax return.

OET helps individuals prepare for, secure, and maintain employment; assists employers in locating and selecting the best qualified workers for their job openings; and provides income maintenance to ease the financial burden on individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. For more information about the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet go online at www.educationcabinet.ky.gov, www.workforce.ky.gov or call 502-564-0372.

Anyone with disaster-related losses or damage, not related to unemployment insurance benefits, can still register with FEMA by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired or online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. The toll-free numbers are operational daily from 6 a.m. to midnight and online registrations can be made at any time.

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