Disaster Unemployment Benefits for Hurricane Francine

If you lost work or employment in the designated disaster areas due to Hurricane Francine, you can apply for unemployment benefits.

Eligible Parishes: Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes.

Deadline to Apply: November 15, 2024 – Must submit requested docs within 21 days of applying. Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely, and you will need to show good cause for filing after that date.

Duration: DUA is available for weeks of unemployment from September 15, 2024, until March 22, 2025, as long as the individual’s unemployment directly results from the disaster.

Disaster Unemployment if you:

• Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment; and
• Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits or Extended Benefits (EB) from any state; and
• one (or more) of the following:

1. 1. Were unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster; or
   2. Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; or
   3. Cannot physically access the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or
   4. Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; or
   5. Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
   6. Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.

Proof of employment/self-employment must be submitted no later than 21 days after filing your claim. The following documents are acceptable as proof of employment:

• Payroll voucher closest in date to the last work week
• Employment and earnings statement from employer with name, address and contact information
• Written statement from employer
• Notarized affidavit from person with name, address and contact information who can verify claimant’s employment and unemployment (this is for those workers who are unable to reach their employer)
• Business records (bank statements, business receipts, licenses, advertisements, invoices, appointment books, financial statements)
• Notarized statement from person with name, address, and contact information who can verify your self-employment and unemployment  If you are self-employed, your 2023 federal income tax return and schedules can serve as proof of prior wages but do not substantiate your proof of employment at the time of the disaster.

The information provided in this post does not, and is not intended to, represent legal advice. All information available on this site is for general informational purposes only. If you need legal help, you should contact a lawyer. You may be eligible for our free legal services and can apply by calling our Legal Hotline at 1-844-244-7871 or applying online here.