Louisiana Evacuees Qualify for a Boost in Jobless Benefits,
While Emergency Orders Expire Now Requiring Weekly
Job-Search Reporting by 300,000 Jobless Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 29, 2005
CONTACT: Shannon Jones, 202-518-8047

WASHINGTON DC – Thousands of Louisiana families left jobless as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may qualify for additional jobless benefits, including up to 13 more weeks of assistance or a significant increase in their weekly benefits. At the same time, about 300,000 individuals now collecting jobless benefits must start reporting their job search efforts on a weekly basis to continue collecting assistance. This requirement ends the emergency exemption authorized by Governor Blanco just after Hurricane Katrina.  

According to the National Employment Law Project (NELP), a non-profit worker advocacy group that specializes in the unemployment system, these developments put a premium on Louisiana families to review the status of their unemployment claims.  Together with the new reporting requirements, they also put added pressure on overburdened state officials now coping with limited resources to process the record volume of jobless claims.   According to Maurice Emsellem, NELP’s Policy Director, “the major challenge now is to generate all the federal, state and local resources needed to quickly process jobless claims and maximize the additional benefits available to Louisiana’s families.”

What follows are more details to help workers evaluate their options given the new rights to collect additional jobless benefits and the new responsibilities to report weekly to Louisiana officials. However, those seeking to apply for additional benefits (or with other questions) should be sure to contact the Louisiana Department of Labor (www. http://www.laworks.net) for more specific information.

Who Qualifies for Additional Jobless Benefits?

Extended Benefits:  Those collecting regular state unemployment insurance (UI) whose benefits have run out may qualify for up to 13 weeks of supplemental assistance under a joint federal-state program called “Extended Benefits” (EB).  The EB program officially began on October 30th, after Louisiana surpassed the set level of unemployment required by the federal law. Those who filed a claim for regular unemployment benefits in the past year (specifically, 52 weeks before the week ending October 30, 2005) may qualify for EB if they are still unemployed and looking for work.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance:  Those workers collecting federally-funded “disaster unemployment assistance” (DUA) may be entitled to increase their weekly benefits from the minimum $98 which was originally paid to everyone who applied for DUA in Louisiana.  Depending on the individual’s income, the  DUA benefits may increase up the maximum DUA benefit of $258 a week.  (DUA benefits are available to those who do not qualify for regular state UI, including the self-employed).

How Many Workers Potentially Qualify?  

Extended Benefits:  2,000 to 3,000 people have run out of their regular state UI each month during the past year (2,940 in October and 1,945 in September).  Those who are still unemployed may now qualify for the supplemental EB benefits.  These numbers will expand significantly in February and March as about 200,000 individuals who started collecting UI after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita begin running out of their 26 weeks of regular UI benefits.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance:   More than 80,000 people are now collecting DUA according to the Louisiana Department of Labor.  All of them were paid the minimum DUA benefit of $98 a week because of the lack of documentation available after Hurricane Katrina to verify their wages and employment as required by the DUA program.  However, many of them have since provided the required wage information, which means their DUA benefits may have already increased.

What Special Restrictions Apply?

Extended Benefits:  Of special significance to Louisiana’s evacuees, federal law limits EB to just two (2) weeks of benefits for those workers no longer residing in Louisiana.  In addition, for those workers starting to collect EB in March, it is possible that they will not qualify for the full 13 weeks of benefits because of technical rules that terminate the EB program early.  The EB program ends after especially large numbers of people stop collecting regular UI benefits.  

Disaster Unemployment Assistance:  To qualify for an increase in DUA benefits, which will primarily benefit those who were previously self-employed, individuals must provide documentation of their actual wages including their 2004 tax return.  This option to increase an individual’s DUA benefits is available up until the six-month deadline when the federal disaster period officially ends.  If they haven’t already done so, self-employed individuals and all other workers must also provide documents verifying their employment to continue receiving their DUA benefits. The documentation, ideally including their last year’s tax return, must be provided no later than 90 days from the date they first applied for DUA or their benefits may be terminated and they could be liable to pay back the benefits already received.  

How to Apply for Additional Benefits?

Extended Benefits:  Individuals now collecting regular UI should be notified by the Louisiana Department of Labor of their eligibility for EB and the specific application requirements.  Those who have moved since they stopped collecting regular UI should submit their change of address (on-line at www.LAWorks.net or by phone by calling 800-430-8076) to be sure that they are properly notified of their rights to collect EB.  State  officials are also in the process of developing additional contact information to apply directly for EB. 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance:  To apply for an increase in their DUA benefits, self-employed individuals should provide a copy of their 2004 tax return to the Louisiana Department of Labor. The information should be faxed to 318-362-4288, where it will be processed by the state agency’s staff.  If the individual does not have a copy of his or her tax return, the IRS will provide one upon request by calling 1-866-562-5227.  According to federal Labor Department officials, an agreement has been reached with the IRS allowing workers to request that IRS also fax a copy of the tax return directly to the Louisiana Department of Labor by dialing 318-362-4288. The wage information will then be processed by the state, and the individual will be notified when the benefits have been recalculated. If the individual is entitled to an increase in his or her weekly DUA benefits, then a supplemental amount will be issued to also cover the period when the benefits were underpaid.  

How to Comply with the Weekly Reporting Requirements?

After Hurricane Katrina, Governor Blanco issued several Executives Orders waiving the requirement that many individuals file weekly claims for unemployment benefits by reporting their job-search and other necessary activities.  However, starting November 27th, all workers collecting regular state UI and federally-funded DUA must report to the Louisiana Department of Labor on a weekly basis in order to continue receiving their jobless benefits.   

According to the Louisiana Department of Labor, DUA recipients should call 1-888-217-2440 to file their weekly claims.  Those filing regular UI claims from out-of-state should call the Interstate Liable Unit at 225-342-8731 or 504-568-7385.  Those filing regular UI claims who reside in Louisiana should contact one of 30 local “Easy Call” telephone numbers located on the www.LAWorks.net.

Additional Resources:
-For the Louisiana Department of Labor news release on the weekly job-search requirement (November 18th), click here. 
-For the Louisiana Department of Labor news release on the Extended Benefits program (November 29th), click here.
-For the federal notice of the Extended Benefits program (November 17th), click here.
-For the federal notice extending the DUA deadline (October 24th), click here.

###