The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred from May 7, 2019 to June 9, 2019.
Under Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4438-DR ) issued on June 1, 2019 and amended on June 11, 2019, workers
who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to the disaster in Delaware, Kay,
Mayes, Okmulgee, Payne, Pottawatomie, and Sequoyah counties may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
benefits. The end of the filing period for these individuals is July 15, 2019.
The Presidential Disaster Declaration was amended two additional times to include other counties. The application
deadlines for those counties are: July 18, 2019 for individuals affected by storms in Cherokee, Le Flore, Noble and Nowata counties and July 22, 2019 for individuals affected by storms in Alfalfa, Craig, Garfield, Kingfisher, Pawnee and Woods counties.
OESC must determine state eligibility before determining eligibility for DUA. All individuals must file a regular state
unemployment insurance claim by going to https://unemployment.state.ok.us/.
Individuals who file should advise the Commission representative that the application is related to the damage caused by
the severe storms, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding.
DUA, which is an unemployment insurance benefit made available for victims of a disaster, is available to individuals who:
• Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits or do not qualify for unemployment benefits;
• Worked for an employer, were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the
disaster area;
• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage, destruction, or inaccessibility of the place
of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
• Are unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area
and are prevented from doing so due to the disaster;
• Establish that work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster;