The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) 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 8, 2019, workers
who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to the disaster in Canadian, Creek, Logan, Osage, Ottawa, Rogers and Washington counties may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. The end of the filing period for these individuals is July 10, 2019.
The Presidential Disaster Declaration was amended three additional times to include other counties. The application
deadlines for those counties are: July 15, 2019 for individuals affected by the storms in Delaware, Kay, Mayes, Okmulgee, Payne, Pottawatomie and Sequoyah counties.
July 18, 2019 for individuals affected by storms in Cherokee, Le Flore, Noble and Nowata counties. 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/. Once the claim is filed, if the individual is found to be ineligible, individuals affected by the recent severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and floods in the affected counties can apply for DUA benefits by calling OESC at 1-800-555-1554 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00
pm Monday through Friday (select option 1 to file a claim or request specific information about your claim, then select
option 5 to speak with a claims representative).
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;
• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.