STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER RIVERA VISITS LONG BEACH AND ENCOURAGES NEW YORKERS TO SIGN UP FOR DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE 

Albany, NY (November 16, 2012) - New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera visited Long Beach today to meet with residents and encouraged all New Yorkers impacted by Hurricane Sandy to sign up for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).   Earlier this week, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that DUA will be available in additional areas.  The program provides financial support to anyone who has lost their job or income and lives or works in Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. 

“Hurricane Sandy left thousands of New Yorkers devastated and without work or income,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “I commend Department of Labor staff who are working to inform everyone affected by the storm about the disaster unemployment benefits that are available now.” 

Anyone unemployed as a result of Hurricane Sandy can submit a claim to the Department of Labor. Eligibility requirements for collecting disaster assistance are broader than for collecting regular unemployment benefits. Specifically, an individual can collect disaster assistance in any of the following cases:

• Injured in the disaster and are unable to work.
• Workplace was damaged or destroyed.
• Can’t get to workplace because of the disaster.
• Were about to begin work, but could not because of the disaster.
• Now the breadwinner or major support for a household because the former head of household died in the disaster.
• Out of work because the federal government took over or closed the facility where you worked.

“As I travel around the areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy, I see the devastation New Yorkers are facing first-hand,” said Commissioner Peter M. Rivera. “I want to let them know that there are disaster unemployment benefits available now for anyone who lost their job due to this horrible storm.”

 Commissioner Rivera and Department of Labor staff will visit other hard-hit locations throughout affected areas in New York.

To apply for unemployment benefits or DUA, those who lost their job or income because of the storm should call the Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 1-888-209-8124 or 1-877-358-5306 (out–of-state). Applicants should answer the questions to indicate they lost their job due to Hurricane Sandy. The deadline to apply is February 4, 2013.

Since DUA relief was announced, more than 23,000 New Yorkers have filed for unemployment benefits due to the storm.