RALEIGH -- The Division of Employment Security (DES) has announced that the following counties have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew: Beaufort County, Bertie County, Bladen County, Columbus County, Cumberland County, Dare County, Edgecombe County, Greene County, Harnett County, Hoke County, Hyde County, Johnston County, Jones County, Lenoir County, Nash County,Pitt County, Robeson County, Sampson County, Wayne County, and Wilson County. Additional counties may be added to the DUA availability designation at a later date.

In order to assist citizens in this State that have suffered losses and are likely to suffer imminent further widespreadlosses, Governor Pat McCrory has directed DES TO NOT ENFORCE the one-week waiting period and job search requirements for individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster in the counties approved in the President’s declaration.

Individuals who are affected by the disaster and are unable to continue working must file an application for benefits within 30 days from today – or, by November 14, 2016 (Note: Because the 30th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the time limit was extended until the next business day).

Workers who became unemployed as a direct result of the effects of Hurricane Matthew impacting North Carolina, may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under the DUA program. Business owners affected by the storm may also qualify for benefits.

Workers or business owners meeting the following criteria may be eligible for benefits:

• Individuals who are unemployed due to the disaster, and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits. If you are eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, you must first exhaust those benefits before you are eligible for DUA.

• Self-employed individuals and small business owners who lost income due to the disaster.

• Individuals who were prevented from working due to an injury caused by the disaster.

• Individuals who have become the major supplier of household income due to the disaster-related death or injury of the previous major supplier of household income.

• Individuals who are 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.

• Individuals who were to commence employment or self-employment but were prevented from doing so by the disaster.

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