Montanans Impacted by Flooding in Yellowstone County May Be Eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

• — July 27 2022

Helena, MT - The Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced today that workers in Yellowstone County impacted by June flooding may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims are being accepted by the Department via phone at (406) 444-3454. DUA claims agents will be available starting today at 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Phones will be operated Monday through Friday. Claims for affected Yellowstone County workers will be accepted via phone until August 26, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

The Disaster Assistance Period for Yellowstone County is effective June 12, 2022. Claims may be backdated to this effective date if this is the first week your employment or self-employment was impacted. Claims must be filed within 30 days of when they are first accepted (July 27).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance can be a valuable resource for Montanans who live or work in impacted areas but aren’t covered by regular unemployment insurance,” said Montana Department of Labor & Industry Commissioner Laurie Esau. “Filing a DUA claim can help Montanans bridge the financial gap as the region gets back on its feet in the midst of the summer tourist season. I am pleased to see another county has been added to the list of those who were impacted by severe flooding and are in need of assistance.”

Most individuals who lost work due to the flooding, if they are regular W-2 employees, may be eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance benefits. Individuals seeking to file a regular UI claim should visit MontanaWorks.gov and create or log into their account. Individuals can also call the Department’s Claims Processing Center at (406) 444-2545 for assistance.

DUA benefits are available to individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits but who, following the June flooding:

• Live or work in Yellowstone County
• Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment,
• Could/Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster,
• Were/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,
• Establish that the work or self-employment they could/can no longer perform was their primary source of income,
• Could not/Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster, or
• Who became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household due to the disaster.

Montanans who meet the above criteria are encouraged to file a claim via phone at (406) 444-3454.

Individuals will need their Social Security Number, a copy of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs, and documentation to support they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred.  To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed. 

The first possible week of compensation for those individuals who qualify for DUA, is the week ending June 18, 2022.

Applications filed after the 30 day deadline of August 26, 2022, will be considered untimely unless the individual provides good cause for filing after the deadline.

Contact Sam Loveridge: Public Information Officer, Department of Labor and Industry