Montanans Impacted by Flooding in Yellowstone County Have One Week Left to Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

• — August 19 2022

Helena, MT - The Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced today that workers in Yellowstone County impacted by June flooding have until August 26, 2022 to apply 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 via phone Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Claims will be accepted through Friday, August 26, 2022.    

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 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.     

Applications filed August 27^th, 2022 or later will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after the deadline.

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