Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Residents and Businesses in Eight Louisiana Parishes Affected by Hurricane Francine

BATON ROUGE, La. – Residents and businesses in eight Louisiana parishes impacted by Hurricane Francine can now apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to help recover lost income due to the storm.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) is accepting applications from those whose employment or self-employment was disrupted as a direct result of the hurricane. The parishes eligible for assistance include Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne.

Applicants must submit their DUA claims through the LWC's HiRE portal at www.laworks.net by the deadline of November 15, 2024.

Eligibility Criteria for DUA

To qualify for assistance, individuals must meet one or more of the following conditions:

• Employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to the disaster.
• The individual is not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits.
• The workplace was physically damaged, destroyed, or inaccessible because of the disaster.
• They became the primary breadwinner due to the death of the head of household.
• They were unable to reach their workplace due to travel restrictions caused by the hurricane.

Proof of employment or self-employment must be submitted within 21 days of filing a claim. Acceptable documents include payroll vouchers, written statements from employers, business records, or notarized affidavits.

For self-employed individuals, business receipts, licenses, and 2023 federal income tax returns may serve as proof of prior earnings.

For more details and to file a claim, visit the LWC’s website or contact their local office.