Deadline to apply for unemployment aid is extended

The CNMI Department of Labor announced yesterday that it has extended the application submission deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Typhoon Mangkhut and Super Typhoon Yutu from Dec. 16, 2018 to Jan. 15, 2019.

The DUA program provides payment relief and reemployment assistance to individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of a major disaster.

DUA claims are only taken after the President of the United States, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, declares specific areas of the state as disaster areas and authorizes Individual Assistance to individuals working in the disaster areas.

DUA funding is provided by FEMA and does not come from employer payroll taxes.

On Sept. 29, 2018, the President authorized a major disaster declaration for the CNMI due to Typhoon Mangkhut that occurred on Sept. 10-11, 2018.

Almost one month later, the President authorized another major disaster declaration for the CNMI due to Super Typhoon Yutu that occurred October 24-26, 2018.

Both declarations authorized Individual Assistance, including DUA, for the islands of Rota, Saipan, Tinian, and the Northern Islands (Yutu only). On Nov. 16, 2018, the CNMI DOL announced the availability of DUA and a filing deadline of Dec. 16, 2018, for DUA applications.

“Now is the time to avail of employment assistance if you were adversely affected by the two recent typhoons. We have made this a priority, and we are working with our federal partners to assist every impacted resident,” said Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.

“The CNMI Department of Labor has been hard at work receiving and reviewing applications, and we want to remind our community that we will continue to receive through Jan. 15. Our priority is to assist every impacted worker who became unemployed or had their hours reduced because of Typhoon Mangkhut and Super Typhoon Yutu,” said Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente.

For additional information about DUA or assistance in completing an application, contact Division of Employment Services director Eugene Tebuteb at 788-4180 or DES Labor Certification supervisor James Ulloa at 788-4183. Interested applicants may also visit the DUA Application Center at the Springs Plaza on Middle Road, Gualo Rai, for one-on-one assistance. (PR)