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Application for unemployment assistance to end next week
CW1 workers and Freely Associated States citizens are not eligible
This coming Monday, Oct. 19, will be the last day to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
“Individuals who worked on the island of Saipan at the time of the disaster and are totally, part-totally, or partially unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may apply for DUA,” Labor Secretary Edith DeLeon Guerrero told Saipan Tribune.
However, CW-1 workers and Freely Associated States citizens are not eligible for DUA due to their immigration status.
DUA, which is in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is also under the Stafford Act and is available to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, and qualified aliens who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from Typhoon Soudelor.
DeLeon Guerrero said DUA has a weekly eligibility for 27 weeks for those who needs assistance.
“This, however, does not mean that all 27 weeks is payable. The Weekly Request for Assistance form or ETA 83 is required to be filed if still requesting for DUA,” she said.
Under the program, the Weekly Assistance Amount is $307. Deductions such as taxes and child support payment, if any, may be applied.
According to DeLeon Guerrero, eligibility determination depends on the applicant.
“The applicant is responsible and their compliance [with] the requirements will determine the turn-around time of their eligibility and subsequent benefit[s] payment that will be processed through the Department of Finance,” she said.
In September, 57 applicants applied for this assistance.
Based on their initial survey results, less than 300 are expected to apply for the assistance. “However this number will change, plus or minus, as a result of the physical applications received,” Deleon Guerrero said.
DUA applications and other forms may be obtained at the CNMI DOL Workforce Investment Agency or at their Employment Services Division on Capitol Hill.
Phone applications can also be made by calling 664-3156/7; 664-1704/5/7/8; 322-0996; 322-4365; 664-3190/5/6/7 or 664-1757, Monday to Friday between 7:30am and 4:30pm.
