Hurricane Irma Evacuees in Tennessee May Be Eligible for Unemployment Benefits

Sep 12, 2017 at 01:30 pm by bryan


Hundreds of residents from states impacted by Hurricane Irma escaped the impact of the storm by seeking refuge in cities across Tennessee. Many are staying with family or at local hotels and campgrounds and are not able to work.

Out-of-state residents, who plan to stay in Tennessee for an extended period of time because their homes or place of employment suffered damage, can file for unemployment insurance.

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"This is a very stressful time for residents chased out of their homes by the hurricane," said Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) Commissioner Burns Phillips. "We want to make certain anyone who is staying in Tennessee has all the information they need to get the unemployment benefits they are entitled to, so they have one less thing to worry about."

It is possible a displaced worker may need to stay in Tennessee for a short or extended period of time following Hurricane Irma. During that time, the worker may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

A worker displaced by the hurricane should start the unemployment benefits filing process with the state in which they have permanent employment. They should do this while temporarily residing in the state of Tennessee.

The worker can file for UI benefits through their home-state's unemployment insurance website.

Typically, a state can directly deposit a displaced worker's benefits into their bank account, making the funds accessible to them while staying in Tennessee.

Because the federal government will most likely declare areas impacted by the hurricane a federal disaster area, unemployment insurance may be available to persons who typically would not be entitled to benefits. For example, small business owners and independent contractors may be eligible for benefits through a disaster work grant.

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