[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 61472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-5857]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Extension of Period for Filing 
Claims and for the Submission of Documentation

    The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) administers 
Federal law requirements pertaining to Disaster Unemployment Assistance 
(DUA). These requirements are found in Federal regulations at 20 CFR 
625. Due to the devastation created by Hurricane Katrina, ETA, through 
its Regional Offices, has informed the states of Alabama, Louisiana, 
and Mississippi that two filing deadlines for DUA are being extended. 
The memoranda are being published in the Federal Register in order to 
inform the public.

    Dated: October 17, 2005.
Emily Stover Derocco,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

September 9, 2005

    Memorandum For: Helen N. Parker, Regional Administrator, Atlanta. 
Joseph C. Juarez, Regional Administrator, Dallas.
    From: Cheryl Atkinson, Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
    Subject: Extension of 30-day Filing Period for Disaster 
Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for Claims Related to Hurricane Katrina.
    Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the filing 
period for DUA is extended through November 30, 2005. This extension is 
based on the fact that there is widespread dislocation of workers and 
damage to the affected areas' infrastructure inflicted by Hurricane 
Katrina, which will make it difficult for individuals to file within 
the 30-day filing period. Additional time will afford those individuals 
a sufficient opportunity to file a DUA claim. There is good cause under 
20 CFR 625.8(a) to extend the filing period for DUA in this situation.
    Please advise the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi of 
this extension. You should also ensure that the agencies work with the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to release appropriate 
announcements to the media. Please advise states to use the services of 
FEMA's Joint Field Offices to issue public service announcements and 
media releases.

September 16, 2005

    Memorandum For: Helen N. Parker, Regional Administrator, Atlanta. 
Joseph C. Juarez, Regional Administrator, Dallas.
    From: Emily Stover Derocco, Assistant Secretary of Labor.
    Subject: Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)--Extension of 
Period for Submitting Documentation.
    Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the time 
required for submission of documentation under 20 CFR 625.6(e)(1) is 
extended. For purposes of Hurricane Katrina, this documentation must be 
submitted within 90 days calendar days after the filing of the initial 
application for DUA. This extension is based on the fact that there has 
been widespread evacuation of workers due to the hurricane. It is 
unlikely that evacuees who do not have documentation at the time of 
filing will be able to obtain documentation within the 21-day period 
specified by the regulation because they will not have access to the 
appropriate documentation and may have to rely on others to provide 
this documentation.
    More specifically, 20 CFR 625.6(e)(1) provides that when an 
applicant's weekly DUA amount is based only ``on the individual's 
statement,'' the individual shall furnish documentation in support of 
this statement ``within 21 calendar days of the filing of the initial 
application for DUA.'' As discussed above, for purposes of Hurricane 
Katrina, this period is extended to within 90 calendar days of filing 
the initial application.
    Please advise the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi of 
this extension. These states should take appropriate action to notify 
both future applicants and applicants who were initially unable to 
supply documentation of this extension.

 [FR Doc. E5-5857 Filed 10-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P