Whatcom County residents eligible for disaster unemployment benefits

OLYMPIA – People who live or work in Benton, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Kittitas, Skagit and Whatcom counties may be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits if they lost their jobs or cannot work because of the storms and flooding that struck the region in January.Residents of these counties have until March 11, 2009, to apply for the benefits.

These counties are in addition to the eight counties announced last week, which include King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum. Residents of the original eight counties have until March 6, 2009, to apply for the benefits.

Disaster unemployment benefits are only for people who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, such as self-employed individuals or those who were injured in the storm, were prevented from beginning new work or became the head of their household due to a death caused by the disaster.

Affected workers are eligible to receive disaster unemployment benefits for work they lost since Jan. 6, 2009, and should apply for benefits right away. Payments will be made retroactively. The first payable week is the week ending Jan. 17, 2009.

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