Redwood City – Local residents who lost their jobs or businesses or had their work hours reduced due to impacts brought about by the severe storms that began in late December have until tomorrow – Thursday, March 2 – to apply for Disaster Unemployment Insurance.
The California Employment Development Department administers the Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefit. The benefits are available “to workers, business owners, and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs or businesses, or had their work hours reduced due to impacts brought about by the severe storms.”
The benefits are offered to victims of a federally declared disaster and are available to individuals who meet certain criteria.
Applications for benefits must be filed by applicants in San Mateo County by March 2, 2023, unless the individual has good cause to file a late application. Disaster Unemployment Assistance applies to losses beginning the week of Jan. 1, 2023, for claimants impacted by the storms.
You can apply by phone between 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays:
• English: 1-800-300-5616
• Spanish: 1-800-326-8937
• Chinese (Cantonese): 1-800-547-3506
• Chinese (Mandarin): 1-866-303-0706
• Korean: 1-844-660-0877
• Tagalog: 1-866-395-1513
• Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058
Disaster Recovery Center to Reduce Hours, Services Next Week
Beginning Monday, March 6, the Disaster Recovery Center open at the Event Center for residents impacted by the January storms will reduce its hours due to waning attendance.
On Monday, the hours change from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The center will be closed on Sunday. At the end of the business day on Tuesday, March 7, Cal OES will pull out the state services.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will remain on site 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Tuesday, March 14 when the site closes for good.
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is March 16, 2023.
Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
mdurand@smcgov.org