Creek County wildfire disaster relief deadline Sept. 26

CREEK COUNTY, Okla. - The deadline to file for disaster unemployment assistance in Creek County is nearly here.

Workers who feel they have lost earnings due to the area's devastating wildfire have until the close of business Set. 26 to apply.

Under Presidential Disaster Declaration 4078-DR, eligible individuals must:

• have worked or been scheduled to work in the disaster area, but because of the disaster no longer have a job or a place to work in the area, or could not get to the place of work because of disaster damage
• have been prevented from working by an injury or illness as a direct result of the disaster
• have become the head of the household and need employment because the head of the household died as a result of the disaster

Unemployment must also be a direct result of:  

• physical damage or destruction of the place of employment
• physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state or local government in immediate response to the disaster
• lack of work or loss of revenues, if prior to the disaster the employer or self-employed business received at least a majority of its revenue or income from an entity in the major disaster area that was damaged or destroyed in the disaster or an entity in the major disaster area closed by the federal, state or local government  

Individuals must also provide documentation within 21 days from the day the claim was filed indicating an employment record.

If you believe you may be eligible for assistance, call the OESC Unemployment Insurance Service Center at 1-800-555-1554 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to begin the claim process.