Workers affected by Noble wildfire may be eligible for employment benefits

The assistance is available because the federal government last week approved disaster aid for Cleveland County, reversing its initial decision after the state appealed. Scores of homes and structures were damaged or destroyed and one person died in the Cleveland County fire.

To be eligible for the assistance, applicants must meet at least one of the following conditions:

— They worked or had been scheduled to work in the disaster area but no longer have a job or place to work in the area, or have been unable to get to work, because of disaster damage.

— They were prevented from working by injury or illness directly caused by the disaster.

— They have become head of a household and need employment because the head of the household died due to the disaster.

If you are self-employed and have lost all or part of your livelihood as a result of this disaster, you may be eligible for benefits. Self-employed workers must provide federal income tax forms (Schedule SE and either Schedule C or Schedule F) to receive disaster unemployment benefits.