HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y. -- Orange, Sullivan and Ulster County residents who lost their jobs or income because of Superstorm Sandy are now eligible for federal unemployment assistance.

This assistance supplements the state's unemployment insurance system and will also expand eligibility to include people who may not have originally been covered.

Those who fall under the criteria to claim assistance include but are not limited to anyone who was injured during the storm, your workplace was damaged or destroyed and cannot work because of the storm or transportation to work was not available because of the storm, cannot get to work because they must travel through the affected area.

Anyone who would like to file a claim can do so through the Department of Labor and has until February 4th of next year to do it.

To apply for unemployment benefits or disaster unemployment assistance, those affected by the storm and have lost their job or income should call the Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 1-888-209-8124, or 1-877-358-5306 if they live out of state. Applicants should answer the questions to indicate they lost their job due to Hurricane Sandy. In order to receive benefits, you must apply by February 4, 2013.