TRENTON, NJ (CBS) – Gov. Christie’s request for a number of New Jersey counties to qualify for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance as a result of Sandy has been approved.

The special assistance program will help those in Bergen, Somerset, Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties who were living or working in the affected counties at the time of the storm and who are unemployed as a result of it. It is only available at this time in those counties, which have been declared disaster areas, but more may be added in the future.

If you’re unemployed because of the disaster beginning Oct. 28, 2012, you should first file for unemployment insurance benefits at www.njuifile.net or by calling:

North Jersey: 201-601-4100
Central Jersey: 732-761-2020
South Jersey: 856-507-2340

There is a 30 day deadline ending Dec. 3, 2012 for filing claims.