Resources For Workers
The President is authorized to provide any individual whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster the necessary assistance while the individual is unemployed. Applications for DUA must be filed within 30 days of the President’s announcement of a disaster in the State.
Am I eligible for DUA?
An individual who becomes the head of household and is seeking work because the former head of household died as a result of the disaster may qualify for DUA benefits.
Individuals living or working in those areas directly affected by a major disaster, who are unemployed because of the disaster, are eligible for DUA if they are not eligible for unemployment benefits or other wage replacement payments, are able and available for suitable work and due to the disaster:
• No longer has a job or place to work;
• Cannot reach the place of work;
• Cannot work due to damage to the place of work; or
• Cannot work because of an injury caused by the disaster
How long can I collect DUA?
The disaster assistance period begins the first week following the date the major disaster began. During the disaster period, DUA is available to an individual as long as unemployment caused by the disaster continues or until he or she is reemployed in a suitable position, but no longer than 26 weeks after the major disaster is declared.
How much DUA can I receive?
The weekly disaster unemployment assistance amount is the greater of:
• The amount of the average weekly regular unemployment compensation payment in the State in which the major disaster occurred; or
• The weekly amount to which an individual would have been entitled under the State law for a week of total unemployment had all his or her work and wages been included as employment and wages under State law
For more information, visit the Federal Department of Labor page here (http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp). For state specific information, visit your state’s unemployment insurance webpage.