Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available or might soon become available, for eligible employees and self-employed individuals who’ve recently lost their jobs or income because of severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, winds, landslides or mudslides.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a special program funded by the Federal government that often becomes available after the President of the United States has declared a major disaster. In order for DUA to become available in a declared state, the state must request the funds from the U.S. Department of Labor.
In the past 30 days, President Bush has declared disaster areas in the following states and Puerto Rico one or more times because of severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, winds, landslides or mudslides, including severe storms and flooding associated with Hurricane Ike.
| Alabama Alaska Arkansas Illinois |
Indiana Kentucky Louisiana |
Mississippi New Hampshire North Carolina |
Oklahoma Texas Vermont |
Update: President Bush declared disaster areas in Arkansas (again) and Ohio on 10/22/08 and 10/24/08 respectively, due to damage caused by remnant tropical storms of Hurricane Ike. To see if the President declared disaster areas in your state after 10/24/08, refer to “Major Disaster Declarations” at the Web site of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Employees who’ve lost their jobs as a direct result of the disasters in the declared areas might be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, if not eligible for standard state unemployment benefits or the extended unemployment benefits recently authorized by the President. Because self-employed individuals typically aren’t eligible for standard or extended benefits, DUA also covers those who have lost income due to a disaster and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are similar to those of standard state unemployment benefits. The weekly DUA benefit amount is determined by each state, according to each state’s unemployment insurance regulations.
To file a claim for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (or standard or extended benefits), contact the nearest branch of the state unemployment office, such as a local, full-service, One-Stop Career Center. Don’t delay for long, as the window for filing a claim is typically open for only 30 days after DUA becomes active; but, it usually takes time for it to become active after the President declares a disaster area. So, even if more than 30 days have come and gone since then, you still might have time to file.
To apply for other disaster assistance due to severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, winds, landslides or mudslides, see Apply for Assistance at FEMA or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster victims who have speech or hearing impairments may instead call 1-800-462-7585 through their TTY devices.
If you need legal assistance as a disaster victim, local lawyers often volunteer to help by charging no or only small fees. A free lawyer referral service might be able to help you find one, as might a non-profit legal-aid organization in your state.
