Disaster Unemployment Assistance might be or soon might be available for eligible employees and self-employed individuals who’ve recently lost their jobs or income, because of damage caused by a severe winter storm, snowstorm or related flooding.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a special program funded by the federal government that becomes active, if required, after the President of the United States has declared one or more major disaster areas. In order for federal DUA to become available in a declared area, the affected state must first request the funds from the U.S. Department of Labor.
So far in February (and all of 2010), President Obama has declared disaster areas in eight states because of severe winter storms, snowstorms or floods.
| Arkansas Iowa |
Maryland Nebraska |
New Jersey North Carolina |
Oklahoma Virginia |
Update: Due to severe winter storms and snowstorms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) added North Dakota, West Virginia and the District of Columbia to its list of declared disaster areas within a few days after we published this blog. For future additions to the list, see Major Disaster Declarations at the FEMA Web site.
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 extended unemployment benefits. Because self-employed individuals aren’t eligible for either standard or extended benefits, DUA also covers self-employed individuals 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 and subsequently, are determined according to each state’s unemployment insurance regulations. To file a claim for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (or to first discover if it’s available), contact the state
unemployment office or a full-service One-Stop Career Center, the same offices where you’d file a claim for standard or extended unemployment benefits.
Don’t delay for long in filing your claim after DUA becomes available, as the application deadline is typically only 30 days; but, it usually takes time for DUA to become available after the president declares a disaster area. Additionally, states typically extend the filing deadline if damage is severe, or some local unemployment offices or One-Stop Career Centers are closed due to the disaster. So, even if more than 30 days have come and gone since the disaster declaration, you might still have time to file.
To apply for other disaster assistance due to a severe winter storm, snowstorm or flood, 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.
Beware of scams! Con artists often attempt to exploit disaster victims by charging bogus fees for filing Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims. Filing a DUA claim is always free, as is filing a claim for standard or extended unemployment benefits. Never pay a fee, no matter how “governmentally official” or unsuspecting the so-called “offer” appears to be. There are several other disaster recovery scams to also avoid.
If you have limited means and need legal assistance as a victim of disaster or a related scam, some local lawyers volunteer to help victims by charging no fees 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.
