Disaster Unemployment Assistance

About the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a special program that provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers and self-employed individuals who've become unemployed or can't work, as a direct result of a major disaster.

The DUA Program becomes active when the President of the United States officially declares one or more major disaster areas in a state (or U.S. territory or possession). The state may then request DUA funds from the Federal government if needed.

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program is administered by state unemployment offices as agents of the Federal government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pays the funds to declared disaster states in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Eligibility

Because Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a special Federal program, eligibility requirements differ from those of state standard unemployment benefits. To be eligible for DUA, among other requirements, you must be ineligible for standard unemployment benefits (or an extension of standard unemployment benefits) from any state.

Below is a summary of other Disaster Unemployment Assistance eligibility requirements, paraphrased from those listed by the U.S. Department of Labor. To be eligible, you must meet one or more of the requirements depending on your circumstances.

• Worked or was self-employed, or was scheduled to begin work or self-employment, in a declared disaster area
• Can no longer work or perform services because of damage or destruction to your place of employment as a direct result of a disaster
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury or incapacitation as a direct result of the disaster
• Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the Federal government as a direct result of a disaster
• Lost a majority of income or revenue because your employer's or your own place of business was damaged, destroyed or closed by the Federal government as a direct result of a disaster
• Establish that the work or self-employment you can no longer perform because of a disaster, was your primary source of income
• Became the breadwinner or a major support contributor of a household, because the head of the household died as a direct result of a disaster

To determine your final eligibility for either standard unemployment benefits or Disaster Unemployment Assistance, you'll likely have to file an official claim with the state unemployment office or a full-service One-Stop Career Center.

Ordinarily, you'll have only 30 days to file a claim for Disaster Unemployment Assistance after it becomes available. So, it's a good idea to file your claim for DUA as soon as it's practical, even if you don't have the supporting paperwork at hand. After filing, you'll ordinarily have 21 days to provide the paperwork. In cases of severe or widespread damage, the DOL has extended DUA deadlines; but, don't bank on it.

If one or more state unemployment offices or One-Stops are closed because of damage, the agencies typically set up temporary offices to take claims for unemployment benefits and Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Even if none are closed, the agencies often set up special phone hotlines and online services for those who can't file claims in person, and to better handle the increase in claims after a disaster.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Benefits

Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are similar to those of standard unemployment benefits, and include weekly compensation and re-employment services. The maximum weekly compensation dollar amount is determined by each state, according to the provisions in its unemployment laws and related regulations.

For example, if the maximum weekly compensation for standard unemployment benefits in your state is $330, then the maximum weekly amount for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is likely to be the same or close.

In addition to Disaster Unemployment Assistance, state unemployment offices or One-Stop Career Centers might schedule special job fairs for disaster-unemployed workers to land replacement jobs. Unemployment offices might also offer what are commonly referred to as "cleanup jobs" (such as hurricane cleanup jobs), so that disaster-unemployed individuals may earn wages while assisting in recovery, rebuilding and humanitarian efforts.

For information about post-disaster help other than Disaster Unemployment Assistance, start by browsing Apply for Assistance at FEMA's Web site.