DUA Activities

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides temporary benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster declared by the President and who are NOT eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.

The U.S. Department of Labor oversees the DUA program and coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security, which provides the funds for payment of DUA benefits and state administration. The DUA program is administered at the state level by state Unemployment Insurance (UI) agencies, acting as agents of the USDOL.

DUA benefits are available to eligible individuals for weeks of unemployment beginning with the first week following the date the major disaster began and may be paid for up to 26 weeks after the major disaster is declared by the President, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the major disaster. Eligibility for DUA benefits will be determined on a week-to-week basis.

Individuals who may be eligible for assistance must file a claim in accordance with the state workforce agency’s instructions published in the announcement on how to file a claim. Or, they make contact their specific state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency.

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Unemployment Insurance Fact Sheets
DUA Handbook