The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides financial assistance to individuals who lost their job as a result of Presidential declared major disaster which caused them to be unemployed. Once an application is completed, filed and processed, DUA benefits are paid weekly to applicants. All recipients get the same weekly benefits which they are entitled to had, as they qualified for UI in the state where they were employed.
Basic Eligibility Requirements for DUA
Basically, the major requirements for an individual to qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program include:
- The individual must be out of work as a result of direct major disaster.
- Individual does not qualify for regular unemployment insurance (UI) from any state.
ALSO SEE: Florida Disaster SNAP benefits Program Application
General Program Requirements
As a direct result of a Presidential declared major disaster, payments will be made to unemployed individuals if he:
- Cannot work due to damage to the place of work.
- Unable to work because of a disaster-incurred injury.
- Becomes the head of the household and is currently seeking work because former head of household died as a result of the disaster.
How Long Will an Individual’s DUA Benefits Last?
The maximum duration of DUA benefits is 26 weeks. The benefits cannot extend beyond the period when the disaster officially ends, which is six months from the date the federal disaster was declared. Furthermore, the DUA benefits cannot extend beyond when the recipient returns to work or self-employment. However, it cannot go beyond the period when the individual’s unemployment is no longer directly related to the disaster.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program Application Process
Individual must file an applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) within 30 days of the announcement of the availability of DUA in the state. Furthermore, they must follow all given instructions in the announcement and file for DUA based on the filing methods used by the state (i.e. in person, mail, telephone, or internet).
However, to file a claim, individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster should contact their State Unemployment Insurance agency.
