Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced that President Biden has approved Arkansas’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now authorized to assist Baxter, Benton, Boone, Fulton, Greene, Madison, Marion, and Randolph Counties impacted by severe weather on May 24-27, 2024.
If the severe storms and tornadoes that struck Baxter, Benton, Boone, Fulton, Greene, Madison, Marion, and Randolph Counties on May 24-27, 2024, caused the loss or interruption of your job or self-employment, you could be eligible for unemployment insurance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is currently approved for 27 weeks, and applications are due by July 29, 2024.
DUA provides temporary benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI). That said, you must apply for traditional unemployment insurance before applying for DUA. On your application, be sure to select “laid off-weather” as the reason for your separation.
How to Apply
- Apply online at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov
- Monday – Friday: 6 a.m.- 6 p.m., Sunday: 7 a.m.- 6 p.m.
- or visit the Mobile Workforce Center
- Every Monday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. (excluding holidays)
- In the parking lot of the Frisco Station Mall, 100 N Dixieland Rd, Rogers, AR 72756
- Questions? Contact the Unemployment Insurance Service Center: 1-844-908-2178 | Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
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What is DUA?
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 and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI). “Direct result” means loss of employment or self-employment because of the major disaster and not the result of a long chain of events caused or worsened by the disaster. ADWS will check to see if individuals are eligible for regular UI benefits before finding them eligible for DUA. If individuals are eligible for regular UI benefits, they will receive those benefits instead of DUA.
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. DUA is administered by ADWS acting as agents of the federal government whenever a disaster declaration for “individual assistance including DUA” is made.
Qualifying for DUA
One of the following conditions of unemployment must have occurred as a direct result of the disaster to qualify for DUA:
- The individual has had a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began;
- The individual is unable to reach his/her place of employment;
- The individual was scheduled to start work, and the job no longer exists, or the individual was unable to reach the job;
- The individual became the breadwinner or major support because the head of the household died as a direct result of the disaster; or
- The individual cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.
Eligibility Requirements
Individuals who meet one of the qualifying conditions above must also meet all the following eligibility requirements to be eligible for DUA:
- The individual is not eligible for regular UI; Before applying for DUA, you must apply for traditional unemployment insurance. File your initial unemployment claim at https://www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov.
- The individual is unemployed as a direct result of the disaster;
- The individual is able and available for work unless injured as a direct result of the disaster;
- The individual applied for DUA within 60 days of the date of the public announcement of the availability of DUA; and
- The individual has not refused an offer of employment in a suitable position.
Help is available on the Workforce Centers and Mobile Workforce Centers
Click here for a list of Arkansas Workforce Center locations
Visit the Mobile Workforce Center for assistance with unemployment insurance (UI) and disaster unemployment assistance (DUA).
- Every Monday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. (excluding holidays)
- In the parking lot of the Frisco Station Mall, 100 N Dixieland Rd, Rogers, AR 72756
