Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
How do I qualify for DUA?
To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-4704-DR, individuals must meet all the following:
- Be an unemployed or self-unemployed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President;
- Be a U.S. national or a qualified alien;
- Not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;
- Have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed below; and
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
Also eligible to apply for DUA are individuals who meet one of the following:
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster;
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster;
- Became the major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household; or
- Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.
Are there any other requirements?
You must also meet all the following eligibility requirements:
- You are able and available for work, unless injured as a direct result of the disaster;
- You filed an application for DUA within 30 days of the date of the public announcement of the availability of DUA; and
- You have not refused an offer of employment in a suitable position.
What counties are covered by the disaster declaration?
Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan, and White.
What does it mean if my county is listed above?
You may be eligible for DUA if you lived or worked in one of those counties and are unemployed or partially unemployed as a direct result of the disaster.
What does it mean if my county is not covered/listed above?
That you are likely not unemployed as a direct result of the disaster and are not eligible for DUA.
How do I apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance?
To apply for DUA, you must have filed for unemployment insurance (UI) on or after 03/31/2023. Filing for UI means:
- Filing a new claim or
- Filing a voucher for a benefit week that ends on or after 04/01/2023.
If you receive a notice stating you are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, download and complete the applicable forms below. Save a copy of the completed forms to your computer or device. After you have completed the forms, fill out this form, answer the questions, and upload the forms you completed.
What forms do I use to apply?
You must complete and upload these two forms to the website shown above:
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance Initial Application | State Form 53667: PDF | Word
- Statement of Employment and Wages | State Form 55165: PDF | Word
You will complete this third form only if you were self-employed when the disaster impacted your employment:
If you need interpretation or translation assistance with completing the forms, call the Contact Center at 1-800-891-6499.
Si necesita asistencia de interpretación o traducción para completar las formas, comuníquese con el Centro de Contacto al 1-800-891-6499.
How do I file my weekly vouchers for DUA?
If you are determined eligible for DUA, you will file your weekly vouchers for DUA by completing the form that DWD sends you.
Why do I have to apply first for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits?
The federal government requires DWD to process your request for regular UI before processing the DUA request. You will receive a denial determination for regular UI before receiving a notice regarding your DUA. If you filed for both regular UI and DUA you will first receive a determination regarding regular UI.
How soon will I know the status of my claim?
Your claim will receive the highest priority and will be processed in our Indianapolis office as soon as it is received. You can check the status of your regular UI claim by logging onto Uplink, Indiana’s online filing system or by calling 1-800-891-6499. If you qualify for DUA, you will first receive a letter of denial for regular UI, then a notice of approval for DUA.
How much can I collect weekly in regular UI benefits?
If you qualify and have filed the necessary forms on a weekly basis, you can collect up to $390.00 weekly. The amount is based on your previous earnings. You can find more information about benefits on DWD’s website, under “Unemployment for Individuals.”
How much can I collect in weekly DUA benefits?
If you qualify and have filed the necessary forms on a weekly basis, the maximum you can collect is $390.00. The amount of payment is based on your previous earnings or your self-employed earnings. If you were working full-time when the disaster impacted your employment the minimum you can collect is $149 weekly.
How are weekly benefits calculated?
The time frame used to calculate your weekly benefit amount is earnings for the most recent tax year that has ended before you became unemployed as a direct result of the disaster. In most cases it will be 2022. If you worked for an employer, your gross earnings are used to calculate the weekly benefit amount. If you were self-employed, your net earnings are used to calculate the weekly benefit amount.
How many weeks are payable?
Up to 28 weeks are payable from April 8, 2023 – October 14, 2023 as long as you meet eligibility criteria each week.
What is acceptable documentation to prove my employment or self-employment?
All DUA applicants must submit documentation to show that they were working or scheduled to begin work on or after the disaster date of March 31.
Applicants who were working for an employer or were scheduled to begin work can provide:
- Pay stub(s) or earnings statements
- 2022 State/Federal income tax return
- Employer name, address, and phone number
- A letter from the employer or future employer
Applicants who were self-employed or scheduled to begin self-employment can provide:
- Property title or deeds for place of business
- State/Federal income tax return
- Rental agreement or letter from property owner showing occupancy date
- State tax registration, sales tax, return, utility, or insurance bill(s)
- Business record or other evidence to that verifies was self-employment
Why do I need to provide my 2022 tax return?
Your tax return will primarily be used to ensure that you are being paid the correct weekly benefit amount. It can also serve as proof that you were working.
How long do I have to provide these documents?
You must provide the documentation within 21 calendar days of filing your DUA application. If the 21st day is a weekend day or holiday, the due date is the next business day.
What happens if I do not provide the documentation within 21 days?
If you do not provide your tax return to prove how much you earned in 2022, your weekly benefit amount will be set to the minimum of $149 if you were working full-time.
If you do not provide proof of employment, your DUA claim will be denied and an overpayment created for any DUA benefits already paid to you.
Can I be denied for DUA benefits?
Yes, if you are still able to go to work, but take time off to deal with personal items affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes you are not eligible for benefits. There are other scenarios that may result in denial of DUA. In addition, if you qualify for regular UI, you will not receive DUA.
Can I appeal if benefits are denied?
Yes, a denial of DUA benefits may be appealed. You must file an appeal within 60 days of the date the determination was issued.
Do I have to wait a one week before receiving DUA like I do with regular UI?
No, the one week waiting period only applies to regular UI.