Questions and Answers
State of New York
What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)?
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides assistance 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 state unemployment insurance. The U.S. Department of
Labor oversees DUA and coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), which provides the funds for payment of DUA and state administration (1). DUA is
administered by the state agency responsible for providing state unemployment insurance. In
New York, that is the New York Department of Labor headquartered in Albany.
What triggers the availability of DUA?
Based upon the request of the Governor, the President may declare that a major disaster exists
and define the areas in the state that are eligible for financial assistance. President Bush declared
a major disaster in certain parts of the state of New York on September 11, 2001.
Who is eligible for DUA?
Payment will be made to an unemployed worker who as a direct result of a major disaster:
1. No longer has a job;
2. Is unable to reach the place of work;
3. Was to commence work and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job;
4. Has become the breadwinner for the household because the head of household died (2); or
5. Cannot work because of a disaster-incurred injury.
Payment will be made to an unemployed self-employed individual who as a direct result of a
major disaster:
1. No longer can perform regular services in self-employment;
2. Is unable to reach the place where self-employment services are performed;
3. Was to commence regular service in self-employment and does not have a place or is
unable to reach the place where services were to be performed; or
4. Cannot perform services because of a disaster-incurred injury.
NOTE: An individual who becomes a breadwinner due to the death of a self-employed
individual is considered an unemployed worker for DUA purposes.
For each week of unemployment, an individual must meet the "able to work" requirement and
the "available for work" requirement of the state unemployment insurance program.
How much DUA can someone receive and for how long?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in New York is $405. The disaster assistance period
commences the week of September 17, 2001, and ends on March 17, 2002. An individual can
receive DUA during this time period as long as the individual's unemployment that was caused
by the major disaster continues. Payments come in the form of a check and are mailed each
week to the recipient of DUA. The first check should arrive approximately three weeks after the
initial claim is made. To make a DUA claim in New York or for questions call 1-888-209-8124.
1 DUA is considered an entitlement benefit subject to meeting the eligibility requirements detailed below.
2 The individual becoming the breadwinner does not need to have wage credits and could be eligible for DUA even
if the deceased individual would have had regular unemployment insurance eligibility. The breadwinner is entitled
to the higher of the DUA amount based on either the deceased head of household's wages or their own DUA amount
calculated under the provisions of the DUA regulations.
