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Following a federal disaster declaration resulting from the devasting impacts from Hurricane Helene, 25 counties and the Qualla Boundary have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), according to this press release.
Federal DUA benefits are available for residents of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties, as well as the Qualla Boundary.
People in the above-listed counties who are unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Helene may be eligible for unemployment benefits under the DUA program, according to the press release. Business owners and self-employed individuals affected by the storm may also qualify for benefits.
Applicants have 60 days from Oct. 1 to file an application for DUA here. The deadline to apply is Dec. 2, 2024.
DUA is available in these counties for weeks of unemployment effective Sept. 29 and may last for up to 26 weeks. Eligibility for DUA is determined weekly, and you must continue to be out of work as a direct result of the disaster each week to get unemployment benefits, says the press release.
DUA is a federal unemployment program that provides temporary payments for people who, as a direct result of Hurricane Helene:
- No longer have the job that provided their primary source of income.
- Are unable to reach their place of unemployment.
- Cannot work because of an injury caused by the storm.
- Are unable to begin employment or self-employment due to the storm.
- Have become the major supplier of household income due to a storm-related death of the previous major supplier of household income.
What you will need to apply for DUA
- You must apply for state unemployment benefits. If you are determined to be ineligible for or have exhausted your regular benefits, then you may be eligible for a DUA claim.
- You will need the following to file for unemployment:
- Name and address of all employers you worked with within the last 24 months.
- County of residence.
- County of employment.
- Mailing address and ZIP code.
- Valid telephone number.
- Your Social Security number or your Alien Registration number.
- Have proof of employment and income if you’re self-employed, a farmer, or a commercial fisher.
- To get DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed. DES will work with people who cannot provide all documentation to ensure that their unemployment benefits are not delayed.
Claims are filed through the DES website here. If you are not able to file through the website, you can call the DUA hotline at 919-629-3857 to apply for benefits.
