Disaster Unemployment Assistance

If you experienced an interruption in your employment or self-employment as a direct result of a natural disaster, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

What is DUA? 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a federal program that 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). In Arizona, DES administers the DUA program for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) whenever a disaster declaration for “individual assistance including DUA” is made.

The direct result means that the loss of employment or self-employment was because of the major disaster itself and not the result of a long chain of events caused or worsened by the disaster.

Read more about DUA on the DOL DUA Fact Sheet and the FEMA DUA Fact Sheet.

Who is Eligible for DUA

Individuals eligible for regular unemployment benefits are not eligible for DUA.

In addition to enrolled members who lost their jobs as a direct result of the major disaster, DUA may include individuals (non-enrolled-members) who as a direct result of the SCA major disaster:

• Were employed, self-employed and prevented from performing such services,
• Were unable to reach their job, 
• Were scheduled to and prevented from beginning work or self-employment in the disaster area, 
• Were unable to work due to injury as a direct result of the disaster, or 
• Became head of household due to a death caused by the disaster. 

What is considered a Direct Result

Unemployment is a direct result of a major disaster if the unemployment results from:

• The physical damage or destruction of the place of employment; 
• The physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by tribal, federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or 
• Lack of work, or loss of revenues, if, prior to the disaster, the employer or self-employed business received at least a majority of its revenue or income from an entity in the major disaster area that was damaged or destroyed in the disaster or an entity in the major disaster area closed by tribal, federal, state, or local government.

I am not an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, but I lost my job as a direct result of the watch fire on July 10-17, 2024. Can I qualify for DUA? 

Yes. You do not have to be a member of the SCA tribe to be eligible for DUA benefits. If you’ve lost your job as a direct result of the watch fire, you may be eligible. 

In addition to individuals who lost their jobs as a direct result of the major disaster, DUA may include individuals who:

• Were employed, self-employed and prevented from performing such services,
• Were unable to reach their job, 
• Were scheduled to and prevented from beginning work or self-employment in the disaster area, 
• Were unable to work due to injury as a direct result of the disaster, or 
• Became head of household due to a death caused by the disaster. 

How much can I receive in benefits from DUA? 

Like regular Unemployment benefits in Arizona, eligible claimants can receive a weekly benefit amount of between $156 and $320. The amount a claimant is eligible to receive is based on the wages they earned when they were working.

What do I need in order to be eligible for DUA? 

Individuals will need to provide supporting documentation, including but not limited to: income information for tax year 2023; evidence of employment at the time of the disaster; and evidence of self-employment at the time of the disaster.

To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days of filing the DUA application. Required documentation includes a Social Security number and a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs, or documentation to support that the individuals were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. Documentation for the self-employed can be obtained from banks or government entities, or affidavits from individuals having knowledge of their business. 

Individuals who are unemployed as a result of the watch fire that occurred July 10-17, 2024 should apply as soon as possible, although they are allowed to file up to 60 days after the declaration date of the major disaster. Initial applications must be received on or before Monday, January 6th, 2025. 

Applications received outside of the 60 days will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How do I apply for DUA?

Applications can be submitted online through the DUA Application secure portal.

If you’re unable to apply online, you can request a paper application by contacting the DUA Call Center at 1-855-220-0905. 

Can I work part-time while receiving DUA benefits? 

Yes. In addition to receiving DUA benefits, you can earn up to $160.49/week and still receive your full weekly benefits. If you earn more than $160.49 in a week, your benefit amount will be reduced.

Is there a waiting week for DUA benefits? 

No. DUA will be available to an applicant for each week of unemployment in the disaster assistance period that the applicant’s unemployment, caused by the major disaster, continues or until the applicant is re-employed in suitable employment or if the claimant earns enough disqualifying income to reduce his weekly amount to zero.

Are there work search requirements for DUA benefits? 

Yes. An individual must meet the same work search eligibility requirements as prescribed in Arizona state law to be eligible for DUA. The individual must actively seek work and not refuse a bona fide offer of employment in a suitable position. When an individual obtains suitable work, the individual is no longer eligible for DUA.

What do I do if I no longer need to receive benefits? 

If you no longer need to receive DUA benefits, you may simply stop filing your weekly claims or you can notify DES by calling the DUA call center at 1-855-220-0905 to tell them that you will no longer need to file for DUA.

How will I receive my payments? 

If eligible for DUA, payment will be issued via paper checks for every week that a weekly certification is filed and all eligibility requirements are met.

What if I don’t have access to the internet? Can I still apply for DUA and complete my weekly certifications?

Individuals who do not have access to the internet may apply and/or file weekly certifications for DUA by mail or by phone.

Department of Economic Security
Unemployment Insurance Administration
ATTN: DUA
P. O. Box 29225
Phoenix, Arizona 85038-9225
Phone Number 1-855-220-0905

Do I have to live in the impacted area to be eligible?

No, any individual whose unemployment was a direct result of the major disaster may be found eligible for DUA if all other eligibility requirements are met.

Can I enroll for direct deposit or get an electronic form of payment for DUA benefits?

No. Weekly benefit payments for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) will be issued by paper check and mailed to the address on file.