Disaster Unemployment Assistance Application FAQs

Please note: This program is not currently operational. Information has been kept available for reference purposes only.

“Major Disaster” means any natural catastrophe (such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, snowstorm flood, etc.) or other types of disasters (such as an explosion, natural gas leak, etc.) that result in a Presidential declaration of a disaster. A Presidential declaration is made when it is determined that governmental assistance is needed for communities and individuals directly affected by a disaster. DUA becomes available when the declaration is for “individual assistance including DUA.”

To be eligible for DUA benefits, one must work or live in one of the federally declared counties (Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester) and have lost employment directly due to Hurricane Ida.

One of the following conditions of unemployment must have occurred as a direct result of Hurricane Ida to qualify for DUA:

1. The individual has had a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began;
2. The individual is unable to reach his/her place of employment;
3. The individual was scheduled to start work and the job no longer exists or the individual was unable to reach the job;
4. The individual became the breadwinner or major support because the head of the household died as a direct result of the disaster; or
5. The individual cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.

To be eligible for DUA, individuals who meet one of the qualifying conditions above must also meet all the following eligibility requirements:

1. The individual is not eligible for regular UI;
2. The individual is unemployed as a direct result of the disaster;
3. The individual is able and available for work, unless injured as a direct result of the disaster;
4. The individual filed an application for DUA within 30 days of the date of the public announcement of the availability of DUA; and
5. The individual has not refused an offer of employment in a suitable position.

Self-employed individuals who meet the criteria may be eligible for DUA benefits.

Before an individual can be deemed eligible for DUA, NYS DOL must establish that the individual is otherwise not eligible for regular UI benefits under any state or federal law. As such-, claimants must first apply for UI benefits over the phone. To begin this process, New Yorkers can call 866-642-7227 and answer the questions to indicate that their employment was negatively impacted by Hurricane Ida.

After submitting an unemployment application over the phone and being deemed ineligible for regular UI benefits, a NYS DOL agent will call the applicant to finalize the DUA application. If an agent cannot reach the applicant over the phone, they will be sent the DUA application in the mail.

Please note: This phone number is only for New Yorkers impacted by the Hurricane Ida disaster. New Yorkers who are not impacted by this disaster or who are inquiring about other benefit programs will not be assisted through this phone number.

The deadline for filing for DUA benefits is November 18, 2021 (30 days from the announcement of the availability of this program.) DUA claims filed after the deadline may be ineligible for payment.

Applicants must provide proof (e.g., income tax return, bank statements) to document employment or self-employment or to document work that was to begin on or after the date of the disaster. If proof of employment cannot be provided at the time the claim is filed, individuals have 21 calendar days from the time the claim was filed to meet this requirement. Failure to submit this documentation within the 21 days will result in a denial of DUA, and any benefits already paid will be considered overpaid. Individuals are required to repay any benefits overpaid.

When applying for DUA, New Yorkers must also provide information about:

• How they lost their job or source of household income;
• When they lost their job or source of household income; and
• Where they live or where their job was located.

Per FEMA, applicants who do not supply the above information will not be approved for DUA benefits.

No. New Yorkers may be eligible for DUA if they lost employment due to Hurricane Ida and work or live in Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, or Westchester Counties.

Individuals who are eligible for regular UI benefits under any state or federal law are ineligible for DUA benefits. Additionally, many New Yorkers who were receiving PUA benefits will be ineligible for DUA benefits. These programs are not connected and eligibility for PUA may or may not impact a claimant’s eligibility for DUA.

New Yorkers may begin applying for DUA benefits on October 19, 2021. The deadline for filing for DUA benefits is November 18, 2021. DUA claims filed after the deadline may be ineligible for payment.

After applying for DUA benefits, New Yorkers will receive a determination of benefits letter for UI benefits and a determination letter for DUA benefits, if deemed eligible for the program.

Due to a high volume of unemployment insurance claims, DUA claims may take 2-3 weeks to be processed and paid. To avoid delays, New Yorkers should have all the information linked here before filing, as well information explaining:

• How they lost their job or source of household income;
• When they lost their job or source of household income; and
• Where they live or where their job was located.

The last payable week for DUA for the Major Disaster Declaration for the remnants of Hurricane Ida is March 13, 2022.

The weekly benefit amount is based on the gross wages of the claimant. If the individual is self-employed, the weekly benefit amount will be based on the net earnings (income) from self-employment. Generally, benefits are calculated using the same formula used for state UI benefits; however, if the individual qualifies for less than 50 percent of New York’s average UI weekly benefit amount of $172, a claimant’s rate will be increased to $172 with certain exceptions for part-time workers.

An individual can be disqualified for DUA benefits or DUA benefits can be terminated if any of the following occur:

1. The individual becomes employed, and the earnings exceed the weekly benefit amount allowed under the state’s law;
2. The individual refuses to accept suitable employment without good cause;
3. The individual refuses to accept a referral to suitable employment without good cause;
4. The individual is not able or available for work (unless the inability is due to an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster);
5. The individual is not available for work, unless the unavailability is due to the individual’s preparations to resume self-employment; or
6. The individual is no longer unemployed as a direct result of the disaster.

Any denial of DUA benefits may be appealed. Individuals must file the appeal within 60 days of the date the determination was issued.