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Disaster Unemployment Assistance - DUA

Workers affected by recent severe storms and floods, including those who are self-employed, are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).  However, as of 8/10/08, the filing deadlines for all affected counties have expired. Individuals filing for DUA as of this date or later may be denied DUA benefits for failing to meet the deadline.

Workers must apply for benefits by calling the Unemployment Insurance Division at one of the following numbers:

• Madison 608-232-0678
• Milwaukee 414-438-7700
• Toll-free 1-800-822-5246
• (TTY) for the hearing impaired 1-888-393-8914

Applications for unemployment benefits are processed free of charge in accordance with state and federal laws, policies and procedures.

Disaster Declaration	Affected Counties	First Week Payable	Application Deadline
June 14, 2008	Columbia Crawford Milwaukee Racine Richland Sauk Vernon	June 8-14, 2008	July 16, 2008
	Dodge Fond du Lac Green Iowa Marquette Washington Waukesha Winnebago		July 19, 2008
	Grant Kenosha Rock Sheboygan		July 20, 2008
	Dane Juneau Ozaukee		July 23, 2008
	Adams Calumet Green Lake Jefferson LaCrosse Walworth		July 25, 2008
	Manitowoc		July 30, 2008
	Monroe		August 9, 2008

Benefits are based on a person’s earnings for the most recent tax year. As a result, applicants will be asked to furnish earnings data from their 2007 federal tax returns when filing a claim. The unemployment benefit can range from $134 to $355 per week.

DUA benefits are not payable if an individual is eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits. This program provides benefits for those who lost employment because of the disaster and do not qualify for regular benefits. Suffering a monetary loss due to damage to property or crops does not automatically entitle an individual to Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed workers who worked or were self employed if they:

• worked or were self employed in – or were scheduled to begin work or self employment in – one of the affected counties, or were unable to reach their employment because they must travel though the affected area.
• can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
• can establish that the work or self employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
• do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state.
  cannot perform work or self employment because of an injury or because they were incapacitated as a direct result of the disaster.
• became the breadwinner or major financial supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household.
• cannot work or perform self employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.
• lost a majority of income or revenue because the employer or self employed business was damaged, destroyed, or closed by the federal government.

Updated August 11, 2008
Division of Unemployment Insurance
Content Contact: UI Benefits Staff