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Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a federally-funded program that provides financial and reemployment assistance to certain individuals whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster. Based on a request from the governor, the president of the United States declares that a major disaster has occurred in a defined area and that certain relief assistance is available. If the declaration includes DUA, the department announces the 30-day period for filing applications for Federal DUA benefits.

Who is Eligible?

Individuals eligible for DUA benefits are those who work or live in one of the federally declared counties and lost their jobs directly due to the disaster. Those eligible may also include:  

  • Individuals unable to reach their job because they must travel through the affected area and are unable to do so because of the disaster.  

  • Individuals who were to begin employment but were prevented from doing so by the disaster.  

  • Individuals who became the major support for a household because of the death of the head of the household as a result of the disaster.  

  • Individuals who cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.


The deadline to apply for DUA benefits for the following PA counties due to Hurricane Ida has passed as of October 20, 2021.

    • Bucks 
    • Chester 
    • Delaware 
    • Montgomery 
    • Philadelphia 
    • York 
The deadline to apply for DUA benefits for the following PA counties due to Hurricane Ida has passed as of October 27, 2021.
    • Bedford
    • Northampton

Applying for DUA:

Pennsylvanians whose employment is impacted for the reasons listed above under “DUA Eligibility” should file a claim online or call the Pennsylvania Teleclaims (PAT) at 888-255-4728.

Before an individual will be determined eligible for DUA, L&I must first establish that the individual is otherwise not eligible for regular unemployment compensation (UC) benefits under any state or federal law.


Questions?

More information on the DUA program is available in the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Guide or through contacting the UC Service Center at 1-888-313-7284 or emailing UCHelp@pa.gov. 

 

The information provided on this site does not constitute a determination of eligibility to receive unemployment compensation.