Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) 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). “Direct result” means loss of employment or self-employment because of the major disaster and not the result of a long chain of events caused or worsened by the disaster. The Arkansas Division of Reemployment will check to see if individuals are eligible for regular UI benefits before finding them eligible for DUA. If individuals are eligible for regular UI benefits, they will receive those benefits instead of DUA.

The U.S. Department of Labor oversees the DUA program and coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security. DUA is administered by the Arkansas Division of Reemployment acting as agents of the federal government whenever a disaster declaration for “individual assistance including DUA” is made.

Qualifying for DUA

One of the following conditions of unemployment must have occurred as a direct result of the disaster 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.

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals who meet one of the qualifying conditions above must also meet all the following eligibility requirements to be eligible for DUA:

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 applied for DUA within 60 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.

DUA is available only during the Disaster Assistance Period. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and DUA regulations determine when the Disaster Assistance Period begins and ends. Check for press releases for more information about timing and disaster declaration status. Claimants must file their initial applications for DUA within 60 days of the presidential declaration of the disaster.

How to Apply for DUA

1. Apply for regular unemployment insurance online at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov, Monday–Friday, 6 AM- 6 PM and Sunday, 7 AM- 6 PM.
2. On the UI application, select “Laid off – Weather” as the reason for separation.
3. After submitting the application for regular UI, if you are not eligible or you exhaust your regular UI, you will get an email with the link to complete and submit the DUA application, or be mailed a paper application to fill out and return.

Paper applications for regular UI are also available at the Arkansas Workforce Centers.

For more information, call 1-844-908-2178.

Links

• Apply Online
• Arkansas Workforce Center Locations
• Arkansas Storm Recovery Resources
• [FEMA] President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Arkansas
• [KATV] President Trump approves disaster assistance for Arkansas for March 14-15 severe weather
• Sanders Releases Disaster Funds in Response to Tornadoes and Severe Weather
• Sanders Declares an Emergency for Severe Storms and Tornadoes on or about March 14, 2025