Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a federal program that provides financial assistance to jobless workers and the self-employed when they are unemployed as a direct result of a major natural disaster. A major disaster means any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water or tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire or other catastrophe declared by the President to warrant government assistance to communities and individuals.
The DUA program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and State Employment Security Agencies under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974, as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act of 1988
When a major disaster has been declared by the President, DUA is generally available to any unemployed worker or self-employed individual who lived, worked, or was scheduled to work in the disaster area at the time of the disaster; and due to the disaster:
- Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment; and
- Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, or Extended Benefits (EB) from any state; and
- Were unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster; or
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; or
- Cannot physically access the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or
- Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; or
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death related to the disaster/fire.
DUA consists of weekly benefit payments that are computed based on the prior tax year as established through tax records submitted to the Department for verification. The tax records should be for the for prior tax year so that it can be determined that the loss of income was a direct result of the disaster. If earnings records are not available, but eligibility is otherwise established, DUA claimants will be calculated as the minimum weekly benefit allowable under the federal regulations. Weekly DUA payments may be reduced by:
- partial earnings;
- any insurance for wage loss due to illness or disability;
- supplemental UI benefits resulting from union agreements; or
- private income protection insurance.
DUA benefits are payable only for weeks that fall within the Disaster Assistance Period, which is determined by the federal disaster declaration issued by the President. Weekly benefits begin on the Sunday following the disaster declaration and end on Saturday of the week after the declaration ends.
2025 Ruidoso Flooding
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is currently waiting for federal approval and guidance for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to be offered to workers employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the flooding in Ruidoso.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed an emergency declaration for Ruidoso due to flooding.
If your employment has been affected by the flooding in Ruidoso, you may file a standard Unemployment Insurance Claim which is the first step in the process, either online at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us, at any America's Job Center New Mexico location or by phone at 1-877-664-6984 Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. When applying for benefits, you will be asked if your work separation is related to a declared disaster in New Mexico, please indicate "Yes" if your employment was impacted by the flooding in Ruidoso.
Updates will be available here as they become available.
How to Apply
The process to apply for DUA benefits includes two steps:
- An individual must first apply for Standard Unemployment Insurance. This may be done online anytime 24/7 at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us, in person at any America's Job Center New Mexico, or by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations center at 1-877-664-6984, Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm. Claimants filing their standard unemployment insurance claim online should be sure to check the box indicating that they have been affected by the fires.
- After an individual receives notice that they are not eligible for Standard Unemployment Insurance, they may then apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center or by coming in person to any America's Job Center New Mexico. As a fraud prevention measure, DUA applications are only accepted in person or by phone.