The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) reminds workers that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to eligible individuals as a result of a major disaster declared by the President on May 3, 2024. NDOL is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in Washington and Douglas counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 26, 2024. Applications for DUA must be filed by July 2, 2024.

To file for DUA benefits, you must start with an application for regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by filing online at NEworks.nebraska.gov. All DUA applicants will be required to provide documents to verify wages for DUA UI.

“Even if an applicant doesn’t qualify for DUA, he or she can still take advantage of the resources and services provided by our job centers throughout the state,” Commissioner Albin added. A listing of job centers is available at https://dol.nebraska.gov/ContactUs

To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-4778-DR, individuals:

• Must be an unemployed or self-unemployed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President.
• Must be a U.S. national or a qualified alien; and
• Must not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state; and
• Must have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
• Must establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.

Also, eligible to apply for DUA are individuals who

• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster; or.
• can not perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster; or
• became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household; or,
• can not work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.

Individuals will need their Social Security Number and the name and address of their last employer or prospective employer to file for DUA. Applicants are required to provide proof (at the time of filing or within 21 days of filing their DUA claim) that they were employed or self-employed at the time the disaster occurred or were scheduled to begin (or resume) a job or self-employment when the disaster occurred. A copy of the most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs may also be required (self-employed individuals should also provide Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F.)

Applications filed after July 2, 2024, will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after this date. Individuals can generally receive up to 27 weeks of DUA benefits as long as his/her unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Eligibility for DUA benefits will be determined on a week-to-week basis.

Individuals who may be eligible for assistance, must file a claim online at NEworks.nebraska.gov.

Additionally, reemployment services are available to all individuals impacted by this event. To access services please visit NEworks.nebraska.gov or your local workforce development center. Location details can be found at https://dol.nebraska.gov/ContactUs.

Additional information is available at dol.nebraska.gov.