FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEMA-4720-DR
Contact: Rachel Dumeny
Communications and Outreach Coordinator
Vermont Department of Labor
(802) 272-4509
rachel.dumeny@vermont.gov
Vermont Department of Labor Reminds Vermonters of the September 29, 2023, Disaster Unemployment Assistance Application Deadline
Montpelier, Vt. – The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) reminds Vermonters impacted by the July 2023 flood that the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits application deadline is September 29, 2023, for those living or working in eligible counties.
The Biden Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) declared Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties as federal disaster areas. Under this declaration, individuals living, working, or scheduled to work in these counties may be eligible for DUA. This includes independent contractors, those who are self-employed, and agricultural workers.
Individuals seeking assistance through the DUA program must first file for regular unemployment benefits. As part of the application process, claimants should indicate that their employment was impacted by the disaster. The Department of Labor will determine if the claimant is eligible for regular unemployment first, as required by FEMA. If the claimant is deemed ineligible for regular unemployment insurance, the applicant will be provided with the DUA application. Eligible Vermonters can collect benefits for the weeks during which they meet the necessary program criteria. The first payable benefit week has been identified as July 9 – 15, 2023.
Examples of eligible DUA claims may include:
- The claimant was injured in the disaster and is unable to work, whether they are an employee or self-employed;
- The claimant’s workplace was damaged, destroyed, or not in operation as a result of the disaster;
- The claimant’s transportation to work is not available as a direct result of the disaster;
- The claimant cannot get to their job because they must travel through an impacted area and are unable to do so as a direct result of the disaster;
- The claimant was about to begin working, but the job no longer exists as a direct result of the disaster;
- Most of the claimant’s income comes from areas affected by the disaster, whether they work for themselves or an employer, and their business is adversely impacted as a direct result of the disaster.
The deadline for all DUA applications is September 29, 2023. All those who may be eligible are encouraged to apply before the deadline.
Individuals interested in Disaster Unemployment Assistance can find more information online at https://labor.vermont.gov/dua or by calling the UI Claimant Assistance Center at 1-877-214-3330. This page also includes information about language access.
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