DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program is administered in Vermont by the Vermont Department of Labor.
What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance?
DUA provides assistance to individuals whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a result of a major disaster, such as the severe storms and flooding that occurred as a result of tropical storm Irene in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties. Weekly benefits are available to those individuals out of work due to the storms and floods, including self-employed persons, farm workers, maple sugar producers and others not covered under regular unemployment insurance.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance brochure
Who is Eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance?
Payment of DUA may be made to an unemployed worker if, as a direct result of the severe storms and flooding damage that occurred on August 27, 2011 the individual:
- no longer has a job
- is unable to reach his or her place of work
- was to begin work and now does not have a job or is unable to reach the job
- has become the breadwinner as major support for the household because the head of household died or;
- cannot work because of a disaster-incurred injury.
How Do I File for Disaster Unemployment Assistance?
Applications for DUA must be submitted by November 21, 2011 for the following counties: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor, Franklin, Lamoille, and Orleans. If you think that you are entitled to benefits, you should immediately call our Unemployment Claims Center by calling 1-877-214-3330 and mention that you have been impacted by the recent storms and flooding. The Customer Service Representative will review your records when you call to determine if you are eligible for Regular benefits. If you are not eligible for Regular benefits, you will be mailed a DUA application.
How Long Do DUA Payments Last?
DUA benefits are generally paid for up to 26 weeks.
For More Details...
DUA applications/forms are available electronically upon request. Individuals interested in filing a DUA claim must first file for UI. A UI claim can be filed by calling 1-877-214-3330. Please be sure to notify the CSR representative that you are calling as a result of the disaster.
Last Updated: October 10, 2011