INDIANAPOLIS – Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to eligible individuals due to the major disaster declared by the President on April 15, 2023.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan, and White counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornados between March 31, 2023, and April 1, 2023. Applications for DUA must be filed by May 22, 2023.
To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-4704-DR, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Became unemployed, including self-employed individuals, as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President;
- Be a U.S. national or a qualified alien;
- Not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;
- Have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
Individuals in the following circumstances are included in those who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster:
- 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;
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster;
- Became the primary earner of a household because of the death of the head of the household; or
- Cannot work or perform self-employment due to the closure of a facility by the federal government.
Applications for DUA must be filed by May 22, 2023. Applications filed after May 22, 2023, will be considered untimely unless the individual provides good cause for filing after this date. DUA benefits eligibility will be determined on a weekly basis.
Individuals who may be eligible for assistance must first file a regular claim for Unemployment Insurance benefits by visiting the Uplink Claimant Self-Service System at uplink.in.gov/CSS/CSSLogin.htm. If the applicants are denied regular Unemployment Insurance benefits they can then apply for DUA.
Before applying for DUA, individuals should gather these items:
- Social Security Number;
- Name and address of their last employer or scheduled employer; and
- A copy of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs that show earnings and employment.
After filing for UI and gathering the items above, Hoosiers who think they may be eligible for DUA benefits are encouraged to apply by completing the forms found on the DUA website: in.gov/dwd/indiana-unemployment/individuals/dua/. After completing the forms, click the “fill out this form” link on the DUA website to apply and upload the completed forms.
For applicants who do not have access to a computer or mobile device, Unemployment Insurance access kiosks are available at WorkOne offices in all 12 disaster-area counties. Find your local WorkOne at in.gov/dwd/files/WO_CareerCenters_Map.pdf.
DUA information, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at in.gov/dwd/indiana-unemployment/individuals/dua/ or through the Customer Support Center. DWD’s Customer Support Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday and can be reached at 1-800-891-6499.
