DUA Hotline
(Holiday Hours - Closed Nov. 28-30. Open Dec. 1, Noon - 4 p.m.)
English 919-629-3857 | Spanish 919-276-5698
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon; Sunday Noon - 4 p.m.
Remember: you must complete a weekly certification to get paid unemployment benefits, including DUA.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
December 10, 2024: The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to January 7, 2025, for people in 39 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.
October 17, 2024: The Division of Employment Security (DES) has announced that 12 additional counties have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The counties are as follows, and more counties may be added to the list of those eligible for DUA at a later date: Cabarrus, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Iredell, Lee, Nash, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Union and Yadkin counties.
People in the 12 newly approved disaster-declared counties, plus Mecklenburg and Swain counties, who are unable to continue working as a direct result of Hurricane Helene must file an application for benefits by January 7, 2025.
October 8, 2024: The Division of Employment Security (DES) has announced that Mecklenburg and Swain counties have been approved for DUA. People from Mecklenburg and Swain counties must file an application for benefits by January 7, 2025.
October 1, 2024: Following a federal disaster declaration because of Hurricane Helene, DUA benefits are available in 25 counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The counties are as follows, and more counties may be added to the list of those eligible for DUA at a later date: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The deadline to apply is January 7, 2025.
Latest News
December 10, 2024
November 27, 2024
October 17, 2024
- Twelve Counties Approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance Following Hurricane Helene
- Doce condados adicionales has sido aprobados para recibir asistencia de desempleo por desastre después del huracán Helene
October 16, 2024
October 11, 2024
October 8, 2024
- Mecklenburg and Swain Counties Approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance Following Hurricane Helene
- Los condados de Mecklenburg y Swain han sido aprobados para recibir la asistencia de desempleo por desastre tras el huracán Helene
October 1, 2024
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available in 25 Counties and 1 Indian Tribe Following Hurricane Helene
- La asistencia de desempleo por desastre está disponible en 25 condados después del huracán Helene
Proclamations
October 16, 2024
What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance?
If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of a federally declared disaster, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
DUA is a federal program that provides temporary payments for people who, as a direct result of a disaster, meet one of the following conditions:
- No longer have the job that provided their primary source of income.
- Are unable to reach their place of employment.
- Cannot work because of an injury caused by the storm.
- Were unable to begin employment or self-employment due to the storm.
- Have become the major supplier of household income due to a storm-related death of the previous major supplier of household income.
Am I eligible for DUA?
People, including self-employed, or business owners may be eligible for DUA if:
- You lived, worked or were scheduled to work in an area declared a disaster area by the President of the United States.
- You lost employment or had your employment interrupted as a direct result of the disaster; and
- You have exhausted or are not eligible for state unemployment benefits.
Eligibility for DUA is determined weekly. You must continue to be out of work as a direct result of the Hurricane Helene each week to get benefits.
What do I need to apply?
Name and address of all employers you worked with within the last 24 months.
- County of residence.
- County of employment.
- Mailing address and zip code.
- Valid telephone number.
- Your Social Security number. Non-citizens will also need their Alien Registration number.
- Have proof of employment and income if you’re self-employed, a farmer, or a commercial fisher.
How do I apply?
The Division of Employment Security announces the counties in which DUA benefits are available and deadlines for applying when there is a federal disaster in North Carolina. The fastest way to file a claim is to file online at des.nc.gov. If you need help or don’t have access to a computer, you may file over the phone by calling the DUA hotline 919-629-3857.
- Go to des.nc.gov.
- Create a MyNCUIBenefits account. View more details: https://www.des.nc.gov/create-online-account-english/download?attachment.
- Sign in to file your claim.
- Click File a New Unemployment Insurance Claim. File for state unemployment benefits and DUA during the same claim process.
- If you are eligible for state benefits, you must exhaust those benefits before you can receive DUA.
- If you are not eligible for state benefits, DES will determine if you are eligible for DUA benefits.
- When filing for DUA, select A federally-declared disaster when asked to give a reason for unemployment.
- If you are self-employed, a farmer or a commercial fisher, you must provide proof of employment and income within 21 days of filing your claim.
- DES notifies you once your eligibility is determined.
Identity Verification
When you file for Disaster Unemployment Claim, you may be asked to verify your identity. This is a process in which you confirm you are who you say you are. This can be done online through ID.me or in person at a United States Postal Service location. Due to the devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, some of the USPS locations are closed. See the list provided by the USPS for alternate and closed retail locations: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/residential/north-carolina.htm.
Do I need to do anything after I file a claim?
You must file a weekly certification each week. Your eligibility for DUA is determined weekly. You must complete a weekly certification and be unemployed for that week due to the disaster. If you don't complete a weekly certification on time, you will NOT get payment for the week.
File your weekly certifications (or weekly claim for benefits) online through MyNCUIBenefits. If you cannot file online, call the DUA Hotline at either 919-629-3857 (English) or 919-276-5698 (Spanish). To file online:
- Sign in to your MyNCUIBenefits account.
- Go to the Action Required box and click on File Weekly Certification.
Are work search requirements being suspended due to Hurricane Helene?
The Division of Employment Security is temporarily suspending requirements for work search, work registration, and being able and available for work if you are in one of the disaster-declared areas, were impacted by the disaster and have applied for unemployment on or after September 29, 2024.
Nonprofit Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, DUA is available to individuals who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits or who are otherwise not eligible for them. If someone is deemed eligible for DUA but does not have enough wages, they may still qualify for the minimum DUA payment. In all cases, however, they must provide proof of their employment.
No, DES will not charge any employers, including reimbursing nonprofits, for unemployment benefits paid through DUA. Benefits provided under DUA do not affect the unemployment insurance costs for these employers.
Individuals of non-covered nonprofits who lack sufficient earnings may receive the minimum DUA weekly amount of $152, which is set by the U.S. Department of Labor. However, they must show proof that they were employed.
Will the non-charging provision in EO 322 apply to all employers that elect to reimburse the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund?
Employers will not be charged on new claims filed on or after September 29, 2024, for state unemployment benefits paid as long as Executive Order 322 remains in place.
Does the $250 increase in the minimum and maximum weekly benefit amount also apply to the minimum Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) for DUA claims?
DES will add $250.00 to any weekly benefit amount (WBA), up to the $600 weekly benefit maximum for all eligible individuals who file new claims as of September 29, 2024. If someone is not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits and does not have sufficient wages to determine a weekly benefit amount, but is eligible for DUA, then they would be eligible for the minimum DUA benefit amount of $152, which is set by the U.S. Department of Labor. However, they must provide proof that they were employed.
