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Home > Unemployment > Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

Following the Spring 2008 flooding in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties, the Federal Government made Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to individuals affected by the storm and not covered by other unemployment insurance programs.

You may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance if, because of the Spring 2008 flooding in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties:

  • your employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted; or
  • you were prevented from starting a new job or self-employment, or are no longer working normal hours; or
  • you cannot work due to an injury caused by this disaster or you became the major household “breadwinner” because the head of the household died as a result of this disaster.

Filing for Disaster Unemployment Assistance Benefits:

The disaster period covered by DUA in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties runs for 26 weeks starting Sunday May 4, 2008 (it does not cover unemployment that may have taken place prior to May 4th). People living or working in Aroostook county must file DUA initial applications no later than June 13, 2008. People living or working in Penobscot County have until June 19, 2008 to file an initial application.

To file a DUA initial claim, you will will need to provide your social security number and documentation of earnings for the tax year 2007.  To be eligible for ongoing weekly DUA benefits, you must continue to be unemployed as a direct result of the flooding disaster that occurred in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties.

DUA claims are taken over the telephone. To file a claim for DUA or for questions, please call 1-800-593-7660 or TTY: 1-888-457-8884 (for deaf and hard-of-hearing.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Disaster Unemployment Assistance

What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)?
What triggers the availability of DUA?
Who is eligible for DUA?
How much DUA can I receive and for how long?
How do I file a claim for DUA? 

What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)?  Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are NOT eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. The U.S. Department of Labor oversees DUA and coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provides the funds for payment of DUA and state administration. DUA is administered by the state agency responsible for providing state unemployment insurance. In Maine, this agency is the Department of Labor.

What triggers the availability of DUA? Based upon the request of Governor Baldacci, the President may declare that a major disaster exists and define the areas in the state that are eligible for this financial assistance.  In May 2008, the President declared that a major disaster occurred in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties, Maine as a result of severe flooding.   DUA has been made available to eligible individuals as a result of this disaster declaration.

Who is eligible for DUA?
You may be eligible for DUA if you are an unemployed worker who as a direct result of the Aroostook and Penobscot county flood disaster:

  1. No longer have a job;
  2. Are unable to reach your place of work;
  3. Were to start work and but no longer have a job or are unable to reach your job;
  4. Have become the breadwinner for the household because the head of household died; or
  5. Cannot work because of a disaster-incurred injury.

You may be eligible for DUA if you are an unemployed self-employed individual who as a direct result of the Aroostook and Penobscot county flood disaster:

  1. No longer can perform regular services in self-employment;
  2. Are unable to reach the place where self-employment services are performed;
  3. Were to start regular service in self-employment and now do not have a place or are unable to reach the place where services were to be performed; or
  4. Cannot perform services because of a disaster-incurred injury.

NOTE:  A person who becomes a breadwinner due to the death of a self-employed individual is considered an unemployed worker for DUA purposes.

How much DUA can I receive and for how long?   DUA benefits are calculated the same way as regular state unemployment benefits.  The actual amount received is based on a person’s earnings but current benefit amounts range from $123.00 to $320.00 a week plus dependency allowance.  The disaster assistance period covered by this declaration runs for 26 weeks starting May 4, 2008.   To potentially be eligible to receive DUA, you must file an initial claim no later than June 13, 2008.  To be eligible for ongoing weekly DUA benefits, you must continue to be unemployed as a direct result of the flooding disaster that occurred in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties.  For each week of unemployment, you will be required to meet the same "able to work", the "available for work" and the job search requirements as when collecting regular state unemployment insurance benefits.

How do I file a claim for DUA?   DUA claims are filed by telephone.  

To file a DUA claim in Maine or for questions please call 1-800-593-7660 or TTY: 1-888-457-8884.