Disaster Unemployment Fact Sheet
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available for workers in nine counties who became unemployed due to the September severe storms, floods, mudslides and landslides in Colorado.
- Unless the individual has good cause for late filing, qualified applicants in Adams, Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld County must file for benefits by October 21. Arapahoe and Logan county applicants have until Oct. 25, 2013, to file.
- DUA may cover workers who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, such as:
- Ranchers and farmers
- Self-employed trade workers
- Independent contractors
- In-home daycare providers
- Individuals who can prove that they were working or were scheduled to begin work on or after the date of the flood and can no longer perform that work
- Individuals currently receiving unemployment benefits while living in flooded areas will receive a waiver from the requirement to seek work beginning the week the flooding began in their area. Sept. 11, 2013, was the start date for the destructive floods, landslides, mudslides, and severe storms in the affected counties.
- These individuals must continue requesting payment of unemployment benefits. As long as the disaster is the only circumstance that is preventing them from looking for work, they should report that they are able to work, available and looking for work.
- Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits may be extended; check with Colorado Unemployment: 1-855-365-8233 or www.coloradoui.gov for details.
- Unemployment insurance specialists are on site at most high traffic FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers. Referrals can be made from those DRCs that don’t have an on-site unemployment specialist.
- To apply online, go to www.colorado.gov/cdle. Claims can be filed at www.coloradoui.gov (click on “file a claim”) or by phone at 303-318-9300 or toll-free at 1-855-365-8233. In the Denver metro area call 303-318-9300 (TTY 303-318-9016). Outside the Denver area, call 800-388-5515 (TTYs 800-894-7730).
