Extended Deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance in North Carolina
Residents of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene have been given additional time to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The deadline for applications has been pushed to March 10, 2025, covering 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. For those affected, applications can be submitted at des.nc.gov.
This extended deadline aligns with that set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, allowing the Division of Employment Security to continue offering temporary financial aid to those impacted by the hurricane.
DUA benefits are specifically available for residents in the following North Carolina counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey, as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Individuals who have lost their jobs directly due to Hurricane Helene may qualify for unemployment benefits under the DUA program. This assistance also extends to business owners who have been affected by the disaster.
DUA is available for unemployment weeks starting from September 29, 2024, and can continue for up to 26 weeks, ending on March 29, 2025. Weekly eligibility must be maintained, meaning claimants need to remain unemployed as a direct result of the disaster each week to receive benefits.
How to Apply for DUA
- First, apply for state unemployment benefits. If you are found ineligible or have exhausted these benefits, you may then qualify for a DUA claim.
- When applying for unemployment, you will need:
- Name and address of all employers you worked with in the last 24 months.
- County of residence.
- County of employment.
- Mailing address and ZIP code.
- Valid telephone number.
- Your Social Security number or Alien Registration number.
- Proof of employment and income if self-employed, a farmer, or a commercial fisher.
- Submit all necessary documentation within 21 days from the date of your DUA application. If you cannot access documents due to the hurricane, you may allow the N.C. Department of Revenue to provide your 2023 tax return to the Division of Employment Security.
For assistance, you can contact the DUA Hotline at 919-629-3857 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information is available at des.nc.gov/dua.
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