Human Resource Blog

Disaster Unemployment Assistance in North Dakota

	Compensation
Employee Payroll Action Form W-4 Employee Withholding Allowance Cert. Employee Payroll Status/Change Form Direct Deposit Form Total Compensation Summary

	HR Management
Confidential Employee Folder Confidential Employee Medical Folder Job File Worksheet Folder Daily EEO Applicant Flow Log Workplace Information Sheets Request to Inspect Personnel Files

Does the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program cover employers in North Dakota?

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program is a federal program that covers employers in all states across the country, including the state of North Dakota. When there has been a federal disaster, such as a storm, a fire, or a flood, federal funds may open up to help workers that are unable to work as a direct result of the disaster. This program is managed by the federal government. Qualifying employees may receive up to 29 months of financial assistance after the date of an event if they are unable to work.

While many types of disasters qualify for DUA coverage, the disaster needs to be declared a federal disaster by the President of the United States in order to allow funds to be allocated towards helping the employees that are out of work. Once the President has declared the disaster a federal disaster, funds will become available to help employees that are out of work as a direct result of the disaster.

In order for employees to receive DUA funds, they cannot also be receiving unemployment compensation from the state of North Dakota or from employers in any state across the country. Employees also need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

·         The employee should have been employed at the time of the disaster. The employee should have every reason to believe that the employment would have continued if it had not been for the disaster.

·         The employee may have had a contract that was scheduled to begin during the time of the disaster if the employee was not currently employed.

·         The individual needs to be out of work as a direct result of the disaster. The individual can be out of work because of an injury sustained in the disaster or the employee can be out of work because of damage to the place of work.

·         Some individuals may also receive compensation if they became the head of the household as a direct result of the disaster. For example, if the former head of the household was killed in the disaster, an individual could receive compensation. CB