The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately 6 feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
The Division of Employment Security has announced that the 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina have been approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
Historic flooding brought on by Hurricane Helene destroyed parts of western North Carolina, leaving thousands of residents without homes and jobs.
People unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Helene may be eligible for unemployment benefits under the DUA program. Business owners and self-employed individuals affected by the storm may also qualify for benefits.
Eligible counties include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.
The deadline to apply for assistance is Dec. 2, 2024. Applications can be found at des.nc.gov. If you are not able to file through the website, you can call the DUA Hotline at 919-629-3857 to apply for benefits.
Unemployment assistance may last for up to 26 weeks — from Sept. 29, 2024 through March 29, 2025. Eligibility is determined weekly, and recipients must continue to be out of work as a direct result of the disaster each week to get unemployment benefits.
A person is eligible for the federal DUA program if they:
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.
To file for DUA, you must apply for state unemployment benefits. If you are determined to be ineligible for or have exhausted your regular benefits, then you may be eligible for a DUA claim.
“People must file for regular state unemployment first. When they file, they have a choice to select the reason they are out of work,” said Laura J. Leonard, spokeswoman for the state Division of Employment Security. “If it is because of a disaster, they can choose that option. If you are eligible for regular unemployment, based on the wages you earned and other information submitted when you file, your claim will be paid out of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
North Carolina’s state employment benefits are among the lowest in the nation. In 2023, Forbes Advisor said the state had the 49th highest benefit levels in the country. The average weekly benefit was $236 and lasts 20 weeks. The current maximum unemployment benefit is $350, which people can receive for 12 to 20 weeks. Gov. Roy Cooper has proposed increasing the maximum weekly payment to $450 and tying future increase to inflation.
The Republican General Assembly slashed unemployment benefits in 2013 after the state was forced to borrow $2.5 billion from the federal government after its unemployment fund went bankrupt. The cuts were designed to repay the loan — which has long since been repaid.
Here’s what’s needed to file for unemployment:
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 or your Alien Registration number.
Have proof of employment and income if you’re self-employed, a farmer, or a commercial fisher.
To get DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed. DES will work with people who cannot provide all documentation to ensure that their unemployment benefits are not delayed.
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