On Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Application Deadline

Washington, DC—Today, Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the bipartisan Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act, an important step to ensure that federal support programs meet the needs of workers and families impacted by natural disasters.

This bill would extend the time that workers have to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to 60 days after the disaster declaration (up from 30 days), aligning with other FEMA programs and allowing workers the time they need to deal with their immediate needs without fear of losing out on much-needed economic support.

DUA provides economic relief to workers (including the self-employed) whose work is impacted by a natural disaster. As climate-driven disasters accelerate and displace workers across this country, it is essential the government ensure these programs are adequately designed to meet workers’ needs, particularly for Black and Latinx workers who, due to occupational segregation, are overrepresented in industries most at risk from climate dangers.

NELP supports this step in improving the DUA program and looks forward to further action to ensure workers have the support they need for themselves and their families when climate-driven disasters occur.

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