Description

The purpose of this online training is to increase State Workforce Agencies’ knowledge and understanding of the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program and to provide a resource for refresher training at a time when a disaster strikes and DUA services are required. It is recommended for state UI directors, regional and state DUA coordinators, and UI staff who assist with the DUA process.

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) oversees the DUA program and coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to provide the funds to state UI agencies for payment of DUA benefits and payment of state administration costs under agreements with the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, authorizes the President to provide benefit assistance to individuals unemployed as a direct result of a major disaster. DUA provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.

After completing the DUA training, participants will be able to:

• to describe the legislation and regulations that apply to the DUA program;
• to explain the roles of the USDOL, FEMA an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and state Unemployment Insurance (UI) agencies in administering the DUA program;
• to describe the DUA administrative process from the disaster declaration through the DUA program closeout;
• to describe DUA claims processing and DUA determinations;
• to examine the common causes of DUA overpayments and how these overpayments can be repaid; and
• to explain the levels of DUA appeals available to the individual and the state and how DUA appeals differ from UI appeals.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA)’s Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) announced the availability of this training in TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE (TEN) NO. 08-18 (11/09/2018) Subject: Availability of Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Training.