July 28, 2023
Guam residents who lost work as a result of damages from Typhoon Mawar may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), which is a program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Here are general guidelines on DUA eligibility.
DUA payments are designed to provide temporary partial income replacement so that an individual unemployed as a result of a declared disaster may recoup their lost wages. DUA is not designed to provide 100% income replacement or to enhance business losses to self-employed individuals who suffer such losses due to a disaster.
In order to qualify for DUA, individuals must be unemployed or partially unemployed at their ongoing employment or self-employment as a direct result of the major disaster or must be prevented from commencing employment or self-employment.
UNEMPLOYED WORKER
An unemployed worker is one who worked in or was scheduled to begin work in the major disaster area at the time of the major disaster and whose principal source of income and livelihood is dependent upon the worker’s employment for wages. Such worker’s full or partial unemployment will be considered to be caused by the major disaster if, as a direct result of the disaster, the worker:
1) Has a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began; or
2) Is unable to reach the place of employment; or
3) Was to have started work and does not have the job or is unable to reach the job; or
4) Cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the major disaster.
UNEMPLOYED SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL
An unemployed self-employed individual is an individual who was employed in or was to commence employment in the major disaster area at the time the major disaster began, and whose principal source of income and livelihood is dependent upon the individual’s performance of service in self-employment. The unemployment of an unemployed self-employed individual is caused by a major disaster if:
1) The individual has a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began, and such unemployment is a direct result of the major disaster; or
2) The individual is unable to reach the place where services as a self-employed individual are performed, as a direct result of the major disaster; or
3) The individual was to commence regular services as a self-employed individual, but does not have a place or is unable to reach the place where the services as a self-employed individual were to be performed; or
4) The individual cannot perform services as a self-employed individual because of an injury caused as a direct result of the major disaster.
UNEMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION FORM
A sample Employer’s Verification of Unemployment form is now available online at dol.guam.gov/DUA. Individuals who were unemployed as a direct result of Typhoon Mawar can use this form along with other documentation to show proof of unemployment once DUA is officially announced and launched. Verification of unemployment must be completed by the unemployed individual’s employer.
More information on DUA eligibility, forms, documentation, requirements, application, where to apply, and other general information, will be issued in the coming weeks as the DUA system is being prepared for launch.
Individuals who are registered on hireguam.com should take steps to ensure their accounts are active. If you are unable to log on or reset your password, email webadmin@nulldol.guam.gov for assistance. If you think you will be applying for DUA benefits as a direct result of Typhoon Mawar and do not have an account, register today at hireguam.com. For more information, contact the Guam Department of Labor at 671-475-7000/1 or visit dol.guam.gov.
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