Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced today Pennsylvanians living or working in Bedford and Northampton counties who were directly impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida can now apply for temporary Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Applications must be submitted by October 27, 2021. 

"The Wolf Administration successfully worked with local, state and federal officials to make Bedford and Northampton counties eligible for disaster funding due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ida," said Secretary Berrier. "Disaster unemployment assistance is a temporary program, and people who meet the eligibility requirements must submit their applications within 30 days from today. I urge Pennsylvanians in Bedford and Northampton counties whose employment has been directly impacted by Ida to apply for these benefits right away." 

On Friday, Governor Tom Wolf announced that Bedford and Northampton counties were approved for federal disaster relief as part of his successful request for President Joe Biden to declare a major disaster in Pennsylvania from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

DUA Eligibility 

Pennsylvanians eligible to apply for DUA assistance must live, work, or have to travel through impacted areas to reach work in Bedford and Northampton counties. As assessments continue, other counties may be added – visit www.pema.pa.gov/ida for an up-to-date list of eligible counties. 

The temporary DUA benefits are only available for individuals, including those who are self-employed, who are unemployed as a direct result of damages caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida. 

Individuals eligible for DUA benefits are those who work or live in one of the federally declared counties and lost their jobs directly due to the disaster. Those eligible may also include: 

• Individuals unable to reach their job because they must travel through the affected area and are unable to do so because of the disaster.
• Individuals who were to begin employment but were prevented doing so by the disaster.
• Individuals who became the major support for a household because of the death of the head of the household as a result of the disaster.
• Individuals who cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.

Applying for DUA 

Pennsylvanians whose employment is impacted for the reasons listed above under "DUA Eligibility" should file a claim online at www.uc.pa.gov. 

Before an individual will be determined eligible for DUA, L&I must first establish that the individual is otherwise not eligible for regular unemployment compensation (UC) benefits under any state or federal law. 

The deadline for impacted individuals in Bedford and Northampton counties to apply for DUA benefits is October 27, 2021. It's important to note that DUA claims filed after the deadline may be ineligible for payment under certain circumstances. 

Six counties – Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and York – were included in Gov. Wolf's original disaster declaration request. Individuals in those counties have until October 20, 2021, to apply for DUA benefits.

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program is part of the federal disaster assistance process but is administered by L&I. DUA provides temporary benefits 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 compensation. 

See Also: Hurricane Ida Information (PALawHelp.org)