Disaster Unemployment Assistance amidst hurricane helene
Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits have been made available to 25 counties in Western North Carolina, as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. People in these counties have 60 days (December 2nd, 2024) to file an application for Disaster Unemployment Assistance at des.nc.gov. If your employment has been lost or interrupted because of the flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for these temporary payments.
If your employment is lost or interrupted as a direct result of a disaster, you may be eligible:
No longer have a job that provided your primary source of income.
Are unable to reach your 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 a previous major supplier household income.
See https://www.des.nc.gov/dua for additional information and requirements, and for how to apply.
The affected counties are: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. More counties may be added to this list at a later date.