Disaster Unemployment Assistance available starting next week
By The Star Staff
Labor and Human Resources Secretary Gabriel Maldonado González confirmed Thursday that as early as next week the first payments for people who have been eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) could be made available.
Employees or self-employed individuals in Puerto Rico who lost their jobs or had their working hours reduced as a direct result of Hurricane Fiona may be eligible for the disaster assistance.
“Workers affected by Fiona have until November 30, 2022 to apply for assistance at the Department of Labor and Human Resources [DTRH by its Spanish initials],” the official said in a radio interview. “The applications submitted after this date could be ineligible.”
Maldonado González said that in order to qualify for the DUA program, the person must have been classified as ineligible to receive regular unemployment insurance benefits under any state or local law.
Therefore, the affected worker must first apply for state unemployment benefits by visiting: http://desempleo.trabajo.pr.gov/reclamantes and indicating”Hurricane Fiona” as the reason for the separation of employment.
The required documentation must be submitted to the DTRH within 21 days of submitting the application.
The DUA program is available to survivors who lost their jobs or had their workday reduced due to Hurricane Fiona.
The most common eligibility requirements include: working for another or being self-employed in the disaster area when the disaster occurred; lost his or her job and his or her workplace was affected or he or she was unable to go to his or her workplace as a result of the damage caused; or was living in the disaster area when the disaster occurred and was unable to reach the workplace as a result of Hurricane Fiona.