in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties

LANSING, Mich.—Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to eligible individuals as a result of a major disaster declared by the President on July 15, 2021. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Severe Storms and Flooding between June 25, 2021, through June 26, 2021. Applications for DUA must be filed by August 23, 2021.

To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-# 4607 DR, individuals:

• Must apply for regular unemployment insurance benefits;
• Must not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;
• Must be an unemployed or self-unemployed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President;
• Must be a U.S. national or a qualified alien;
• Must have worked or was self-employed in, or was scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
• Must establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.

Other individuals eligible to apply for DUA are those who:

• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of this disaster; 
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of this disaster; 
• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household as a direct result of this disaster; or
• Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government as a direct result of this disaster.

Individuals will need their Social Security Number and the name and address of their last employer or prospective employer to file for DUA. Applicants are required to provide proof that they were employed or self-employed at the time the disaster occurred or were scheduled to begin (or resume) a job or self-employment when the disaster occurred. Proof of employment can be submitted at the time of filing or within 21 days of filing their DUA claim. A copy of the applicant’s most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs may also be required (self-employed individuals should also provide Schedules SE and Schedule C or Schedule F.)

Applications filed after 30 days will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after the deadline. Individuals can generally receive up to 26 weeks of DUA benefits as long as his/her unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Eligibility for DUA benefits will be determined on a week-to-week basis.

Individuals who may be eligible for assistance, must file a claim by downloading a paper application at www.michigan.gov/uia.

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