For Immediate Release | January 28, 2022
(DENVER) — The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) today reminded those impacted by the Marshall Fire in Boulder County that the deadline to apply for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits is Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
FEMA’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance program provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of an incident that resulted in a Presidential major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance and who are not eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. Per federal law, the deadline for individuals to apply for DUA benefits is 30 days following the announcement of the program’s availability.
Individuals who were employed by businesses which were damaged or destroyed and who are now out of work due to the fire may be eligible to receive federal DUA benefits. The first step for individuals looking to qualify for this assistance is to visit ColoradoUI.gov and file a claim for benefits through MyUI+. If determined ineligible for state benefits, the system will provide an application for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. Assistance is also available by phone at 303-318-9000 or toll-free at 1-800-388-5515.
Per federal law, to be eligible for DUA, individuals must:
- Provide proof of identity
- Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien
- Not be eligible for regular unemployment insurance
- Be unemployed or partially unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster
- Be able and available for work, unless injured as a direct result of the disaster (see conditions below)
- Have not refused an offer of employment in a suitable position.
For more information on the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, please see this FEMA factsheet.
Contact: Office of Government, Policy and Public Relations, cdle_pr@state.co.us