PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced Monday, 9/20, that Pennsylvanians who live or work in one of the six counties, including Bucks, impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida are eligible to apply for temporary Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) beginning today. 

The DUA assistance is a result of Governor Tom Wolf’s successful request to President Joe Biden to declare a major disaster in Pennsylvania following heavy rainfall, severe flash flooding, and tornadoes from the remnants of Ida that impacted Pennsylvania on August 31, 2021, through September 5, 2021.

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.

 Pennsylvanians whose employment is impacted for the reasons listed above under “DUA Eligibility” should file a claim online.

The deadline to apply for DUA benefits is October 20, 2021.