Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)?

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.

You may qualify for DUA if one of the following conditions occurred as a direct result of the disaster:

  • You had a week of unemployment following the date the major disaster began;

  • You were unable to reach your place of employment;

  • You were scheduled to start work and the job no longer exists or you were unable to reach the job;

  • You became the breadwinner or major support because the head of the household died as a direct result of the disaster; or

  • You cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.​


How to Apply for DUA?

Complete the application on the UI Claims Portal​, by phone at (502) 564-2900, or toll-free at 800-648-6057 for telecommunications relay service. ​Online claims filing is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The claims assistance line is available 9:00AM – 5:00PM ET, Monday through Friday.

To avoid identity fraud, ONLY use ky.gov web addresses or (502) 564-2900 to file your claim and request benefits.


Active Declarations

    FEBRUARY DISASTER DR-4860

    Declared February 24, 2025

    Deadline to file May 27, 2025

    Effective: 2/16/25 ends on 8/30/25

    WBA: Minimum $242 per week

    Currently, 16 counties are covered under the February Disaster:

    Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Estill, Johnson, Simpson, Leslie, and Woodford.


    APRIL DISASTER DR-4864

    Declared April 24, 2025

    May 14, 2025, amendment 1

    Deadline to file June 23, 2025

    Effective: 4/6/25 ends on 10/25/25

    WBA: Minimum $245

    Currently, 37 counties are covered under the April Disaster:

    Breckenridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Daviess, Garrard, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Lincoln, McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Powell, Trimble, Warren, Webster, Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen, and Woodford.


    MAY DISASTER DR-4875

    Declared May 23, 2025

    Deadline to file July 22, 2025

    Effective: 5/18/25 ends on 11/22/2025

    WBA: Minimum $245

    Currently, 6 counties are covered under the May Disaster: Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg, and Union.




    Important Messages​​

    ​Kentuckians in counties that received federal approval for Individual Assistance may be eligible

    FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 4, 2025) – Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that Kentucky’s request for a 30-day extension to the registration period for those impacted by the April severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began in Kentucky on April 2, 2025, has been approved. The deadline has been extended until July 25, 2025, for disaster survivors in all counties designated for Individual Assistance in DR-4864-KY.

    On April 24, 2025, President Donald Trump approved Gov. Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to devastating severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began in Kentucky on April 2, 2025.

    On May 14, 2025, President Trump approved an amendment to that declaration, expanding Individual Assistance to an additional 24 counties following requests submitted by Gov. Beshear on April 28 and May 5, 2025.

    Gov. Beshear’s requests for Public Assistance and hazard mitigation for the entire state are still under review.

    Originally, Individual Assistance was made available for residents in the following 13 counties: Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford.​


    The additional counties added by the amendment for DUA eligibility are: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Daviess, Garrard, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Lincoln, McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Powell, Trimble, Warren and Webster.


    Individuals – including unemployed and self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas and became unemployed or had work interrupted as a direct result the flooding that occurred in Kentucky beginning on April 2, 2025, and continue to be out of work – are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance.

    DUA is available to individuals who:​

    • Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work;

    • Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of a disaster, which can also include the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state or local government in immediate response to the disaster;

    • Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;

    • Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;

    • Cannot work or resume self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or

    • As a result of the disaster, became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household.

    In order to qualify for DUA benefits, claimants in eligible counties must show that their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster and that they are not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under state or federal law. Farmers and other self-employed individuals who traditionally are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may qualify for DUA.

    To receive DUA benefits, the federal program requires individuals to provide documents, including a copy of their most recent federal or state income tax forms or check stubs, a bill showing their physical address at the time of the disaster and a photo ID. All required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the individual’s DUA application is filed.

    DUA is available for up to 29 weeks of unemployment beginning April 6, 2025, until Oct. 25, 2025, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.

    How To File a Claim

    Affected individuals should visit the Kentucky Career Center website at kcc.ky.gov​ or call 502-564-2900 to file their initial claim. The deadline to apply for assistance is July 25, 2025.

    Updated information will be communicated on the Kentucky Career Center website and through future press releases with detailed information. DUA is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and benefits are not charged to employers.

    Following the storms, the Governor urged local officials to start the federal Individual Assistance and Public Assistance damage assessments and asked Kentuckians who experienced storm damage to take photographs to document damages before cleaning up and to report those losses to their local emergency management officials.

    Gov. Beshear also activated the State Emergency Operations Center and activated the state’s price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians from overpriced goods and services as they cleaned up from the severe weather.​

    FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 15, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the Trump administration has approved his April 28 and May 5 requests to add Individual Assistance for 24 more counties affected by the widespread flooding that took place last month. The number of counties approved for Individual Assistance is currently 37.

    Individual Assistance has now been approved for Breckenridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Daviess, Garrard, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Lincoln, McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Powell, Trimble, Warren and Webster counties in addition to those of Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford, which were approved April 25. Assistance for more counties may be requested through an amendment if assessments warrant.


    “Great news – 24 more counties have been approved for Individual Assistance by FEMA following the April severe weather,” said Gov. Beshear. “This process takes time, and we will continue to request more counties be added until everyone affected receives the support they need and deserve.”


    The Governor thanked President Trump, Office of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and everyone at the federal level who helped acquire this additional help for Kentuckians.

    How to Apply: Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or other similar service, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

    When applying for assistance, make sure:

    • You upload your documents online via the FEMA App or by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov.

    • Your damaged home is your primary residence.

    • You haven’t received assistance for the same losses from another source, including insurance.

    • You are able to be reached by FEMA at the contact information you provide in the application.


    If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, you may appeal:

    • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

    • In person at a Disaster Recovery Centers, which will open in coming days.  

    • Or by mail or fax.


    As the rains began that eventually led to widespread flooding, Gov. Beshear declared a state of emergency, activated the State Emergency Operations Center and the state’s price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians from overpriced goods and services as they clean up and recover from the severe weather. The price gouging prohibition was renewed April 17.

    Following the storms, the Governor urged local officials to start the federal Individual Assistance and Public Assistance damage assessments and asked Kentuckians who experienced storm damage to take photographs before cleaning up and to report the damages to their local emergency management officials.​

    How To Help: The Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund was established after the severe weather in February and will serve survivors of that and additional natural disasters. As with previous relief funds, these dollars will first help pay for victims’ funeral expenses. To donate, click here.​

    Click here to view Disaster Unemployment Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

    Kentuckians in counties that received federal approval for individual assistance may be eligible​

    FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 5, 2025) Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that the state will accept applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from individuals in 13 counties who are out of work as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began in Kentucky on April 2, 2025, and continuing.

    On April 24, 2025, President Donald Trump approved Gov. Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration for Kentucky in response to April’s devastating severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides, which includes individual assistance for Kentuckians in Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford counties.

    The Governor will request that additional designations and counties be added to the declaration through an amendment as ongoing assessments are completed.

    Individuals – including unemployed and self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas and became unemployed or had work interrupted as a direct result the flooding that occurred in Kentucky beginning on April 2, 2025, and continue – are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance.

    DUA is available to individuals who:

    • Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work

    • Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of a disaster, which can also include the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state or local government in immediate response to the disaster;

    • Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;

    • Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;

    • Cannot work or resume self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or

    • As a result of the disaster, became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household.


    In order to qualify for DUA benefits, claimants in eligible counties must show that their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster and that they are not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under state or federal law. Farmers and other self-employed individuals who traditionally are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may qualify for DUA.

    To receive DUA benefits, the federal program requires individuals to provide documents, including a copy of their most recent federal or state income tax forms or check stubs, a bill showing their physical address at the time of the disaster and a photo ID. All required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the individual’s DUA application is filed.

    DUA is available for up to 29 weeks of unemployment beginning April 6, 2025, until October 25, 2025, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.

    How To File a Claim​​

    Affected individuals should visit the Kentucky Career Center website at kcc.ky.gov or call 502-564-2900 to file their initial claim. The deadline to apply for assistance is June 23, 2025.

    Updated information will be communicated on the Kentucky Career Center website and through future press releases with detailed information. DUA is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and benefits are not charged to employers.

    Following the storms, the Governor urged local officials to start the federal Individual Assistance and Public Assistance damage assessments and asked Kentuckians who experienced storm damage to take photographs to document damages before cleaning up and to report those losses to their local emergency management officials.​

    Gov. Beshear also activated the State Emergency Operations Center and activated the state’s price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians from overpriced goods and services as they cleaned up from the severe weather.

    Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that he has sent two additional requests to FEMA seeking aid for families and communities affected by April’s floods.

    First, the Governor is requesting families in 16 more counties receive Individual Assistance to help them recover. On April 25, the Governor announced that President Donald Trump had approved part of his April 11 request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which included Individual Assistance for Kentuckians in 13 of the counties affected by the most recent flooding.​

    Second, the Governor is now requesting Public Assistance for 64 counties in which FEMA has validated damages. The Governor also renewed his request for approval for hazard mitigation for the entire state.