LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald announced today that, as a result of Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-4865-DR, the Division of Reemployment is now accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred March 14-15, 2025 in the following counties: Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone.
Individuals must file DUA claims by July 7, 2025, online at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov or at an Arkansas Workforce Center, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Claims filed after the deadline will be considered untimely and benefits denied unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date.
DUA is available to individuals who:
- Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment,
- Can no longer work or perform services, including lack of work or loss of revenue because of physical damage or destruction to the 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,
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household, or
- Are unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster.
How to apply:
- First, individuals should apply for regular unemployment insurance online at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov.
- It is important to select “Laid off – Weather” as the reason for separation on the UI application.
- If the individual is found ineligible for regular UI or has exhausted UI benefits, they will get an email with the link to complete and submit the DUA application or be mailed a paper application to fill out and return.
- Once the DUA application is complete, individuals have 21 days from the date the DUA claim is filed to submit required documentation verifying income such as income tax statements, recent pay stubs, W-2 forms, or other proof of net income for 2024.
Reemployment officials understand that, due to property losses, some claimants may not have the necessary 2024 income information. Although some delays may result without this information, staff will make every effort to work with DUA claimants to confirm their income information and expedite the claims taking process.
For more information about DUA, visit https://bit.ly/ArkDUA2025 or call 1-844-908-2178.
Reemployment services are provided at the Arkansas Workforce Centers statewide. These are free services to help people get jobs, explore careers, find training opportunities, and more. Find a local Arkansas Workforce Center at dws.arkansas.gov.