NR No. 25-22
Contact: Loree Levy/Greg Lawson
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov
What You Need to Know: The deadline is Tuesday, June 10, 2025, for Los Angeles County workers, business owners, and self-employed people who lost their jobs or had their work hours substantially reduced as a result of the California firestorms to apply for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
SACRAMENTO — Los Angeles County workers affected by the California firestorms seeking federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) should apply for benefits by Tuesday, June 10, 2025. DUA is for workers who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits—such as self-employed people—and lost their jobs or had their hours reduced because of the disaster.
Applications after the June 10 deadline may be accepted if the applicant has good cause to submit a late application. Applicants who miss the deadline will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Those reasons may include:
- Being unaware of the DUA program.
- Being hospitalized as a result of injuries caused by the disaster.
- Exhausting all benefits on a regular unemployment claim during the disaster assistance period and is eligible for a DUA claim.
The fastest and easiest way to apply for benefits is through myEDD, and then select UI Online, which is available in English, Spanish, Armenian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. When applying online, workers can select direct deposit to have benefit payments automatically deposited into a personal bank account rather than by a mailed debit card or check.
Workers applying for DUA should check the box on the application for unemployment benefits that asks if their unemployment is a direct result of a recent disaster.
EDD has dedicated phone lines available for workers affected by the firestorms who have questions about unemployment benefits or need help applying for DUA:
- English: 1-833-998-2284
- Spanish: 1-855-964-0634
- Other languages: 1-800-300-5616
Representatives are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), Monday through Friday, except on California state holidays.
Representatives are also available to help in person at local America’s Job Center of California locations.
All required documentation must be submitted within 90 days from the date listed on the mailed notice advising a support document is needed. Required documentation includes the most recent federal income tax form, check stubs, or other documentation to support that the applicant was working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. Documentation for the self-employed can be obtained from banks, government entities, or affidavits from individuals having knowledge of their business.
DUA benefits apply to losses beginning the week of January 12, 2025. Eligible full-time workers can receive between $186 and $450 per week for up to 26 weeks. Part-time workers may also qualify for benefits. Eligible individuals who were unemployed as of January 12, 2025, can request to have their claim start on that date, even if they apply after January 12. The last payable week of this emergency benefit ends July 12, 2025.
DUA benefits help people affected by a federally declared disaster who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits and meet any of the following criteria:
- Worked, or were a business owner or self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area. This includes, and is not limited to, those in the agricultural and fishing industries.
- Cannot reach their workplace due to the disaster or can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
- Cannot perform work or self-employment due to an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
- Became the head of their household due to a death caused by the disaster.
- The work or self-employment they can no longer perform must have been their primary source of income.
EDD must first check if the applicant is eligible for regular unemployment benefits before processing the claim for DUA benefits. As part of this process, applicants may receive a letter indicating that they’re not eligible for regular unemployment while EDD works to process their DUA claim. All affected workers should apply for benefits, and EDD will determine whether DUA or regular state unemployment applies.