ALASKA – DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE, DEADLINE EXTENDED

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available to individuals who were affected by storms in Western Alaska, including Typhoon Halong. As a reminder, DUA is an unemployment insurance benefit made available after a disaster and is only available to individuals who:

• Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for unemployment benefits.
• Worked or were self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area.
• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
• Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
• Cannot perform work or 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 household.

To file a DUA claim online 24/7, impacted individuals should visit https://ready.alaska.gov/IA. Impacted individuals can also call the Alaska Call Center at (866) 342-1699 or visit an assistance hub set up in Bethel, Alaska through December 19.

The application deadline is February 20,2026.

COLORADO – CONFIRM/UPDATE PREMIUM USER INFORMATION

In 2026, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will begin delivering third-party sick pay notices directly to employers. To ensure you receive this important and time-sensitive notices, please visit the My FAMLI+ Employer Log In webpage to confirm and/or update your Premiums Users Information prior to January 1, 2026. Only Premiums Administrators, Premiums Editors, and the HR Benefits Contact will have access to these notices.

 WASHINGTON – NEW LAW MAY PROVIDE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DURING LABOR DISPUTES

A new law that goes into effect on January 1, 2026 in Washington state may provide unemployment benefits to individuals who are affected by a labor dispute, including a strike or lockout. Workers on strike may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits for up to 6 weeks while the strike is in effect. Meanwhile, workers unemployed due to a lockout may be eligible for benefits for the duration of the lockout.

The law, passed in 2025, requires employers to pay 100% of benefits paid out as a result of a dispute.