ARKANSAS – DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available to individuals who were affected by severe storms and tornadoes that impacted Arkansas on March 14-15. Impacted individuals in Green, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp, and Stone counties may be eligible for DUA benefits.
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.
Impacted individuals should first apply for regular unemployment benefits online at http://www.ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov/ or at an Arkansas Workforce Center. They should select Laid Off – Weather as the reason for separation. Then, if the individual is found ineligible for regular UI benefits or has exhausted their benefits, they will be provided with a link to submit a DUA application. The application deadline is July 7, 2025.
MINNESOTA – MINING WORKERS AND HOURLY EDUCATION WORKER RECEIVE BENEFITS
An agreement was reached in Minnesota to grant a full year of unemployment benefits to idled mining workers. Unemployment is typically only available for 26 weeks but under this agreement, workers will be eligible for a full year of unemployment benefits in an effort to keep the talent in the state.
Minnesota also provided a one-time appropriation of $100,000,000 to school districts to provide unemployment insurance for hourly school workers to help them make ends meet over the summer.
TEXAS – DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AVAILABLE
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available to individuals who were affected by severe storms and flooding that impacted South Texas that began on March 26. Impacted individuals in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties may be eligible for DUA benefits.
Impacted individuals can apply online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling TWC at (800) 939-6631 from 7AM-6PM CT, Monday through Friday. It is advised that individuals should indicate when applying that their applications are related to the damage caused by the storms and flooding that impacted their qualifying area. The application deadline is July 21, 2025.
MASSACHUSETTS – BILLS INTRODUCED TO ALLOW BENEFITS FOR STRIKING WORKERS
Two bills were recently introduced in Massachusetts that would potentially allow striking workers to collect unemployment benefits. Senate Bill S.1319 and House Bil H.2168 would amend the law to allow unemployment benefits after they have been on strike for 30 days. If passed, this would bring Massachusetts in line with states like New Jersey, New York, and Washington who allow striking workers to collect unemployment benefits.
Thomas & Company will continue to monitor all legislation as it makes its way through the legislative process.
