EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Unemploymnent assistance for Lincoln County residents and businesses affected by severe storms, flooding and landslides this summer is now available, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions said Monday, July 28.
Disaster aid approved by President Trump authorizes unemployment assistance for Lincoln County residents and businesses which were hit by severe weather starting on June 23, the Workforce Solutions Department said.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is accepting applications for disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) from workers and self-employed individuals in Lincoln County who have been unable to work due to this disaster.
Applications may be filed by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until the deadline of Sept. 22.
The process to apply for DUA benefits includes two steps:
- An individual must first apply for standard unemployment insurance. This may be done online anytime 24/7 at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us, by visiting an America’s Job Center New Mexico location, or by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations center at 1-877-664-6984, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- If an individual is not eligible for standard unemployment insurance, they may then apply for DUA by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center and selecting option 5.
Individuals who lost work or employment due to the designated disaster must file DUA applications by established deadlines. DUA is available to those who:
- Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment; and
- Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, or extended benefits (EB) from any state; and
- Were 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; or
- 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; or
- Cannot physically access the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or
- Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; or
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death related to the disaster.
Applications filed after the deadline will be considered late and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date.
Proof of employment/self-employment must be submitted no later than 21 days after filing for a DUA claim. The following documents are examples of documents that may establish sufficient proof of employment depending on the individual’s case:
- Payroll voucher closest in date to the last work week
- Employment and earnings statement from employer with name, address and contact information
- Statement written from employer
- Business records (bank statements, business receipts, licenses, advertisements, invoices, appointment books, financial statements)
- Notarized statement from the person with name, address, and contact information who can verify your self-employment and unemployment
If an individual is self-employed, their 2024 federal income tax return and schedules can serve as proof of prior wages but does not substantiate their proof of employment at the time of the disaster.
DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning June 29 until Jan. 24, 2026, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.
Additional information regarding the DUA program is available on the NMDWS website by clicking here.
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