EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Lincoln and Doña Ana County residents affected by storms, flooding and landslides this summer may now apply for federal disaster unemployment assistance after the application deadline was extended to Oct. 15.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the declared disaster in Lincoln and Doña Ana counties.
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/fire.
DUA applications may be filed by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until the deadline of Oct. 15
Applications filed after the deadline may be denied unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date; therefore, claimants should file as soon as possible.
Proof of employment/self-employment is required to complete an application for DUA and must be submitted to the department no later than 21 days after filing for a DUA claim. The following documents are acceptable as proof of employment:
- 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
Additional information about DUA is available on the NMDWS website by clicking here.
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.
Free job services are available to all New Mexicans through the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System by clicking here or any New Mexico Workforce Connection Center (https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Office-Locations) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Career consultants at Workforce Connection Centers are available to assist individuals with re-employment services including job search, job referrals and placement, and customized skill development such as interviewing and resume writing.
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