Friday, December 13, 2024 / Categories: Department News Application deadline approaching for Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Chaves County Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for individuals whose employment was impacted by the severe storm and flooding in Chaves County that took place on October 19-20, 2024. 2022. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2024. 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.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; andDo not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, or Extended Benefits (EB) from any state; andWere 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; orCan no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; orCannot physically access the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; orCan establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; orCannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; orBecame 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, 8am-4:30pm until the deadline of December 31, 2024.Information about DUA is available at https://www.dws.state.nm.us/DUA.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 weekEmployment and earnings statement from employer with name, address and contact informationStatement written from employerBusiness 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 unemploymentDUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning October 20, 2024, until May 3, 2025, 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, https://www.jobs.state.nm.us or any New Mexico Workforce Connection Center (https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Office-Locations) Monday through Friday 8am-5pm. Career Consultants at Workforce Connection Centers are available to assist individuals with reemployment services including job search, job referrals and placement, and customized skill development such as interviewing and resume writing. Previous Article Employer roundtable event in Albuquerque Next Article NMDWS to mail Unemployment Insurance claimant 1099s in January