Los Angeles County residents impacted by the devastating California firestorms have until Monday, March 10, 2025, to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The Employment Development Department (EDD) urges all affected workers, business owners, and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs or experienced significant reductions in work hours due to the disaster to apply before the deadline.

Who is Eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance?

DUA is designed to provide financial relief to individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits but lost their employment or self-employment as a direct result of the firestorms. Eligibility criteria include:

• Working, owning a business, or being self-employed in the disaster area when the firestorm struck.
• Being unable to reach their place of employment due to disaster-related disruptions.
• Losing the ability to work due to physical damage to their workplace.
• Suffering an injury caused by the disaster that prevents them from working.
• Becoming the head of household due to a disaster-related death.
• Losing their primary source of income due to the firestorms.

How to Apply

Eligible individuals can apply for benefits online via myEDD by selecting UI Online, which is available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Armenian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Applicants can opt for direct deposit to receive benefit payments more quickly.

Applications may also be submitted by phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays):

• English & Spanish: 1-800-300-5616
• Armenian: 1-855-528-1518
• Cantonese: 1-800-547-3506
• Korean: 1-844-660-0877
• Mandarin: 1-866-303-0706
• Tagalog: 1-866-395-1513
• Vietnamese: 1-800-547-2058
• All Other Languages: 1-800-300-5616 (Interpreter services available)
• TTY: 1-800-815-9387

Required Documentation

Applicants must submit all required documents within 21 days of filing their DUA claim. Required documents include:

• Recent federal income tax forms
• Check stubs or other proof of employment/self-employment at the time of the disaster
• Self-employment records (e.g., bank statements, government documents, affidavits from individuals with knowledge of their business)

Disaster Recovery Centers for In-Person Assistance

EDD representatives are available at Disaster Recovery Centers for in-person assistance:

• Altadena Disaster Recovery Center – 540 W. Woodbury Rd., Altadena, CA 91001
• UCLA Disaster Recovery Center – UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

For updated hours of operation and additional information, visit CA.gov/LAfires.

Benefit Amounts and Duration

DUA benefits cover losses starting from January 12, 2025, and eligible individuals can receive payments between $186 and $450 per week for up to 26 weeks. Part-time workers may also qualify. The last payable week for this benefit is July 12, 2025.

Additional Support for Employers

Governor Gavin Newsom’s state of emergency declaration for Los Angeles County includes an executive order waiving the standard one-week waiting period for workers eligible for regular unemployment benefits. Employers impacted by the disaster can also request a 60-day extension for filing state payroll reports or depositing payroll taxes.

FEMA and Federal Assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved disaster relief following a presidential Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4856-DR) issued on January 8, 2025. As the agency overseeing federal disaster benefits in California, EDD administers the DUA program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.

How to Stay Informed

For more details, visit the EDD Disaster-Related Services webpage or contact the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 for employer-related disaster relief options. Job seekers affected by the firestorms can also visit America’s Job Center of California for employment resources, job training, and career assistance.

To stay updated on active emergencies, visit ready.ca.gov.

With the March 10 deadline fast approaching, affected workers and business owners are encouraged to act quickly to secure this critical financial assistance