President Donald Trump approved three states’ disaster declarations during the past week, but not the sought-after disaster unemployment assistance.
The three states that President Donald Trump has formally declared coronavirus disaster areas have not received the disaster unemployment assistance that they expected to follow that designation.
New York, California and Washington state all requested access to several aid programs provided under a disaster declaration, including disaster unemployment assistance.
Disaster unemployment assistance allows workers who aren’t eligible for traditional unemployment benefits, like Uber drivers and other gig economy workers, to receive 26 weeks’ unemployment benefits if their job loss is attributable to a disaster that eliminates their job or keeps them from reaching their job site. To receive disaster employment assistance, a state must be declared a disaster area by the president. Continue reading.