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Minimum Disaster Unemployment Assistance weekly benefit amounts, October–December 2026
Summary ETA provides state workforce agencies with the minimum weekly Disaster Unemployment Assistance amounts for major disasters declared from October 1 through December 31, 2026. States use half their average weekly unemployment benefit, rounded as shown in the attachment, when a claimant's calculated amount is lower or cannot be established from wages or self-employment income. The letter asks state administrators to give the table to staff who calculate benefits.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Document number
UIPL No. 16-26
Date issued
September 30, 2026
Status
Active
ETA lists this advisory as active. Its attached state amounts apply to major disasters declared October 1 through December 31, 2026; the letter prints an expiration of Continuing.
Status last verified October 24, 2026
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About this page: The full text below is the official document from U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.
ADVISORY: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 16-26
TO: STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
FROM: MAREK LACO
Acting Assistant Secretary
SUBJECT: Minimum Disaster Unemployment Assistance Weekly Benefit Amount:
October 1 – December 31, 2026
1. Purpose. To transmit the subject computation for State Workforce Agency usage in
computing minimum weekly Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) amounts for all
major disasters declared from October 1 – December 31, 2026 (first quarter of Fiscal Year
(FY) 2027).
2. Action Requested. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) requests that State
Workforce Agency Administrators provide this information to appropriate staff and ensure
their state uses the correct Average Weekly Benefit Amount (AWBA) in determining the
minimum weekly DUA benefit amount.
3. Summary and Background.
a. Summary – If an individual’s DUA weekly benefit amount is less than 50 percent of
the state’s AWBA for unemployment compensation (UC) or if the individual has
insufficient wages from employment or insufficient or no net income from self-
employment to establish a DUA weekly benefit amount, the state shall determine the
minimum DUA weekly amount to equal 50 percent of the AWBA of UC in the state.
b. Background – The Department is required to publish information on each state’s
minimum DUA weekly benefit amount quarterly (see 20 CFR 625.6(b)).
4. Minimum Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Weekly Benefit Amount.
The attached listing sets forth the minimum DUA weekly benefit amount for each state
applicable for major disasters declared during the first quarter of FY 2027, from October 1 –
December 31, 2026, and the computation used to determine this amount.
The amount for each state represents 50 percent of the average weekly payment of UI
benefits in the state. This is calculated with data from the ETA 5159, Claims and Payment
Activities, report using cells c46 (total benefits paid) and divided by c39 (number of weeks
compensated).
RESCISSIONS EXPIRATION DATE
None Continuing
5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate ETA Regional Office.
6. References.
• 20 C.F.R. Part 625; and
• Employment and Training (ET) Handbook 356, Chapter IV-3.
7. Attachment(s).
• Attachment I: Minimum Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Weekly Benefit
Amount: October 1 – December 31, 2026.
Minimum Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
Weekly Benefit Amount: October 1 – December 31, 2026
50% AWBA Minimum WBA
States AWBA*
Calculation (Rounded)
Alabama $258.55 $129.28 $130.00
Alaska $310.03 $155.01 $156.00
Arizona $314.87 $157.44 $158.00
Arkansas $337.87 $168.94 $169.00
California $375.76 $187.88 $188.00
Colorado $647.45 $323.72 $324.00
Connecticut $508.35 $254.18 $255.00
Delaware $372.64 $186.32 $187.00
District of Columbia $413.60 $206.80 $207.00
Florida $266.15 $133.07 $134.00
Georgia $345.75 $172.88 $173.00
Hawaii $712.53 $356.26 $357.00
Idaho $492.05 $246.02 $247.00
Illinois $527.03 $263.52 $264.00
Indiana $329.90 $164.95 $165.00
Iowa $552.02 $276.01 $277.00
Kansas $532.37 $266.18 $267.00
Kentucky $528.43 $264.21 $265.00
Louisiana $246.78 $123.39 $124.00
Maine $514.36 $257.18 $258.00
Maryland $398.36 $199.18 $200.00
Massachusetts $726.05 $363.02 $364.00
Michigan $445.20 $222.60 $223.00
Minnesota $595.58 $297.79 $298.00
Mississippi $224.29 $112.14 $113.00
Missouri $295.51 $147.76 $148.00
Montana $529.47 $264.74 $265.00
Nebraska $475.92 $237.96 $238.00
Nevada $500.95 $250.48 $251.00
New Hampshire $380.01 $190.00 $190.00
New Jersey $628.29 $314.14 $315.00
New Mexico $479.92 $239.96 $240.00
New York $553.97 $276.98 $277.00
North Carolina $319.40 $159.70 $160.00
North Dakota $620.61 $310.30 $311.00
Ohio $512.50 $256.25 $257.00
Oklahoma $463.88 $231.94 $232.00
Oregon $592.04 $296.02 $297.00
Pennsylvania $480.78 $240.39 $241.00
Puerto Rico $220.73 $110.36 $111.00
Rhode Island $501.20 $250.60 $251.00
South Carolina $318.94 $159.47 $160.00
South Dakota $481.38 $240.69 $241.00
Tennessee $307.38 $153.69 $154.00
Texas $516.11 $258.06 $259.00
Utah $600.15 $300.08 $301.00
Vermont $580.25 $290.12 $291.00
Virgin Islands $450.33 $225.16 $226.00
Virginia $369.12 $184.56 $185.00
Washington $760.44 $380.22 $381.00
West Virginia $453.03 $226.51 $227.00
Wisconsin $345.53 $172.76 $173.00
Wyoming $529.25 $264.62 $265.00
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