Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for 37 Affected Areas in Mississippi
Summary
MDES announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for 36 Mississippi counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians following the February 6, 2026 major disaster declaration (DR-4899-MS). Individuals who live or work in affected areas and could not work because of the Severe Winter Storm that occurred January 23-27, 2026, may apply. The Disaster Assistance Period runs from January 25, 2026 through August 8, 2026. The deadline to apply is June 9, 2026.
What changed
MDES announced the availability of Disaster Unemployment Assistance for 36 Mississippi counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians following the February 6, 2026 major disaster declaration (DR-4899-MS) for the Severe Winter Storm of January 23-27, 2026.
Individuals who live or work in the affected areas and could not work as a direct result of the disaster may apply for DUA. Eligible individuals include those who were unemployed for at least one week after the disaster, became the primary income provider due to a disaster-related death in the household, cannot work due to a disaster-related injury, lost work due to physical damage to a business, or were unable to reach their place of employment. Self-employed individuals and those scheduled to begin employment are also eligible. Applications must be submitted by June 9, 2026.
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Apr 17, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for 37 Affected Areas in Mississippi
Font Size Share Page Date: April 16, 2026
Jackson, MS –
Jackson, MS – On February 6, 2026, the State of Mississippi received a major disaster declaration (DR-4899-MS). The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) announced today that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for the following 36 counties in Mississippi: Adams, Alcorn, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Marshall, Montogomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Warren, Washington, Yalobusha, and Yazoo counties, as well as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Individuals who live or work in one of the affected counties and could not work because of major destruction that occurred on January 23-27, 2026, caused by the Severe Winter Storm, are entitled to apply and may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. The Disaster Assistance Period begins January 25, 2026, through August 8, 2026. Each claim will be reviewed to determine eligibility to receive DUA.
Self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas at the time of the major disaster and those who are unemployed as a result of the major disaster may be eligible for DUA. In addition, those who were unable to reach their jobs because the disaster prevented their travel, or who were scheduled to begin employment, but the disaster prevented them from doing so, may apply.
Individuals eligible for DUA are those who:
- Were unemployed for at least one week after the date of the disaster
- Became the income provider or major support for a household because of the disaster-related death of the head of the household
- Cannot work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster
- Could not work or lost work as a result of physical damage or destruction of a business; or unable to work because of the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure
- Were scheduled to have started work and does not have the job as direct result of the disaster. Individuals in Adams, Alcorn, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Marshall, Montogomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Warren, Washington, Yalobusha, and Yazoo counties, as well as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians can apply online 24 hours a day at www.mdes.ms.gov or by calling 601-493-9428 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
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