President Donald Trump has approved disaster aid for New Mexico, enabling unemployment assistance for Lincoln County residents and businesses impacted by severe storms, flooding, and landslides that occurred on June 23. This decision follows a request from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is now accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from workers and self-employed individuals in Lincoln County who have been unable to work due to the disaster. Applications can be submitted by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984 during business hours until September 22, 2025.
To apply for DUA benefits, individuals must first attempt to qualify for Standard Unemployment Insurance. This can be done online at any time or by contacting the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center. If found ineligible for standard benefits, applicants may then pursue DUA by selecting option 5 when calling the center.
Eligibility for DUA requires that individuals were working or set to begin work in the affected area and are unable to continue due to the disaster's impact. The program also covers those who cannot access their workplace because of closures or destruction caused by the storm.
Applicants must submit proof of employment within 21 days of filing a claim. Acceptable documents include payroll vouchers, employment statements, business records, and notarized statements verifying self-employment status. Self-employed individuals can use their 2024 federal income tax return as proof of prior wages but not as proof of employment at the time of the disaster.
DUA benefits are available from June 29, 2025, through January 24, 2026, provided unemployment remains directly linked to the disaster. Applications are only accepted via phone. Benefits will be distributed via debit card unless direct deposit was previously set up.
For more information on DUA and reemployment services such as job search assistance and skill development workshops, individuals can visit America’s Job Center locations or check online resources provided by NMDWS.
Information from this article can be found here.
