Frequently Asked Questions About Receiving Supplemental Payments for Lost Wages

alert - warning

The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.

Get started with our resources on Lost Wages Assistance:

You can also browse our collection below for answers to frequently asked questions about receiving supplemental payments for lost wages.

Illustration of Email icon

States and territories with questions about the grant and how to administer the program can contact the FEMA Individuals and Households Help Desk.

Download a PDF of All FAQs

PDF Link Icon

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Does FEMA provide unemployment assistance after a disaster?

Under a presidentially declared major disaster designated for Individual Assistance, a state, tribe, or territory may request Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is funded by FEMA, and implemented by FEMA and the Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA). DOL-ETA works with the State Workforce Agencies to provide unemployment assistance to survivors who are unemployed or unable to access their jobs due to the disaster and who both meet all eligibility requirements for DUA and are ineligible for any other unemployment benefits from the state. 

Can bank expenses incurred after the time the Supplemental Lost Wages Assistance Administrative Plan was submitted be submitted for reimbursement as an allowable expense under administrative costs?

For example, bank expenses that come from the same day ACH for the Unemployment Insurance Benefit.

Yes, bank expenses incurred are an allowable expense as part of the administrative costs for the Supplemental Lost Wages Assistance. During closeout of the Lost Wages Assistance award, the state, territory and the District of Columbia should account for these costs when they submit the necessary documentation to reconcile administrative costs.

Can a state, territory and the District of Columbia use benefit payments for fully federally-funded unemployment benefit programs to meet the 25% cost share requirement to receive the $300 federal share for supplemental lost wages assistance?

Can a state, territory and the District of Columbia use benefit payments for fully federally-funded unemployment benefit programs (UCFE, UCX, PUA, PEUC, and federal share of EB) to meet the state/territory’s 25% cost share requirement to receive the $300 federal share for supplemental lost wages assistance?

No, state, territory, and the District of Columbia funds derived from fully federally funded unemployment programs cannot be used to meet the 25% cost share requirement.

Can states, territories, and the District of Columbia use Department of Treasury Coronavirus Relief Funds to meet the 25% cost share requirement to receive the $300 federal share for supplemental lost wages assistance?

Yes, states, territories, and the District of Columbia may use Coronavirus Relief Funds to satisfy the 25% cost share requirement at grant closeout.

What state, territory and the District of Columbia funds may be used to cover the state/territory’s 25% cost share match for supplemental lost wages assistance?

If a state, territory and the District of Columbia opts for individuals to receive a $300 additional supplemental lost wages payment per week, states/territories may use the total benefits paid with state/territory unemployment funds to eligible claimants (individuals who meet both the self-certification and $100 eligibility provision) beginning with the week ending August 1, 2020 and moving forward to the end of the program as the required non-federal match. This total amount may be used to cover the state/territory match for supplemental lost wages assistance paid on both regular unemployment compensation and all federally-funded programs. Administrative costs will also include a 75% federal cost share and a 25% state/territory cost share.

If a state, territory and the District of Columbia wants individuals to receive a $400 additional supplemental lost wages payment per week, the state/territory must identify other state/territory funds, which may include CRF, general revenue, or other state/territory fund sources, to cover the $100 state/territory contribution in addition to the $300 federal contribution.

Is the calculation for the state’s, territory’s or the District of Columbia’s 25% cost share match calculated at the aggregate level or the individual level?

The requirement is to meet the state’s, territory’s or the District of Columbia’s 25% cost share match at an aggregate level, for both benefit payments and administrative costs. 

If a state, territory and the District of Columbia is using other money to provide individuals with an amount higher than $300, is there something that limits to only contributing $100 or may the state/territory provide additional money?

The Presidential Memorandum authorized up to $400 through the supplemental lost wages assistance program, including a $300 federal contribution. If the state, territory and the District of Columbia chooses to provide an amount beyond this using non-UI funds, it is considered a separate state/territory program which would be subject to authorization under state law.

Who is eligible for Other Needs Assistance under the Individuals and Households Program?

Individuals must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or a qualified non-citizen to be eligible for FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. Undocumented claimants may be eligible for similar financial assistance under programs funded by state or local funds, or programs funded by voluntary agencies.

What happens if a state, territory and the District of Columbia falls short of meeting the 25% cost share match?

If a state, territory and the District of Columbia falls short of meeting the 25% cost share match, it will be liable for paying FEMA the difference.

If a state, territory and the District of Columbia has previously deposited its CRF into its unemployment account, may those funds be used for the $100 add-on to provide a $400 supplemental lost wages payment?

No, once the CRF is deposited into the state’s, territory’s or the District of Columbia’s unemployment account, the funds become subject to the withdrawal standard set forth in Section 3304(a)(4) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) (26 U.S.C. 3304(a)(4)) and Section 503(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (SSA) (42 U.S.C. 503(a)(5)). The state, territory and the District of Columbia cannot use these funds to pay the additional $100 benefit on top of the $300 Federal supplemental lost wages payment.

Last updated
Return to top