Sinlaku victims have only 16 days to apply for DUA

Residents whose jobs or income were affected by Super Typhoon Sinlaku have only 16 days to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, with the CNMI Department of Labor opening applications Friday, Oct. 9, and setting an Oct. 24 deadline.

Employment Services director Eugene Tebuteb announced the application period during a press conference last Oct. 9 with Gov. David M. Apatang and acting Labor Secretary Frances Torres.

The federally funded program provides temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who lost their jobs or experienced work interruptions because of the April typhoon.

Tebuteb said the program covers Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands, with eligible unemployment or work interruptions occurring between April 12 and Oct. 24, 2026.

"The deadline for submitting your applications is October 24th," he said.

The short application period comes nearly six months after Sinlaku struck the CNMI.

Asked why residents were being given only 16 days to apply, Tebuteb said the deadline is governed by federal regulations.

"That's governed by federal law," he said.

Torres explained that the CNMI does not have a regular unemployment insurance program and must follow federal requirements to access temporary unemployment benefits following disasters.

Tebuteb said eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and qualified aliens whose employment was affected by Sinlaku.

These include workers who lost their jobs, could not reach their workplaces, were unable to start scheduled employment, or could not work because of disaster-related injuries.

Individuals who became their household's primary source of support because of a disaster-related death may also qualify.

Tebuteb said CW-1 foreign workers should not automatically assume they are ineligible.

He explained that while CW-1 workers may not meet the basic citizenship requirements, some could qualify under federal immigration classifications.

"We cannot say outright, no, you're not qualified," he said.

Applications involving foreign workers will undergo verification through the Department of Homeland Security.

Tebuteb said the department is using a two-phase application process to prevent fraud and accommodate potentially thousands of applicants.

The first phase involves submitting an application online or in person. The second requires an appointment to verify an applicant's identity and supporting documents.

Applicants must provide government-issued identification, Social Security information, and employment or tax records.

They will have 21 days from the date of their initial application to submit the required supporting documents.

The department has arranged five appointment locations on Saipan and expects about 20 to 30 employees to handle applicants.

Tebuteb said the department is preparing for 5,000 or more applicants, compared with approximately 2,400 following Super Typhoon Yutu.

He added that the department will accommodate applicants who have left the CNMI through online applications and virtual appointments when necessary.

Residents may apply online at labor.cnmi.gov.

On Saipan, paper applications are available at Employment Services in Building 1323, Enforcement and Compliance in Building 1355, and Administrative Services in Building 1356.

Application intake services will also be available on Tinian and Rota.

Although applications are now open, Tebuteb cautioned that approved applicants may not receive payments until next year because claims must undergo verification and federal review.

"We're looking maybe at next year, maybe mid-next year, but I can't really, you know, guarantee that," he said.

He said approved benefits are expected to be distributed in lump sums rather than weekly payments because the disaster assistance period ends Oct. 24.

Apatang urged residents to submit complete applications to avoid further delays.

The governor said the administration had repeatedly communicated with federal labor and disaster agencies to secure the program's approval.

Torres also encouraged everyone who believes they qualify to apply, saying the department could request additional funding if the number of eligible claimants exceeds initial projections.

Meanwhile, Tebuteb said the separate Disaster Unemployment Assistance program for residents affected by Super Typhoon Bavi on Rota is progressing, with an announcement expected later.

For inquiries, residents may contact the Department of Labor at (670) 664-3196, (670) 588-3878, or (670) 588-6344.