The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations launched a disaster recovery jobs portal on Friday to help Maui workers and businesses impacted by the wildfires.

The portal provides access to all jobs currently available on Maui, as maintained by the department.

Employers need to be registered in HireNet Hawai’i to perform candidate searches; job seekers need to be registered with HireNet Hawai’i to post resumes. To view the portal, visit disasterrecovery.hirenethawaii.com/.

Federal disaster unemployment assistance benefits are also available for residents impacted by the Maui fires, the DLIR announced Thursday.

Gov. Josh Green said that individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance benefits beginning the week of Aug. 13, “as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.”

“Eligible individuals will receive a minimum of $254 to a maximum of $763 for the weeks beginning Aug. 13, 2023, and ending on February 10, 2024,” DLIR Director Jade Butay said.

Regular unemployment insurance and disaster unemployment assistance benefits cannot be paid at the same time, Butay added.

The benefits are funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Examples of eligible claims may include:

• Workers, business owners and self-employed individuals whose unemployment or underemployment was caused as a direct result of the disaster.

• Individuals who are prevented from reaching their job or self-employment location due to the disaster.

• Individuals who were to start or resume employment or self-employment but were prevented by the disaster.

• Individuals who became the major support of a household because of the death of the head of household due to the disaster.

• Individuals who cannot perform services in employment or self-employment due to an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster.

Applications for the disaster unemployment aid must be filed by Sept. 25. Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely unless the individual provides good cause for filing late. All individuals who believe they qualify should apply as soon as possible at huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/.

Required documents include a government-issued identification (driver’s license, passport, alien verification card, etc.), a Social Security number, and a copy of the most recent federal income tax form and check stubs or documentation to document history or self-employment when the disaster occurred. Documentation for the self-employed can be obtained from banks or government entities or affidavits from individuals who know of their businesses. Individuals should have bank information ready (such as routing number and account number) since benefit payments are made by direct deposit.

Applicants will be required to verify their ID digitally through login.gov or through a U.S. Postal Service post office. Claimants can select a method of ID proofing though their initial claim confirmation page or through their claimant dashboard. Postal workers at the participating locations are trained to complete ID proofing services only and cannot answer questions about unemployment insurance claims.

Individuals may apply for disaster unemployment assistance with their documents at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Monarchy Ballroom at 200 Nohea Kai Dr. in Kaanapali. For assistance, visit the Maui Claims Office at 54 South High St., Room 201, in Wailuku or the American Job Center at 110 Alaihi St., No. 209, in Kahului.

Weekly claims forms must be postmarked or received by the claims office within seven days from the ending date of the week claimed. For example, if a person were filing a claim for the week ending Aug. 19, the claim would have to be postmarked or received no later than Aug. 26. However, the claim may still be accepted after seven days from Aug. 19 if the person can show good cause for late filing. Weekly claims forms and instructions are available at labor.hawaii.gov/ui/ui-forms/.

Claims can be mailed to: Maui Claims Office, 54 S. High St., Room 201, Wailuku, HI 96793-2198.

For unemployment assistance, individuals may call (833) 901-2272, (808) 762-5751, (833) 901-2275 or (808) 762-5752. Language assistance services are available for all inquiries to the DLIR.

For more detailed information regarding eligibility for disaster unemployment assistance benefits, visit labor.hawaii.gov/ui/assistance-programs/.

Staff members from the Workforce Development Division are currently providing in-person services at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at University of Hawai’i Maui College. Workforce services are also available at the American Job Center.

For more information on job fairs and training opportunities, visit labor.hawaii.gov/wdd/job-fairs-and-training-opportunities/.