CNMI's lack of unemployment system slows disaster job aid rollout

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) faces a significant hurdle in distributing federal disaster unemployment assistance following Super Typhoon Sinlaku: the absence of its own unemployment insurance system. This lack of infrastructure is preventing timely aid to those affected by the disaster.

According to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fact sheet, the CNMI Department of Labor is ill-equipped to handle the influx of unemployment claims. Officials there lack the essential equipment, software, and administrative framework. Consequently, they must establish a completely new system before any benefits can be disbursed.

Instead of leveraging an existing program, the CNMI will implement a new software platform specifically designed for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Claimants will undergo staff-assisted interviews, with trained Department of Labor employees entering their information directly into the new system. Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides temporary financial support to individuals who lost employment or self-employment due to a federally declared disaster and are ineligible for regular unemployment benefits.

The CNMI requested about $10.1 million in disaster unemployment assistance on June 8. The U.S. Department of Labor endorsed the request two days later and forwarded it to FEMA, which is reportedly expediting its review. However, because the grant exceeds $1 million, FEMA must notify the U.S. Congress before releasing the funds. Once approved, the money will be transferred through the U.S. Department of Labor to the CNMI Department of Labor for program implementation. Benefits can extend up to 26 weeks and are applicable from the disaster declaration on April 23 until the end of the assistance period on October 24, 2027.