Disaster Unemployment Benefits Available In Four County Area
Release Date: October 18, 2000
Release Number: 1345-08
» More Information on Florida Heavy Rains And Flooding
Miami, FL -- The floods that hit South Florida on Oct. 3rd damaged thousands of homes and businesses, but it also put a lot of people out of work. Residents of Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties who are unemployed as a result of the disaster may be eligible for special federal/state unemployment compensation made available by the disaster declaration.
According to Joe Myers, state coordinating officer for the recovery, the following applicants may be eligible under this disaster-related program:
- Those unemployed as a direct consequence of the disaster
- Self-employed individuals, including farmers and people who fish for a living
- Small business owners
- Individuals injured as a result of the disaster
- Anyone not eligible for standard state unemployment insurance benefits, such as seasonal workers.
The federally funded supplemental disaster unemployment benefits are administered by the state through the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Claims should be filed at local unemployment compensation offices. The disaster unemployment compensation program extends coverage only to people who would otherwise be ineligible under the regular state program.
"We're trying very hard to help everyone affected by this flood to put their lives back together," said Justo Hernandez, federal coordinating officer. "We hope this program will help some people whose lives have been disrupted make ends meet until they can get back to work."
Joe Myers, state coordinating officer, urged residents to call the Agency for Workforce Innovation at 1-800-681-8102 for guidance in filing disaster-related unemployment compensation claims or see their local unemployment office.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Nov-2003 15:22:16