Hurricane Ivan Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline Extended 

Release Date: December 8, 2004
Release Number: 1551-181

» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Floridians who lost income due to Hurricane Ivan may be able to claim unemployment benefits. The deadline to apply has been extended to Monday, Dec. 20, 2004. Federal disaster unemployment assistance includes help for those who normally cannot get unemployment compensation, including self-employed people and farm workers. A list of the counties covered under the Hurricane Ivan declaration is included below.

Hurricane Ivan affected counties:

Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsen, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.

Craig Fugate, state coordinating officer for disaster recovery, said applicants could file a claim for unemployment assistance using any of three different methods. Claims may be filed in person at One-Stop Centers or Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), by phone at 1-800-204-2418 or on the Internet at www.fluidnow.com. Filing on-line is quicker and provides a guide to filing on the Internet. A complete list of the information applicants need to have on hand when making applications is also available.

On the www.fluidnow.com website, click on “Internet Unemployment Compensation Claim Application,” or click on the “Guide to Completing the Unemployment Compensation Internet Application” for step-by-step instructions.

The program is administered by Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation. Benefits are funded by the U.S. Department of Home Land Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) but are paid using the same procedures as the state unemployment program. “The self-employed are often the first to feel such losses, yet they are not eligible for state unemployment compensation. This program can help them recover some of their economic losses,” said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Thursday, 09-Dec-2004 08:08:55