Disaster Unemployment Assistance Now Available Due to Freeze Damage in 49 Florida Counties March 11 is Application Deadline
Release Date: February 6, 2001
Release Number: 1359-02
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Tallahassee, FL -- Tom McGurk, Director of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation, announced today that individuals who have lost jobs or businesses in designated counties due to the damaging effects from freezing weather on agricultural crops, commercial fishing, and fish farming in those areas beginning December 1, 2000 and ending January 25, 2001 may be entitled to unemployment compensation or Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits. The designated counties are Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Miami-Dade, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Suwannee, Sumter, Union, and Volusia.
On February 5, 2001, President George W. Bush, in response to a request from Governor Jeb Bush, declared a major disaster in Florida, clearing the way for use of federal funds to aid relief efforts in Florida.
Although some workers will be covered by the state's regular unemployment compensation program, those not covered may apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federally funded program, which assists individuals who become unemployed as a direct result of a declared disaster. The program also covers self-employed individuals, owners of farms and ranches, farm and ranch workers, as well as fishers and others who are not normally covered by state unemployment compensation.
The Agency for Workforce Innovation administers the DUA program in Florida in partnership with regional workforce boards and One-stop Career Centers. Funding for the program is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is channeled through the U.S. Department of Labor.
Applicants must file for disaster benefits within 30 days of the date of public notification. Accordingly, residents of those counties must apply for DUA no later than March 11, 2001.
To be eligible for either the regular state unemployment compensation program or DUA, the applicant must be a legal resident. To be eligible for DUA benefits, an individual must have exhausted all entitlement to any regular state unemployment benefits and must have been working in or residing in one of the counties for which the disaster has been officially declared. DUA benefits are available to unemployed individuals for up to 26 weeks from the date of the disaster declaration.
Federal regulations provide that the unemployment of an individual is caused by a disaster if the individual: (1) becomes unemployed as a direct result of the disaster; or (2) is unable to reach the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; or (3) was scheduled to begin work and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the disaster; or (4) has become the major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of the disaster; or (5) cannot work because of an injury caused directly by the disaster.
Individuals applying for disaster related unemployment assistance will need to have the following information available:
- Social Security number
- Alien registration number and expiration date (if a non-U.S. citizen)
- Name and address of most recent employer(s)
- If self-employed have proof of self-employment for the past two years (State or Federal tax returns, financial statements, bank records of accounts, or 1099 Forms. Documentation necessary to support a claim may be faxed to 850-921-3939. Applicant's Social Security number should appear on all documents submitted)
- If scheduled to work but could not work due to the disaster, have name and address of employer and the date work was scheduled to begin
Under federal and state laws governing the DUA and unemployment compensation programs, individuals may be disqualified if they voluntarily quit their job; refuse to apply for or accept suitable work; or are not able, available, and actively seeking work. Employers in the agricultural and commercial fishing or fish farming industries who have available work are encouraged to contact the nearest One-Stop Career Center in their area to place job orders for needed workers so that currently unemployed individuals may be referred to those jobs. For specific contact information, employers may call 1-800-681-8102.
Telephone applications for disaster related unemployment compensation claims may be filed by calling toll free 1-800-681-8102 beginning Monday, February 12, 2001. Hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday.
Applications may be filed in person, beginning February 12, 2001, at the following locations in Collier, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday:
| Miami-Dade County: | Homestead One-Stop Career Center 381 North Krome Avenue, Suite 101 Homestead, FL 33030 |
| Collier County: | Immokalee One-Stop Career Center 210 South First Street Immokalee, FL 34142 |
| Palm Beach County: | Belle Glade Workforce Development Center 557 SW 16th Street Belle Glade, FL 33430 |
Residents of other areas may either call the toll-free telephone number listed above, or contact the nearest One-Stop Career Center for additional locations where applications can be filed in person.
Last Modified: Monday, 27-Oct-2003 13:42:24