Deadline Near For Some To Apply For Disaster Unemployment
Release Date: November 10, 2004
Release Number: 1539-269
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Floridians who lost income due to the four hurricanes that made landfall in Florida this year may be able to claim unemployment benefits, but time will run out shortly for some workers.
There are four different deadline dates, one for each of the declared storms.
Hurricane Charley: November 14, 2004
Hurricane Frances: December 6, 2004
Hurricane Ivan: November 19, 2004
Hurricane Jeanne: November 25, 2004
Federal disaster unemployment assistance includes help for those who normally cannot get unemployment, including self-employed people and farm workers.
While unemployment benefits can extend for as long as 26 weeks from the day the disaster is declared, the official deadline for applying is 30 days after public notification. Some extensions have been granted in Florida at the state’s request, but the extended deadlines are growing near. A listing of the counties covered in each declaration is included below.
Craig Fugate, state coordinating officer for the disaster recovery, said applicants can file a claim for disaster unemployment assistance using any of three different methods. Claims may be filed in person at One-Stop Centers or disaster recovery centers, by phone at 1-800-204-2418, or on the Internet at www.fluidnow.com. Filing on-line is quicker for most people, and www.fluidnow.com also provides a guide to filing on the Internet and gives a complete list of the information applicants need to have at hand when they apply.
On the 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 paid using the same procedures as the state unemployment program. While most applicants will be residents of declared disaster counties, the benefit is available to residents of any Florida county who lost income as a direct result of the disaster.
“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 loss,” said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery.
The application deadlines in affected counties:
Hurricane Charley
Nov. 14 - Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, St. Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia.
Hurricane Frances
Extended To December 6 - Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Union and Volusia.
Hurricane Ivan
November 19 - Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton and Washington
Hurricane Jeanne
November 25 - Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, De Soto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Volusia.
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: Friday, 12-Nov-2004 09:35:32