Two Weeks Before Hurricane Jeanne Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline
Release Date: December 10, 2004
Release Number: 1561-181
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Jeanne
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Floridians who lost income due to Hurricane Jeanne may be able to claim unemployment benefits. The deadline to apply for benefits is Monday, December 27, 2004.
Federal disaster unemployment assistance includes help for those who normally cannot get unemployment compensation, 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 deadline is growing near. A list of the counties covered in each declaration is included below.
Hurricane Jeanne affected counties:
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.
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 Homeland 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 loss,” 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: Monday, 13-Dec-2004 08:46:11