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State Requests Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Funding to help workers in five of Florida’s hardest-hit counties
Tallahassee, FL – Pursuant to Governor Charlie Crist’s request for public assistance, the State of Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation has submitted a request for more than $6-million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).
These funds will be used to aid workers in Brevard, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Volusia and Hendry counties who have lost jobs or businesses as a result of Tropical Storm Fay. Additional funding may be requested for more counties, as further damage assessments are made.
“This week, I visited some of the hardest hit areas of the state, including Brevard County, and I met many resilient Floridians eager to get their lives back in order,” said Monesia T. Brown, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “These important funds will help people who have lost their jobs or businesses because of Tropical Storm Fay to transition back into the workforce as smoothly and quickly as possible.”
DUA is a federally funded program that assists individuals who become unemployed as a direct result of a declared disaster and who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits. The program also covers self-employed individuals, owners and workers of farms and ranches, as well as fishers and others who are not normally covered by state unemployment compensation.
Although many workers will be covered by the state’s regular unemployment compensation program, those not covered may apply for DUA. The Agency for Workforce Innovation oversees the administration of the DUA program in Florida and works closely with the U.S. Department of Labor and state and regional workforce boards.
DUA applications must be filed no later than September 29, 2008
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 a county 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. The 26-week assistance period for Tropical Storm Fay ends February 21, 2009.
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 must have the following information available:
* Social Security number (SSN)
* Alien registration number and expiration date (if a non-U.S. citizen)
* Name and address of most recent employer(s)
* If scheduled to begin work but could not due to the disaster, claimants must have name and address of employer and the date work was to begin
* If self-employed have proof of self-employment, to include:
- 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- 3938 after filing (applicant’s SSN should appear on all documents)
Applications for DUA may be filed:
* Online: www.fluidnow.com
* By telephone at 800-204-2418, M-F 8 AM to 5 PM EDT
* By fax at 850-921-3938
Individuals may also obtain information about applying for DUA at any Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in the state.
Follow this link for Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the state.
Earlier this week, the Agency announced receipt of a National Emergency Grant, providing up to $20 million to help create jobs and provide local humanitarian assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm Fay. Follow this link to read the full press release.
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