FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2004
CONTACT: Warren May (850) 245-7130

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Hurricane Frances Victims in Nine Additional Counties

Susan Pareigis, Director of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation, announced today that individuals who have lost jobs or businesses in eight additional Florida counties as a result of Hurricane Frances may be entitled to Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. Alachua, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Hendry, Putnam, Seminole, St Johns and Volusia counties were added by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the list of eligible jurisdictions based on a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. The previously designated counties include Brevard, Broward, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Citrus, Glades, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, and Sumter counties.

Although many 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 the U.S. Department of Labor and state and regional workforce boards. Funding for the program is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Applicants must file for disaster benefits within 30 days of the date of public notification. Therefore, DUA applications in the additional counties must be filed no later than October 8, 2004.

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 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.

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 850-921-3938. Applicant's Social Security number should appear on all documents submitted)
• If scheduled to begin work but could not work due to the disaster, have name and address of employer and the date work was scheduled to begin