TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announces the extension to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance to October 31, 2017. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Irma.

DUA is available to those who:

Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment;

• Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state; and
• Due to the disaster:

• Are not able to work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;

• Cannot reach the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster; or
• Became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because the head of household died as a direct result of the disaster.

Applications filed after the October 31, 2017, deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause. Applicants must submit their Social Security number, pay stubs, and documentation to support the claim that they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. In some cases, additional documentation may be required. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the DUA application is filed.

DUA is available for the weeks of unemployment beginning September 10, 2017 until ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 17, 2018, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. To file a DUA claim go to http://www.floridajobs.org/ or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to assist claimants. For DUA claims information, call 1-800-204-2418 and choose option 2 to speak to a customer service representative.

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