FloridaCommerce announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Milton and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Milton are encouraged to submit a claim at FloridaJobs.org .
DUA is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:
- Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
- Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
- Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
- Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
- Is unable to work because of an injury that directly resulted from the major disaster.
DUA is available for weeks of unemployment from October 6, 2024, through April 12, 2025, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to result from the disaster in the designated disaster areas. The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than December 10, 2024.
To file a claim, go to www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim”, visit a local CareerSource Career Center, or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) for DUA claims information to speak with a representative.
Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may only be allowed if the individual provides good cause. Applicants must submit their Social Security number, check stubs, and documentation to support the claim that they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred or evidence substantiating they could not begin employment or self-employment due to the disaster. In some cases, additional documentation may be required. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days of filing the DUA application.
Visit these BDB landing pages to find previous Hurricane Milton communications and resources.
- Hurricane Milton Communication #5: Additional Resources for Other Industries and Needs
- Hurricane Milton Communication #4: Damage Assessment Survey
- Hurricane Milton Communication #3: Emergency Bridge Loans
- Hurricane Milton Communications #1-2: FPL outage info., and Martin County Disaster Assistance
