TAMPA, Fla. — Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Helene.
This assistance is available for people who are not eligible for regular state or federal reemployment assistance benefits. FloridaCommerce is accepting applications from residents and businesses in Tampa Bay counties including Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota, according to a news release.
Besides being ineligible to receive federal or state reemployment assistance, individuals must meet 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
- Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster
Assistance will be available through March 29 and the deadline to submit a claim is Dec. 2.
Certain registration requirements for assistance such as work search reporting, waiting week and Employ Florida registration requirements have been temporarily waived for residents impacted by the hurricane in FEMA disaster-declared counties.
To file a claim, go to FloridaJobs.com , visit a local CareerSource Center or call 1-800-385-3920.
North Carolina and Georgia officials have also announced Disaster Unemployment Assistance for counties that were devasted by Helene.
