SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — Florida business owners and residents who are or were unable to work because of hurricanes Milton, Helene or Debby will be able to apply for assistance through FloridaCommerce.
FloridaCommerce said that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to business owners and workers whose employment or self-employment was interrupted or lost as a "direct result" of recent hurricanes. DUA eligibility is also contingent on those workers who aren't eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits.
Floridians who are impacted and are eligible are encouraged to submit a claim through FloridaJobs.org.
To see which counties are eligible for DUA, click here.
Eligibility requirements for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
As stated above, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to business owners and workers who aren't eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Additionally, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- Is unemployed as a direct result of 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;
- Can prove that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform as a direct result of the disaster was their principal source of income;
- Were unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so as a direct result of the disaster;
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because they were injured as a direct result of the disaster; or
- Became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because the head of the household died as a direct result of the disaster.
What you need to make a Disaster Unemployment Assistance claim
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available retroactively depending on which storm you were affected by. This is contingent on whether unemployment is still a result of the disaster in the designated area.
Here's what you'll need to submit during your DUA claim:
- Social Security number
- Check stubs
- Documentation to prove they were working or self-employed when the disaster happened
