JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Four local counties are among eleven approved for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
People out of work due to Tropical Storm Debby in Baker, Bradford, Clay and Columbia counties are eligible for funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. More counties may become eligible in accordance with future federal declarations.
All claims must be made by August 6 to be eligible.
DUA helps people who have become unemployed as a direct result of a declared disaster and who do not qualify for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits.
DUA covers people who are self-employed and owners and workers of farms and ranches, as wells as fishermen and others who are not normally covered by state reemployment assistance benefits.
To be eligible for DUA you must meet these following federal requirements:
- exhausted entitlement to state Reemployment Assistance benefits (formerly known as unemployment compensation benefits)
- became unemployed as a direct result of a declared disaster
- unable to reach your place of employment as a direct result of the disaster
- scheduled to begin work and do not have a job or unable to reach the job as a direct result of the disaster
- are the major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of the disaster
- cannot work because of an injury caused directly by the disaster
DUA benefits are are available to unemployed individuals for up to 26 weeks from the date of disaster declaration, which is January 5, 2013.
Click here to apply for benefits, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
