State extends deadline to apply for Irma-related unemployment benefits

Were you unable to work after Hurricane Irma?

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity extended the deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance until Oct. 31.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Irma. The assistance is available to residents who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and who worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment.

They also have to meet one of the following criteria as a result of Hurricane Irma: 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, the agency said.

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. DUA is available for the weeks of unemployment beginning Sept. 10, 2017 until March 17, 2018, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of Irma.

To file a DUA claim, go to www.floridajobs.org or call 1-800-385-3920. For DUA claims information, call 1-800-204-2418 and choose option 2 to speak to a customer service representative.

This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 9:47 AM with the headline "State extends deadline to apply for Irma-related unemployment benefits."