Disaster Unemployment Assistance for those impacted by Hurricane Irma

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Brevard residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of Hurricane Irma.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to those who:

Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment;

  • Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state: and
  • Due to the disaster:
    • Are not able to work or perform services because of physical damage of 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 as a direct result of the disaster; or
  • Became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of household.

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

The deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is October 31, 2017.

Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause.

To file a DUA claim go to http://www.floridajobs.org/ or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available to assist claimants:

  • Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
  • Saturday from 8:00 a.m.to 3:00 p.m., and
  • Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For DUA claims information call 1-800-204-2418 and choose option 2 to speak to a customer service representative.

**DEO is experiencing higher than average call volumes, so customers may experience longer wait times when calling.**

Applications filed after the October 31, 2017, deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause. 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. In some cases, additional documentation may be required. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the DUA application is filed.