Floridians, Unemployed Due To Hurricane Ian, Will Be Able To Apply Immediately For Benefits

Florida Phoenix

October 1, 2022

State officials announced on Saturday that they will waive work search reporting and other registration requirements for Floridians now unemployed due to Hurricane Ian.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle said that people living in FEMA disaster-declared counties who have lost employment due to the powerful storm can now apply for disaster unemployment assistance by going to Floridajobs.org.

“We’ve been working hard to make sure people can get back on their feet,” Eagle said at a press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis held in Fort Myers. “This is an event of no fault of their own, and we’re going to step in to help and make sure that people are as whole as can be.”

In addition, Eagle said the state wants to help businesses impacted by the storm. He’s requesting that business owners go to floridadisaster.biz and complete a survey so state officials can collect information to determine what those businesses need.

DeSantis also said that the state will soon be creating “disaster recovery centers” in Lee, Charlotte and other counties affected by the storm.

Those centers will include “insurance villages” that Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will be setting up, “so people can come in and meet with the carriers and make their claims,” the governor said.

The Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news site that’s free of advertising and free to readers, covers state government and politics through a mix of in-depth stories, briefs, and social media updates on the latest events, editorial cartoons, and progressive commentary. The Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.