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Government Help Available For Floridians, Georgians Who Lost Jobs Due To Hurricane Matthew

Ryan Benk
/
WJCT News

Florida and Georgia residents in certain counties who lost jobs as a result of Hurricane Matthew may be entitled to federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Florida residents in Flagler, St. Johns, Volusia and Putnam counties are urged to file claims if they think they might qualify. In Georgia, the qualifying counties are Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, McIntosh and Wayne.

The assistance program is administered by the states of Florida and Georgia. It’s meant for workers who become unemployed because of disasters and who do not qualify for regular reemployment assistance. 

The program covers also self-employed people, owners of farms and ranches, farm and ranch workers, and fishers.

Florida applicants must file by Nov. 18 at connect.myflorida.com. Georgia applicants should go to >

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is conducting assessments in other counties affected by Hurricane Matthew and expects to add them to the disaster declaration soon.

To file a Disaster Unemployment claim in Florida, go to connect.myflorida.com or call 1-800-681-8102.

In Georgia, go to dol.georgia.gov or visit an Georgia Department of Labor career center.

Jessica Palombo supervises local news gathering and production, podcasts and web editorial content for WJCT News, ADAPT and Jacksonville Today. She is an award-winning writer and journalist with bylines including NPR, Experience Magazine, and The Gainesville Sun. She has a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse University and is an alumna of the University of Florida. A nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville, she considers herself lucky to be raising her own children in her hometown. Follow Jessica Palombo on Twitter: @JaxJessicaP