As a result, only 7,149 Floridians were able to submit applications for DUA. Only 35% or 2,434 of the eligible applications received benefits from the program. It is the lowest rate in the history of Florida in 30 years.
“The Scott Administration’s failure to deliver disaster unemployment aid after Irma was symptomatic of his administration’s worst-in-the-nation state unemployment program,” according to NELP.
In addition, NELP said Gov. Scott has the worst record in helping jobless workers and business owners compared with any Florida governor in three decades.
Looking at the table above, it shows that the lowest number of DUA claims (5,087) happened after Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. However, NELP described it as a “statistical anomaly” because Hurricane Jeanne was the fourth storm that year. Many Floridians already applied and received DUA after Hurricane Jeanne.
Last year, Gov. Scott said his administration received federal Dislocated Worker Grants to provide temporary jobs to people.
