The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is providing daily updates on the efforts made to address the challenges to Florida’s Reemployment Assistance program in response to COVID-19. This includes a new State Reemployment Assistance Claims Dashboard that will be updated daily to reflect the total number of Reemployment Assistance Claims submitted, verified, processed, and paid.
State Reemployment Assistance Claims Dashboard
The State Reemployment Assistance Claims Dashboard will be available here and updated daily to reflect the following information:
Reemployment Assistance Claims Paid
From Sunday, March 15 to Monday, April 20, DEO has made 281,408 payments to Floridians in Reemployment Assistance benefits totaling $125,574,729. This includes 94,909 individual Floridians who applied for Reemployment Assistance benefits after March 15.
Over the last two weeks, 131,770 payments for $600 have been mailed or direct deposited to Floridians for their benefits available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. These checks were provided by paper to ensure they were distributed as quickly as possible. Floridians who received their $600 check will receive their state benefits for Reemployment Assistance via direct deposit or prepaid debit card based on their selection made. DEO remains committed to getting benefits out to eligible Floridians as quickly as possible.
Necessary upgrades used to enhance the performance of the CONNECT system made over the weekend made the large increase in claims paid possible. While this significant increase will not happen everyday, the upgrades allow there to be more consistency in the processing and payment of claims moving forward.
Reemployment Assistance Claims Processed
From Sunday, March 15 – Monday, April 20, 2020, 170,380 claims have received a monetary determination.
This means that a decision has been made on whether the claimant is monetarily eligible to receive Reemployment Assistance benefits and what the amount of their weekly benefits will be.
Reemployment Assistance Claims Verification
From Sunday, March 15 – Monday, April 20, 2020, 664,027 claims are currently being verified through the four-step verification process.
This means that an individual’s identity is being verified, DEO is checking their wages in Florida and other states and a fraud prevention check is being run on the claim.
Reemployment Assistance Initial Claims Received
DEO is seeing historic increases in Floridians filing for Reemployment Assistance and has received 1,648,848 applications for Reemployment Assistance from March 15 through Monday, April 20. This number includes multiple duplicates and triplicates due to many individuals filing directly in CONNECT, online and by paper. We are going through the process of identifying duplicates and triplicates; and currently have 668,323 confirmed unique claims of the total claims submitted.
*Florida Reemployment Assistance claim numbers are not official until the U.S. Department of Labor releases them each Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Technology Enhancements
Over the weekend, DEO conducted necessary upgrades to enhance the performance capability of CONNECT. These upgrades are allowing the system to process claims faster so that individuals filing for Reemployment Assistance can be paid as soon as possible.
DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to help with processing claims. CONNECT will only be available from 8 a.m. – 7:59 p.m. daily.
Importantly, this will not affect individuals that are filing a new claim. Individuals can file a new claim 24 hours a day, seven days per week, please click here.
Waiving Red Tape
At the Direction of Governor DeSantis, Secretary Satter is working with the U.S. Department of Labor to identify any regulatory burdens that can be waived to ensure that claims are processed and paid quickly. Additionally, Governor DeSantis has suspended the bi-weekly reporting requirement. This means individuals do not have to log into CONNECT every two weeks to claim their weeks of reemployment assistance.
CARES Act Update
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides unemployment benefits to those that may not otherwise be eligible for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits. This includes individuals who are self-employed or independent contractors. DEO will provide more information on PUA and how to apply in the coming week.
How to Apply
DEO has a mobile-friendly online application for individuals filing a new Reemployment Assistance claim available at www.FloridaJobs.org/RAApplication. Click here to read more.
For more information about Reemployment Assistance benefits, including how to apply, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. For the Reemployment Assistance Resource Guide which includes frequently asked questions, please click here.
About DEO
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.floridajobs.org.
