The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) today issued reemployment assistance updates on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard. As of September 30, DEO has paid 2,019,838 claimants a total of nearly $16.9 billion ($16,877,607,624). Nearly 3.9 million (3,898,539) unique claims have been processed, representing 99.2% of unique claims submitted.
UPDATES:
- On a quarterly basis, pursuant to Federal guidance, DEO must determine whether or not individuals who are currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) are instead eligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits.
- Today, claimants who are currently receiving PUA or PEUC may need to take specific actions on their claim when they log-in to CONNECT and request benefit payments, when the new quarter comes into effect.
- Those claimants will receive an additional notification with specific instructions regarding their claim. Below is step-by-step instructions on what these claimants will need to do to ensure there is no break in receiving benefits.
- Click here for the Quarter Change PUA Step-by-Step Guide
- Click here for the Quarter Change PUA Questionnaire Video
- Click here for the Quarter Change PEUC Step-by-Step Guide
- Click here for the Quarter Change PEUC Questionnaire Video
- Click here for the Quarter Change Fact Sheet
- The Department encourages all individuals to log-in to CONNECT and ensure their contact information is accurate and up-to-date.
PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION:
- The Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, offered through the federal CARES Act and administered by DEO, provides up to 13 weeks of benefits to claimants who exhausted their Reemployment Assistance benefits. Floridians will need to apply for PEUC benefits once the balance of their current claim is exhausted. Floridians who have already exhausted their benefits or have Reemployment Assistance claims that expired after July 1, 2019, will also be able to apply.
PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:
- The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program provides unemployment benefits to those that may not otherwise be eligible under Florida’s state Reemployment Assistance program, including independent contractors and individuals who are self-employed. Individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 and believe they may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, can visit www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim” to apply and be considered for PUA.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES:
- Governor Ron DeSantis has directed DEO to continue waiving the work search and work registration requirements for claimants for an additional 90 days. These requirements will continue to be waived through December 5, 2020.
- Additionally, the waiting week requirement will continue to be waived through December 5, 2020.
- DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to process claims and payments. CONNECT will be available from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily.
- This schedule does not affect individuals who wish to file a new claim. Individuals can file a new claim 24 hours a day, seven days per week at www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim.”
HOW TO APPLY FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:
- DEO has a mobile-friendly online application for individuals filing a new Reemployment Assistance claim, which is available here. For a step by step guide on how to apply read more here. For the Reemployment Assistance Resource Guide which includes frequently asked questions, please click here. For additional information about Reemployment Assistance benefits visit www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19.
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.
