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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Provides Weekly Reemployment Assistance Update – December 1

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) today issued weekly Reemployment Assistance updates. Daily updates can be found on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard.

PAYMENT PROGRESS

  • As of November 30, DEO has paid 2,119,166 claimants nearly $18.9 billion ($18,890,253,196). Nearly 4.5 million (4,492,758) unique claims have been processed, representing 99% of unique claims submitted.
  • 99.6 percent of all eligible benefits requested prior to November 13, 2020, for state Reemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) have been paid to claimants. Additionally, 99.9 percent of all eligible benefits requested by claimants prior to November 13, 2020, have also received their corresponding Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits for that week.
  • If a claimant has not received benefits or all of the benefits they believe they are entitled to, they should:
  • Check that they have requested benefits;
  • Check that the weeks they are requesting are eligible weeks; and
  • Check that their account information in CONNECT is up-to-date and accurate.
  • If a claimant needs additional assistance, they should call the Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-833-FL-APPLY.
  • The Department continues to work to modify claim effective dates as appropriate. The requests for these benefits are not included in this data.
  • The Department would like to remind claimants that it is important to continue requesting benefits to receive payment. This video and guide may be helpful.
UPDATES:
  • Waivers: Governor Ron DeSantis has directed DEO to continue waiving the work search and work registration requirements for claimants. These requirements will continue to be waived through January 2, 2021.
  • Additionally, the waiting week requirement will continue to be waived through December 26, 2020.
  • Ability and Availability Form: The Department has begun sending communication to claimants who have Ability and/or Availability issues on their claim.
  • In order to resolve the issue, claimants are requested to provide further information so the Department can determine eligibility for weeks requested.
  • The affected weeks depends on the specifics of the issue. For further information, claimants can review the specific issues by signing into their CONNECT account and clicking on “Determination, Pending Issue, and Decision Summary” for a list of the pending issues on their claim.
  • The Department is working as quickly as possible to review the responses to the form. The sooner claimants complete the form in its entirety, the sooner the Department will be able provide a determination on the issue. It is important to note that this form is only for an ability and/or availability issue. If claimants have other issues on their claim, those will need to be resolved separately.
  • CONNECT Hours: 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, Monday – Friday.
  • On Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, CONNECT will be available 8:00 a.m. – 4:59 p.m.
  • 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.”
  • Customer Service Centers: Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Centers are available this week Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. for all account inquiries and questions. On Saturday, December 5 – Sunday, December 6, staff resources will be dedicated to processing claims and payments. The Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center will reopen Monday, December 7, at 7:30 a.m.
  • Job Opportunities: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is hiring across the state. To view a list of vacant opportunities, visit here.
  • For information regarding Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants, Floridians should visit careersourceflorida.com/your-local-team to find a local Career Center.
CARES ACT BENEFITS
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.