TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued reemployment assistance updates on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard. As of July 20, DEO has paid 1,765,204 claimants a total of $10.99 billion ($10,990,571,541).

UPDATES:

• Pursuant to the CARES Act, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) provides an extra $600 weekly payment to all unemployment claimants and is 100% federally funded.
• States do not have the ability to extend FPUC. The last payment will be on claims for the claim week ending Saturday, July 25, 2020, per federal guidelines.
• Floridians who have filed claims and requested benefits before the week ending 7/25 will receive all the payments they are eligible for. 
• Claimants currently receiving unemployment benefits will continue to receive their state weekly benefit amount as long as they are eligible.

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 a claimant who has 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 a Reemployment Assistance claim 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 FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim" to apply and be considered for PUA. 

ADDITIONAL UPDATES:

• 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 that 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." 
• Governor Ron DeSantis has directed DEO to continue waiving the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through August 1, 2020.
• Additionally, the waiting week requirement will continue to be waived through August 1, 2020.

HOW TO APPLY FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:

• DEO has a mobile-friendly online application for individuals filing a new Reemployment Assistance claim 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.

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