TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued its weekly Reemployment Assistance updates. Daily updates can be found on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard.

PAYMENT PROGRESS:

• As of July 12, DEO has paid 2,401,266 claimants more than $30.7 billion ($30,789,571,052). Over 5.5 million (5,565,937) unique claims have been processed, representing 99.0 percent of unique claims submitted. 
• 97.3 percent of all eligible benefits requested prior to June 18, 2021, 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 for weeks of unemployment prior to July 25, 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.
• DEO recommends that claimants and employers utilize the Reemployment Assistance Help Center—an online portal for claimants and employers to provide and receive additional information from DEO. This online resource continues to be updated with additional features for claimants and employers to notify DEO of instances of Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft, provide documentation to DEO, and has several resourceful materials for claimants or employers who have additional questions. To visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center, click here.  
• DEO would like to remind claimants that it is important to continue requesting benefits to receive payment. This video and guide may be helpful. 

UPDATES:

Reemployment Assistance Quarter Change

• Quarter Change: On a quarterly basis, pursuant to federal guidance, DEO must determine whether or not individuals who are currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) are instead eligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits.
• Claimants who are currently receiving PUA may need to take specific actions on their claim when they log-in to CONNECT and request benefit payments after July 1 2021, when the new quarter comes into effect.
• In the coming days, 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 Fact Sheet

CONNECT Hours

• DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to process claims and payments. CONNECT's regularly scheduled hours are from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily, Monday - Friday.
• Beginning Saturday, July 17, through Sunday, July 18, CONNECT will be unavailable to claimants while the Department works to continue to process payments, and send necessary correspondence to claimants. CONNECT will be available Monday, July 19, at 8:00 a.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 atwww.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, July 17, through Sunday, July 18, staff resources will be dedicated to processing claims and payments. The Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center will reopen Monday, July 19, at 7:30 a.m.
• For additional questions, please visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center. This online portal can assist claimants or employers provide additional information to DEO. Individuals can also notify DEO of suspected Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft. To access this new online portal, click here.

Additional Resources

• If an individual is not eligible to receive Reemployment Assistance benefits, there are additional resources readily available to Floridians and their families.

• DEO, in partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), provide additional opportunities and resources for Florida families who need additional assistance. Resources include food assistance for low-income households, medical assistance, and temporary financial assistance to families who qualify. For more information, 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.

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