Florida Unemployment Extension

Florida Unemployment Extension

Unemployment benefits, popularly known as Reemployment Assistance in Florida, are given to people who are unemployed through no fault of their own and meet state-defined eligibility requirements. However, ever since the Coronavirus pandemic spread across Florida, the state made several changes to the eligibility requirements. In this detailed article, we will guide you through every little detail pertaining to unemployment benefits in Florida. 

Extended Unemployment Benefits In Florida

Recently the DEO announced that if the unemployment rate exceeds 5% in the third quarter, it will roll out benefits for extended weeks. The extended benefit weeks would come into effect in January 2021. The Department further added that it calculates the state’s number of weeks for Reemployment Assistance based on the recent third calendar year quarter’s average unemployment rate. 

DEO is said to add six weeks of extended weeks in December 2020. Generally, Florida provides 12 weeks of unemployment benefits. With extended benefits, the duration is capped at a total of 23 weeks. 

Who Qualifies For Extended Unemployment Benefits In Florida?

To qualify for the extended unemployment benefits, you must exhaust your payment received through Reemployment Assistance and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. If you have already exhausted your FEUC benefits, you can apply for the PUA program since extended benefits have not rolled out yet. 

Note that the Department is setting up systems to roll out the extended benefits as early as possible. Once Extended Benefits, the Department will outreach the qualified to ensure they are receiving benefits through the program.

 

Unemployment Benefits In Florida During The Pandemic 

Millions of Americans lost their job as a direct result of the pandemic. To help the unemployed meet their needs during the crisis, President Donald Trump announced The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Act included several provisions like extended benefits, unemployment benefits for those who otherwise did not qualify for benefits, etc. 

After consulting and receiving guidelines from the U.S. Department Of Labor (DOL), the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) began implementing various unemployment benefits in Florida. 

The unemployment benefits programs implemented in the state under the CARES Act are as follows:

1. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

PUA is aimed at providing benefits to unemployed gig workers, independent contractors, self-employed, and others who do not qualify for regular benefits. Under this program, you can receive benefits for up to 39 weeks. The program is expected to end in December 2020. 

2. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Under this program, those who qualified for Reemployment Assistance and PUA received $600 additional weekly unemployment benefits. This program expired on July 25 and was replaced by $300 extra weekly benefits. 

3. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

PEUC program provides unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks. To qualify for this program, you must exhaust the benefits received through the Reemployment Assistance program. The program is expected to end in December 2020. 

Note – You are required to renew your PUA or PEUC applications every new quarter. To know more about it visit the DEO website.

Who Qualifies For Unemployment Benefits In Florida During The Pandemic?

Generally, to qualify for regular Florida unemployment benefits, you should meet work search requirements apart from being unemployed through no fault of your own. However, due to the pandemic, the DEO has waived the work search and online work registration requirements until December 2020. 

Though these eligibility criteria have been waived, you may still see the requirement pop-up when certifying your weeks. In such a situation, enter “COVID19” in the field to get past the work search requirement.

Latest Updates On Unemployment Benefits In The State

The Department of Economic Opportunity has clarified various aspects of the unemployment benefits in the state. Here, let’s have a look at a few among them. 

1. Over Payment

If you have been overpaid, make sure you do not spend the extra money. This is because: 

  • The Department may ask you to return it 
  • The Department may deduct the amount from your future benefits to make up for the difference

Note that the DEO will contact you if it suspects overpayment.

2. Going Back To Work

If you have begun taking a job, you may continue to request benefits for the weeks you were unemployed. If there is a week that overlaps with the week that you took up a job, you must indicate that you have worked and earned wages during that week. 

If you have taken up a full-time job or earned over $275 in gross wages during the overlapping week, then you will not qualify for benefits that week. However, if you have earned less than $275, you may qualify for benefits.

3. Backdating Unemployment Claims 

The Department has announced backdating unemployment claims. To backdate your regular claim, call the authorities at 833-FL-APPLY (1–833–352- 7759). If you are a PUA beneficiary, you need not take any additional steps. You will be automatically backdated, depending on your total claim that shows when you were unemployed. 

Note that the Department is said to conduct a fact-finding to cross-check if the date you requested is accurate when backdating claims. It is important to know that backdating regular claims may result in an overpayment which the Department will recover by deducting the amount from your PEUC. 

Keep checking your mail and CONNECT inbox to ensure you do not miss updates from DEO.

4. Account Is Blocked

Your account may be blocked or put on hold if there are any identity verification issues. You can reach out to the authorities at the legislative office with your Claimant ID and request them to unlock your account. 

 

The Department of Economic Opportunity is going the extra mile to help unemployed Floridians meet their end needs during the crisis. Do not worry if you have not yet received benefits. The Department may take some time due to enormous applications, but it will certainly pay you, provided you qualify for it. If you have already exhausted benefits, then patiently wait for the extended benefits while searching for a job.  

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)

EUC benefits are no longer available.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) was a federal extension after regular Florida reemployment assistance benefits. EUC benefits were broken into four tiers or levels:

  • EUC Tier I:  Provided up to 20 additional weeks of benefits.
  • EUC Tier II:  Provided up to 14 additional weeks of benefits.
  • EUC Tier III:  Provided up to 13 additional weeks of benefits.
  • EUC Tier IV:  Provided up to six additional weeks of benefits.

EUC benefits were available to claimants who exhausted all entitlement to regular benefits. The last week an individual can receive EUC under any tier is the week ending December 28, 2013.

In order to be eligible for EUC, your final regular reemployment assistance benefit payment must have been for the week ending December 21, 2013 or earlier. If you qualified, an EUC claim will be filed automatically and a determination letter will be sent to you within seven days after you claimed your last weeks of reemployment assistance.

If you  received EUC benefits and you received a final payment notice for  EUC Tier I, II, or III, you received a determination letter of monetary entitlement in the mail and were automatically be enrolled in the next level of EUC. However, the last week payable on the EUC program was the week ending December 28, 2013 regardless of any benefits remaining on the claim.

 

  1. The laws were changed by Rick Scott and the Republicans in the Florida. This state has the worst benefits in the country. The Republications call these benefits that you’ve worked for all of life ” FREE ENTITLEMENTS”..

      • Agree that unemployment compensation is the absolute worst in the state of Florida than any other state I’ve researched. Florida has become equal to a third world country.

  2. I agree, Fl’s policy on this is very interesting coupled with increased cost of living in FL. Someone whom is making these decisions is clearly disconnected and/or uncaring on reality as it relates to those trying to reinsert themselves in this vey complex market. WOW!

    • Yes it does. Never have I ask for help at 69, but I lost my husband immediately in a motorcycle accident 10/22/21. Then my job 1/24/22. I have no money and can’t get a job!!!!! U has to leave my city down south and move all I had by myself, because of no money!! To live with my mom!! I’m grateful but 12 weeks when ever other state has 32 weeks!!??

  3. To all readers,

    Being steadily employed for several years and now looking since my company closed, I share the frustration with the lack of support from a system that we all pay into for years. It would appear to be that this system is a government enforced scam and broken.

    • I was employed with the same Company for 7 years. My unemployment runs out at the end of this month. No Extensions in Florida, WOW! So, I’m 60 years old, a female and if I cant find a job, then what?

      • Cheryl,

        The E.U.C(Emergency Unemployment Compensation) remains expired. There is no extension available. Please inquire further with the labor authorities in your state by calling them.

  4. its a max benefit of 2988 for earnings of 25012 I don’t see the figure as being correct and if this is insurance how can they tax it

    • Its unreal! I moved up to Massachusetts and they all you to collect 26 weeks plus in some cases and up to $670.00 per week. I made 60k a year for several years and all FL will pay is $275 a week for ONLY 12 WEEKS!!! Seems inhumane.

    • Tommy,

      Please provide details surrounding your question. Let us know the source of the figure you’ve quoted.

  5. I too do not understand this system older workers are being discriminated against by business and now unemployment, i have been out of work for over a year with just the 12 weeks compensation while colleague who got laid off at the right time and were supported by the state for much longer. This seems like a political decision and not based on need, I have paid into the system for decades and never had a claim and now when I have needed help I ended up on the street due to the lack of jobs available for older citizens.

    • Jeff,

      I can understand your frustration.I am pretty sure age has nothing to do with the weeks a claimant is approved for. Having said this, you may want to speak to the authorities for clarification.

  6. Please explain why I have been paying for Unemployment Insurance for over 42 years and now that I need it,I only qualify for 12 weeks.To say that this is fair is just idiotic.

    • Tim,

      I can understand your frustration. The weeks are determined on multiple factors. I suggest you call the Claims Center to get an explanation.

  7. My unemployment sas that’s it’s exhausted after 3 months of benifits. What are my options, as I have been looking for a job with no luck. What are my options from here onwards?

    • The E.U.C(Emergency Unemployment Compensation) remains expired. There is no extension available. Please inquire further with the labor authorities in your state by calling them.

  8. My claim was effective 07/24/2016, my benefit year end date is 07/23/2017; however, my account status says it is exhausted… why is that when it says that it will expire within a year?

    • From what I understand, it seems that there is no money left in your account or all the benefits weeks were claimed.

      You may call the Claims Center for further information.

  9. I have just been told that I only have 12 weeks of UI benefits. What happens when that runs out and why is it only 12 weeks? I was searching for jobs six months before I even applied for UI benefits and now I only have months of help. Are there extensions available? Am I able to extend those benefits to what the maximum term of (I think 20 weeks) or is there anything I can to to get benefits past my 12 weeks? Am I able to re-apply for new benefits when the 12 eeks run out?
    Thank you

    • Each claimant is approved a fixed number of benefit weeks of up to 26 weeks on the basis of eligibility

      Please note there is no federal extension available. You can call the Unemployment Office in your state for further information.

  10. CAN SOMEONE PLESE CALL ME I HAVE BEEN ON HOLD FOR 2 HOURS AND IF I DONT NOT SPEAK TO SOMEONE BY A CERTAIN TIME MY CASE IS NO LONGER ELIGABLE

    • Please note this is not a govt. website and we do not have access to your claim information.

      Follow up on the phone numbers provided.

  11. I have $552.00 dollars of unemployment left and todays date is 11/12/2015 can i get an extention?. I have been job hunting like crazy and can’t find anything yet.

    • The E.U.C(Emergency Unemployment Compensation) remains expired. There is no extension available. Please inquire further with the labor authorities in your state by calling them.

  12. Since there are so many people still out of work, why isn’t an extension of benefits been put in place. I am now 60 and this is the longest time since Jan 2014 that I have not worked and I only received 16 weeks of Fl unemployment, for which I have lived since 11 months old. Now at my age and 2014 graduates I feel someone needs to look into this and give us a reason why Dec 28, 2013 is the cut off date for extensions.
    Thanks, awaiting your immediate reply

    • You want to know why there is no more Unemployment Extension? Stupid working class now out of work people voting for rich and greedy republicans who think anyone one on unemployment is to lazy to go out and get another job.

  13. How long will this go on for? When will the extension in Florida happen? People who have not found jobs yet are looking at loosing their homes. We worked many years and now need help and can not count on congress to help us. Everything is a priority as we are not. This is not fair to all of us. Please do the right thing as many others are suffering trying to help us. Please!

  14. I have just completed my UI benefits in SC, but was laid off in FL in Dec 2013. Am I eligible for UI benefits in Fl?

  15. I have five weeks of unemployment left. I have been interviewing and have several possibilities; if I am not employed by then, do I qualify for an extension of benefits?

    Thank you so much,

    Maureen

  16. I read something about Florida’s unemployment benefits are 100% federally funded, how can this be? I have received benefit checks since August 2013 and now received a letter saying “Emergency Unemployment Compensation is Ending. Does this apply to me? Why am I on “emergency” compensation as I have only been receiving since August 2013?

  17. Im just filed for EUC benefits with PA and just move to FL what do I do can I just keep filing with pa or do I have to transfer to FL.

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