Reemployment Assistance Updates
Federal Reemployment Assistance Benefits
- Florida will end its participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, the $300 per week supplemental FPUC payment, effective June 26, 2021, as part of DEO’s ‘Return to Work’ initiative.
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In addition, as Florida opted out of the FPUC program, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) is requiring that Florida end its participation in the Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program, effective June 26, 2021.
The additional federal Reemployment Assistance benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) will continue for the time being as DEO continues to carefully monitor job posting and industry hiring trends. These additional federal benefit programs are set to expire on September 6, 2021.
- For more information, click here.
Return to Work Initiative
Waivers
Job Opportunities
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The state of Florida has more than 460,000 online job ads available for Floridians. Click here for more information.
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DEO is also hiring across the state. To view a list of vacant opportunities and apply to work at DEO, click here.
Identity Verification and Theft
- DEO has recently provided claimants the option to verify their identity through ID.me, if they have a "locked" claim status.
- If a claimant has already verified their identity through ID.me, the claimant does not need to re-verify their claim. However, you may be prompted to login to ID.me using multifactor authentication throughout the Reemployment Assistance claims process.
- If the claimant has a "locked" claim status, the link to verify their identity can be found on their CONNECT homepage. For more information about ID.me, click here.
- DEO also provided an identity theft toolkit which details what Floridians should do if they are a victim of identity theft and steps they should take to mitigate fraudulent activity on their account. To view the identity theft toolkit, click here.
- Any new claimant filing for Reemployment Assistance will need to verify their identity through ID.me. For more information about ID.me visit the claimant resource page, here.
- DEO launched an online fraud form providing Floridians the opportunity to report instances of Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft. If someone is aware of any instance of Reemployment Assistance fraud or believes they are a victim of Reemployment Assistance identity theft, please click here and select the “Online Fraud Form” to provide the Department with additional information about fraudulent claims.
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.
Employer Updates
- Individuals not returning to work when work is available or do not show good cause in refusing an offer of work could potentially be disqualified from receiving Reemployment Assistance benefits. This also applies to the federal benefit programs authorized under the CARES Act and Continued Assistance Act.
- If a prospective employee refuses an offer to work, employers can report this refusal to work through the Reemployment Assistance Help Center.
- Florida’s reemployment tax rate computation for 2021 was recently revised as a result of a new law. For more information, click here.
- The Florida Department of Revenue will also be providing revised RT-20s to employers. The Department of Revenue has begun mailing the revised RT-20's to contributory employers. The Tax Information Publication (TIP) about the Reemployment Tax changes can be found online, here.
- The due date for payment of reemployment tax for the quarter that ended March 31, 2021, has been extended to May 31, 2021. This extension applies only to the payment; to be considered timely, employers must complete and file the Employer’s Quarterly Report (Form RT-6) no later than April 30, 2021.
- DEO has developed additional guides for employers to better understand how to navigate the CONNECT system. To view these guides, click here
Helpful documents and information relating to Reemployment Assistance
Under the CARES Act, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) is available for eligible applicants who are currently receiving regular state Reemployment Assistance benefits. FPUC is an additional $600 distributed weekly in addition to state Reemployment Assistance benefits. Due to the system upgrades in CONNECT, DEO is able to issue the additional $600 payments in multiple ways. If you are eligible and have previously provided a bank account in the CONNECT system, you will receive a direct deposit to your account. If you did not provide your bank account, you will receive a check to the mailing address provided on your account.
Disclaimer: The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their employees on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. If your employer is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program, this may affect your eligibility for state or federal Reemployment Assistance programs.
Reemployment Assistance Waivers
Reemployment Assistance Waivers
Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to continue waiving the waiting week requirement for claimants through June 26, 2021.
The work search and work registration requirements will continue to be waived through May 29, 2021.
- Pursuant to federal law, claimants will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits or “claim their weeks.” In doing so, claimants will confirm that they are still unemployed and acknowledge that you are able and available for work. Answers to work search questions are still required to process your claim in the CONNECT system but will not impact benefit payments.
- By completing the is process, a claimant’s request for payment is submitted for their weeks of unemployment, even when the claim is pending for review. For weeks beginning May 10, 2020, you must claim your weeks in order to receive benefits. Claimants will be able to request a benefit payment for each week available.