AMERICAN RECOVERY and REINVESTMENT ACT of 2009
Office of Unemployment Compensation
Questions and Answers
- What immediate impact will the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have on Florida’s Unemployment Compensation program?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) creates two immediate impacts on Florida’s Unemployment Compensation services; they include Additional Weekly Benefits and Extended Time to Qualify for Benefits, as outlined below:
Additional Weekly Benefits - The Act provides for an additional $25 per week in benefits to all of Florida’s Unemployment Compensation recipients. This additional money will be paid on both regular state claims and Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims established by December 26, 2009. The ARRA also extends the time period in which eligibility for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) claims can be established.
Extended Time to Qualify for Benefits - While the new law does not extend the number of weeks that customers may be compensated for one claim, it does extend the time period in which eligibility for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) claims can be established. For example, customers who are claiming benefits when their regular state claim exhausts will automatically have an EUC claim established for them. For those who exhaust First Tier EUC benefits by December 26, 2009, a Second Tier EUC claim will automatically be established and can be claimed until June 2010.
- When can customers expect to begin receiving the additional $25 per month in unemployment compensation benefits?
Payment of the additional benefits is scheduled to begin by the end of March 2009.
- How will customers receive the additional benefits?
Payments will be issued to qualified unemployment compensation recipients. Subsequential payments will be issued bi-weekly in a payment separate from the regular unemployment compensation benefits. The federally funded increase will continue through July 3, 2010 for claims filed effective December 20, 2009 or earlier.
- Do customers have to apply for federal extensions or additional benefits?
People who exhaust their regular benefits now are automatically screened for extended benefits and no application is required. Those currently receiving benefits will automatically qualify for and receive the additional $25 in weekly benefits. All customers will need to continue to claim their weeks as usual.
- Does Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) or the additional $25 in benefits affect Florida’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund?
Both EUC and the additional $25 benefit are exclusively federally funded and are not paid out of the Trust Fund, nor do they obligate state governments or employers.
3/24/2009