IMPORTANT UPDATES AND INFORMATION

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.
  • DEO has developed additional guides for employers to better understand how to navigate the CONNECT system. To view these guides, click here.

Reemployment Tax Rate

  • The Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, which pays Reemployment Assistance benefits to eligible unemployed workers, is funded by Reemployment taxes paid by employers. There are two types of employers, contributory and reimbursing.
  • Contributory employers may be relieved of benefit charges associated with COVID-19. This means that Reemployment Assistance benefits that former employees receive because they were separated from work as a direct result of COVID-19 may not be used in computing the employer’s future Reemployment tax rate. This exception also applies to contributory employers who are participating in the Short-Time Compensation Program, but the exception does not apply to reimbursing employers.
  • Contributory employers will receive a Notice of Benefits Paid (Form RT-1) and reimbursing employers will receive a Reimbursement Invoice (Form RT-29) on a quarterly basis, which shows the debits and credits to the employer’s account for benefits paid to their former employees.
  • Contributory employers should follow the protest instructions contained within Form RT-1 if they disagree with the charges. Even though contributory employers may be relieved of charges for employment separations that were a direct result of COVID-19, they still need to respond to the Notice of Claim.

 

The Reemployment Assistance (RA) program provides temporary, partial wage replacement benefits to qualified workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.  It is funded solely by employers who pay federal and state payroll taxes and is provided at no cost to the workers who receive the benefits.

Employer Password Reset Form

If you are an employer that needs to reset their password, please visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center to request to have a password reset for CONNECT sent to the email on record after verifying details about your business. Select 'I am an Employer' and then select, 'I need to reset my employer password'.

File a Response

As an employer, it is required that you respond to all documents and forms electronically using Florida’s RA claims system, CONNECT, unless otherwise exempt. It is important that you respond in a timely manner in order to properly manage your reemployment tax, benefit charges and prevent RA fraud.

UI SIDES & SIDES E-Response

UI SIDES and SIDES E–Response have the potential to significantly improve the RA information exchange process. While the best option depends on your specific business needs, both systems offer significant benefits

File an Appeal

An employer who receives an adverse determination has the right to protest that determination and participate in a hearing before an appeals referee. Employer appeals are filed online using CONNECT. Upon receiving an appeal, a hearing will be scheduled involving all interested parties to address the issues. The parties will be mailed a Notice of Hearing telling them when the hearing will be held. 

Tax Information

Find out more about reemployment tax laws and rules.

Employer FAQs

A collection of the most frequently asked questions to help assist and guide employers through the RA program.

RESOURCES

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