TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued reemployment assistance updates on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard. As of October 15, DEO has paid 2,046,529 claimants a total of $17.4 billion ($17,422,776,970). More than 4 million (4,097,536) unique claims have been processed, representing 99.1% of unique claims submitted. 

UPDATES:
Additional Weeks of Reemployment Assistance:

Each year, the maximum number of weeks available to Reemployment Assistance claimants is calculated based on the average unemployment rate for the most recent third calendar year quarter.

• The maximum duration of benefits is twelve weeks if this statewide average unemployment rate is at or below 5 percent.
• An additional week is added to the maximum duration for each 0.5 percentage point increment in the statewide average unemployment rate above 5 percent.

The maximum number of weeks available to claimants filing for Reemployment Assistance after January 1, 2021 is calculated based on the three-month average statewide unemployment rate for the months of July, August and September 2020.

• The preliminary average 2020 third quarter statewide unemployment rate is 8.7 percent. Based on this, the expected maximum number of benefit weeks for claimants filing for Reemployment Assistance after January 1, 2021 will be 19 weeks.
• The final number of maximum Reemployment Assistance benefit weeks will be calculated on November 20, 2020 when the final September 2020 unemployment rate is released. 

PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION:

• The Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, offered through the federal CARES Act and administered by DEO, provides up to 13 weeks of benefits to claimants who exhausted their Reemployment Assistance benefits. Floridians will need to apply for PEUC benefits once the balance of their current claim is exhausted. Floridians who have already exhausted their benefits or have Reemployment Assistance claims that expired after July 1, 2019, will also be able to apply. 
  
  

PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:

• The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program provides unemployment benefits to those that may not otherwise be eligible under Florida’s state Reemployment Assistance program, including independent contractors and individuals who are self-employed. Individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 and believe they may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, can visit www.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim" to apply and be considered for PUA. 

ADDITIONAL UPDATES:

• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has been dedicated to paying eligible Floridians the reemployment assistance benefits they are owed as quickly as possible while improving the customer experience and promoting more efficient claims processing. 
• Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Centers are available today, Friday, October 16, from 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. for all account inquiries and questions and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 19. On Saturday, October 17 – Sunday, October 18, staff resources will be dedicated to processing claims and payments.
• CONNECT will be available from 8:00 a.m. – 7:59 p.m. on Friday, October 16 and 8:00 a.m. – 4:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18.
• 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 at www.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim."  
• Governor Ron DeSantis has directed DEO to continue waiving the work search and work registration requirements for claimants. These requirements will continue to be waived through December 5, 2020.
• Additionally, the waiting week requirement will continue to be waived through December 5, 2020.

HOW TO APPLY FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:

• DEO has a mobile-friendly online application for individuals filing a new Reemployment Assistance claim, which is available here. For a step by step guide on how to apply read more here. For the Reemployment Assistance Resource Guide which includes frequently asked questions, please click here. For additional information about Reemployment Assistance benefits visit www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. 

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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