TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued reemployment assistance updates on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard. As of August 17, DEO has paid 1,883,279 claimants a total of nearly $13.9 billion ($13,890,124,891). More than 3.3 million (3,388,634) unique claims have been processed, representing 97.5% of unique claims submitted. 

PAYMENT PROGRESS:

• 99.8 percent of all eligible benefits requested prior to July 31, 2020 for state Reemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) have been paid to claimants. Additionally, 99.9 percent of all eligible benefits requested by claimants prior to July 31, 2020 have also received their corresponding Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits for that week.
• If a claimant has not received benefits or all of the benefits they believe they are entitled to, they should:
  • Check that they have requested benefits;
  • Check that the weeks they are requesting are eligible weeks; and 
  • Check that their account information in CONNECT is up-to-date and accurate.
• If a claimant needs additional assistance, they should call the Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-833-FL-APPLY.
• The Department continues to work to modify claim effective dates as appropriate. The requests for these benefits are not included in this data. 

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 a claimant who has 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 a Reemployment Assistance claim 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 FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim" to apply and be considered for PUA. 

ADDITIONAL UPDATES:

• DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to process claims and payments. CONNECT will be available from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily. This schedule does not affect individuals that wish to file a new claim. Individuals can file a new claim 24 hours a day, seven days per week at www.FloridaJobs.organd select "File a Claim." 
• Governor DeSantis has directed DEO to continue waiving the work search, work registration requirements and waiting week requirement for claimants through September 5, 2020.
• The Department has recently shared a video to help claimants understand claim messages and statuses in CONNECT. This video can be viewed here.
• The Department has updated benefit payment statuses to reflect the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments in CONNECT. To better understand a claimant's Reemployment Assistance weekly benefit payment status, view the step by step guide here and the video here.

HOW TO APPLY FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:

• DEO has a mobile-friendly online application for individuals filing a new Reemployment Assistance claim 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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