TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued its weekly Reemployment Assistance updates. Daily updates can be found on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard.

PAYMENT PROGRESS:

• As of August 9, DEO has paid 2,410,133 claimants more than $31.2 billion ($31,244,655,999). Over 5.6 million (5,611,438) unique claims have been processed, representing 99.1 percent of unique claims submitted. 
• 97.5 percent of all eligible benefits requested prior to July 16, 2021, 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 for weeks of unemployment prior to July 25, 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.
• DEO recommends that claimants and employers utilize the Reemployment Assistance Help Center—an online portal for claimants and employers to provide and receive additional information from DEO. This online resource continues to be updated with additional features for claimants and employers to notify DEO of instances of Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft, provide documentation to DEO, and has several resourceful materials for claimants or employers who have additional questions. To visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center, click here.  
• DEO would like to remind claimants that it is important to continue requesting benefits to receive payment. This video and guide may be helpful. 

UPDATES:

• DEO, like many other states in the nation, has experienced recurring and malicious cyber threats to the Reemployment Assistance system by fraudulent actors.
• The DEO team has continued to ensure precautionary measures are in place to protect claimant information, including heightened security measures to protect access to claimant accounts.
• Due to these continued attacks, many claimants are being required to reset their CONNECT PIN in order to access their account. 

DEO is implementing the following steps to help claimants regain access to their CONNECT accounts:

• DEO Verify is now available for claimants to verify their identity to access their account. Claimants will receive email notification from the Department to access this verification tool. Claimants are encouraged to check their spam and junk mailboxes for notifications from the Department.
• Florida residents who have a valid driver’s license or identification card may verify their personal information with DEO Verify to receive a new PIN and instructions to access their CONNECT account. 
• Additionally, DEO will soon introduce multi-factor authentication measures in order for claimants to access CONNECT and to ensure their accounts remain secure. 
• The PIN reset guide also includes directions to reset credentials to access and assist with other login issues.
• DEO recommends that claimants use the updated Reemployment Assistance Help Center resource to notify the Department of any issues relating to their CONNECT account. Concerns submitted through this resource are routed quickly to appropriate DEO team members to review and assist. 
• We encourage all claimants to be vigilant in protecting personal information and to report any fraud online.

CONNECT Hours

• DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to process claims and payments. CONNECT's regularly scheduled hours are from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily, Monday - Friday.
• Beginning Saturday, August 14, through Sunday, August 15, CONNECT will be unavailable to claimants while the Department works to continue to process payments, and send necessary correspondence to claimants. CONNECT will be available Monday, August 16, at 8:00 a.m.
• 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 atwww.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim."  

Customer Service Centers

• Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Centers are available this week Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. for all account inquiries and questions. On Saturday, August 14, through Sunday, August 15, staff resources will be dedicated to processing claims and payments. The Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center will reopen Monday, August 16, at 7:30 a.m.
• For additional questions, please visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center. This online portal can assist claimants or employers provide additional information to DEO. Individuals can also notify DEO of suspected Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft. To access this new online portal, click here.

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. 

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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