Florida DEO has paid over $2.7 billion in reemployment assistance

Alyssa Parker

4 years ago

Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity has now paid 985,957 Florida claimants a total of over $2.71 billion, according to the agency’s ReEmployment Assistance dashboard. The agency also announced that Florida has been awarded $12 million in federal funding through the Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant in response to COVID-19. The grant will provide disaster relief employment in the form of temporary jobs, employment and training services, and supportive services to eligible Floridians.

Disaster relief employment includes humanitarian assistance and cleanup activities. These activities may involve:

Providing medicine, food and other supplies to individuals in need;
Assisting with setting up quarantine areas and providing assistance to quarantined individuals;
Working at food distribution centers and other community-support organizations;
Cleaning schools or sanitizing quarantine or treatment areas; and
Other activities related to organizing and coordinating recovery and quarantine efforts.

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.

According to the DEO, applicants should utilize the following criteria when applying for PUA:

Individuals who applied for the state’s Reemployment Assistance benefits on or after April 5, 2020, and were deemed ineligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits will receive additional application information from the Department. They can also visit www.FloridaJobs.org/cares-act for more information regarding these programs.

Pursuant to the requirements of the CARES Act, 20 C.F.R. 625.4, and section 443.036, F.S., those who are self-employed, contract employees, gig workers, or others who applied for the state’s Reemployment Assistance benefits on or before April 4, 2020, should apply at www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim” to request PUA.

Unemployed Floridians who have not yet applied for any benefit should apply at www.FloridaJobs.org and will be considered for all existing programs, including PUA.

Additional DEO Updates:

DEO has launched a new dashboard that allows for more transparency among the state’s Reemployment Assistance program. To view the updated dashboard, click here. For more information about the updated Reemployment Assistance (RA) claims Dashboard, view this short video.

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.org and select “File a Claim.”

DEO recently launched application for the Rebuild Florida General Planning Support Program, with $20 million in funding for eligible entities to develop or update plans which will enable the state to withstand future disasters.

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