Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The Department of Economic Opportunity is releasing regular reemployment assistance updates, including updated application procedures for Florida assistance, as well as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. See below for the latest information:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued reemployment assistance updates on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard. As of May 7, DEO has paid 494,944 claimants a total of nearly $1.2 billion. Of the 494,944 claimants paid, 20,579 individuals received Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. As of May 7, more than $10.1 million has been paid to claimants for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
Updates:
· Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to waive the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through May 30, 2020. Pursuant to federal law, claimants will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits. In so doing, claimants will confirm that they are still unemployed due to COVID-19 and acknowledge that they are able and available for work should it be offered. For more information, click here.
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.
· Click here for PUA Application Process.
· Click here for PUA Frequently Asked Questions.
· Click here for COVID-19 Employment Scenarios.
· 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 UPDATES:
· DEO will be continuing to process claims and making payments over the weekend and will be unavailable to existing claimants. 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 FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim."
· Individuals who have general questions that are not claim specific can call 1-833 FL APPLY (1-833-352-7759) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Claimants can log-in again starting Monday, May 11 at 8:00 a.m.
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.
Updates:
· Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to waive the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through May 30, 2020. Pursuant to federal law, claimants will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits. In so doing, claimants will confirm that they are still unemployed due to COVID-19 and acknowledge that they are able and available for work should it be offered. For more information, click here.
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.
· Click here for PUA Application Process.
· Click here for PUA Frequently Asked Questions.
· Click here for COVID-19 Employment Scenarios.
· 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 UPDATES:
· DEO will be continuing to process claims and making payments over the weekend and will be unavailable to existing claimants. 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 FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim."
· Individuals who have general questions that are not claim specific can call 1-833 FL APPLY (1-833-352-7759) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Claimants can log-in again starting Monday, May 11 at 8:00 a.m.
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.
Short Time Compensation Program (Florida Department of Economic Opportunity)
The Short Time Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees.
If an employer establishes a Short Time Compensation Plan and an employee meets the qualifications to file a re-employment assistance claim in the state of Florida, the employee will receive a partial re-employment check to supplement their reduced paycheck.
EMPLOYERS: To apply for the Short Time Compensation Program (required for employees to submit a re-employment claim), please follow this link to the Employer Login page of CONNECT.
EMPLOYEES & EMPLOYERS: More information on the FL DEO’s Short Time Compensation Program
If an employer establishes a Short Time Compensation Plan and an employee meets the qualifications to file a re-employment assistance claim in the state of Florida, the employee will receive a partial re-employment check to supplement their reduced paycheck.
EMPLOYERS: To apply for the Short Time Compensation Program (required for employees to submit a re-employment claim), please follow this link to the Employer Login page of CONNECT.
EMPLOYEES & EMPLOYERS: More information on the FL DEO’s Short Time Compensation Program
Restaurant Workers COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund
The Restaurant Workers Community Foundation has a crisis relief fund for the workers. Their assistance has been mainly for medical matters, but their board has approved directing funds to COVID-19 for the present: 50% direct relief to workers; 25% for non-profit organizations serving the workers in crisis, and 25% for zero-interest loans to restaurants to get back up and running. They are still raising funds for the relief, but you can stay up to date on availability and use them as a resource of other beneficial options.
Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information
The James Beard Foundation Micro Grant
To help bring swift economic relief to these essential businesses, the James Beard Foundation is launching a fund
that will be gathering support from corporate, foundation, and individual donors to provide micro-
grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need.
Click Here for more information
that will be gathering support from corporate, foundation, and individual donors to provide micro-
grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need.
Click Here for more information
