How To Collect Unemployment In Florida

When Will Your Unemployment Claim Be Processed How Many Weeks Can You Receive Benefit Payments

After your claim is filed and accepted, the state of Florida requires that you go through a waiting week during which no benefits will be paid to you. Overall, it will take about three to four weeks for you to receive your first payment. You can receive benefits for anywhere between 12 and 23 weeks depending on Floridas current unemployment rate.

Benefits will vary for each claimant and will be based on earnings from your base period. Your base period is based on the first four completed quarters within the past 18 months.

Florida Unemployment Claim Schedule

More on Florida Unemployment Claim Weeks

Currently, the state of Florida pays unemployment benefits by dividing your wages in your highest base period quarter by 26, and the maximum benefit anyone can earn is $275 per week.

To calculate the amount of your benefit, you can use this helpful Florida Unemployment Calculator.

Unemployment Benefits In Florida During The Covid

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill known as the American Rescue Plan . The law extended a $300 per week federal unemployment supplement until September 6, 2021. However, the state of Florida decided to end this supplement early on June 26, 2021, citing labor shortages. That means the unemployment supplement is no longer available in Florida.

ARP also extended two unemployment programs originally created by the CARES Act in March 2020: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation .

Under the PUA program, self-employed workersusually excluded from unemployment benefitsare entitled to unemployment if they meet certain criteria. ARP makes PUA benefits available through Labor Day 2021, and increases the maximum duration of these benefits from 50 to 79 weeks.

The PEUC program provides for a federally-funded extension of benefits when state unemployment benefits expire. ARP increases the maximum duration of PEUC benefits from 24 to 53 weeks, with an expiry date of September 4, 2021.

For up-to-date information on Florida’s rules on unemployment eligibility and amounts during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the state’s main unemployment page for claimants.

Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits No Longer Available

As of mid-August 2021, more than 11 million people were collecting some form of unemployment. This figure included the millions of employees who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and the steps state and local governments have taken to contain it. It included millions of gig workers, contractors, and self-employed people who were collecting unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. And, it included millions who were receiving temporary federal benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program because they were still unemployed when their state benefits ran out.

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If Youre Out Of Work In Florida You May Be Looking For Unemployment Benefits To Help You Stay Afloat Financially While Florida Does Have An Unemployment Insurance Program The Benefits It Offers Arent As Robust As Those In Some Other States

The Sunshine States maximum weekly benefit amount is typically just $275, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. Only two states offer less. And while most states offer benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks, Floridas usual maximum is just nine to 12 weeks, depending on the states unemployment rate and how much you made before becoming unemployed.

Still, if youve lost your job, its important to know how to apply for Florida unemployment benefits. Youll likely qualify for some form of support that you can use to pay your bills.

• What if my claim is rejected?

How Long Will My Unemployment Compensation Last

Floridas unemployment rate, the time you apply for unemployment benefits, determines how long you can receive compensation. Twenty-three weeks is the maximum number of weeks you can collect. Unless its during times of very high unemployment, such as during the Great Recession, you may apply for extended benefits or emergency unemployment compensation . However, right now, those programs are not available because of low unemployment rates.

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Do You Meet The Minimum Earnings Requirement

Virtually all states look at your recent work history and earnings during a one-year “base period” to determine your eligibility for unemployment. In Florida, as in most states, the base period is the earliest four of the five complete calendar quarters before you filed your claim for benefits. For example, if you filed your claim in October of 2021, the base period would be from June 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021.

During the base period, your work history and earnings must meet all three of these requirements:

• You must have been paid wages in at least two of the four calendar quarters that make up the base period.
• Your earnings during the entire base period must be at least one-and-a-half times your wages in the highest paid quarter of the base period. For example, if you earned $5,000 during your highest paid quarter, your total earnings for the base period year must be at least $7,500.
• You must have earned at least $3,400 during the entire base period.

Where Do I Submit My Claim

In Florida, all applications for unemployment benefits must be completed online. The process takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete and must be finished within 72 hours of when you first start the application, or you will have to start over again.

What is the Florida unemployment website? Where is the Florida unemployment login? To file your claim you must login to the states CONNECT site for state unemployment benefits. Once you are registered, you can return to the CONNECT site to locate my Florida unemployment for updates on your claim status and more.

If you need help completing your application, or if you need access to a computer for online filing, you can go to any One-Stop Career Center for assistance.

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Can You Collect Unemployment If You Are Off For Medical Reasons

The unemployment benefits of an employee who quits due to an illness, injury, or disability may be extended to them in many states. There are some states that require employers to provide medical coverage for their employees. The employee is only covered if the work aggravates or causes the medical condition.

When Will I Get My First Florida Unemployment Check

Once your unemployment claim is filed in Florida, youll get confirmation that it was received. For claims that are accepted, the first payment arrives in approximately 3-4 weeks.

If your claim is denied, you may file an appeal online but you must do so within 20 calendar days. You can also file an appeal via mail. Its important to know that even though youve been turned down, you must keep filing your unemployment claims every other week. If you win your appeals, you will only receive payment for the weeks you filed.

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Unemployment Insurance Relief During Covid

Notice

The CARES Act gives states the option of extending unemployment compensation to independent contractors and other workers who are ordinarily ineligible for unemployment benefits. Please contact your states unemployment insurance office at the website or phone number provided below to learn more about the availability of these benefits where you live.

• Where Do I File for Unemployment Insurance?

About Florida Unemployment Benefits

Florida Unemployment benefits are part of an employer-paid program that provides temporary, partial income replacement to qualified individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

Employers pay unemployment insurance taxes and reimbursements that support unemployment benefit payments.

A common misconception about the Unemployment Insurance program is that employees pay into the program while you were working. That is not true.

Rather, Employer taxes pay for unemployment benefits.

Employees do not pay unemployment taxes and employers cannot deduct unemployment taxes from employees paychecks.

In the state of Florida, the Unemployment benefits program is also called Reemployment Assistance.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity manages the Reemployment Assistance program.

You may file a claim for unemployment benefits in Florida if you meet eligibility requirements established under Florida law, in accordance with federal standards.

To see if you are eligible for Florida Unemployment benefits, continue reading below.

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How To Apply For Florida Unemployment Benefits

In these doubtful times, being jobless is a fact of life that many people have to bear. In Florida, like the rest of the nation, many people have to file for jobless benefits for the first time in their lives. Fortunately for the recently unemployed of Florida, the process of filing for unemployment benefits is quite easy. However, you can look ahead to wait about 4 weeks until you collect your first check, so you will want to begin the process on your first day of unemployment.

This page has been created as a resource to help you in your filing for Florida unemployment compensation benefits. After reading the following, you will know if you meet the criteria for unemployment benefits, how to apply for benefits, as well as when to expect getting unemployment benefits.

If I Am Eligible For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Do I Need To First Apply For Unemployment Insurance

States must have a process for determining that Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applicants are ineligible for regular unemployment benefits, which may not include filing a regular claim as a first step. States are not required to take and adjudicate a full claim for regular unemployment insurance benefits to meet this requirement. While states are not prohibited from taking a full claim, to facilitate expedited claims processing the U.S. Department of Labor has discouraged states from doing so. Individuals should apply using the states PUA application process and, in states that have not yet established that process, must wait until it is established.

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Other Types Of Benefits And Programs For The Unemployed

Educational Help

Federal agencies offer many unemployment education and training programs. They are generally free or low cost to the unemployed.

Self-Employment Help

Self-employment assistance programs help unemployed workers start their own small businesses. Delaware, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon offer this program.

How Do I Apply For Unemployment Benefits In Florida

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, some states have imposed restrictions on people gathering in public locations. This may affect your ability to access physical offices of the the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in person. Check Florida’s unemployment insurance agency website for more information. And, read on to find out how you can file for unemployment insurance benefits in Florida online or by phone.

Enhanced unemployment benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ended on September 6, 2021, and are no longer provided.

Florida’s unemployment insurance agency website gives you the information you need to apply for unemployment insurance in Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunitys website tells you:

• What information youll need on hand to apply for unemployment insurance benefits
• How to apply online for unemployment insurance benefits

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How To Apply For Unemployment

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Reemployment Assistance is a part of Florida Unemployment Compensation Services Program which provides temporary financial help to workers who lost their job through no fault on their own and which are eligible for this type of financial assistance.

Reemployment Assistance is created to help workers who unwillingly lost their jobs by providing temporary financial help until participants find new employment. This program actually offers a lot more than just a financial help. It offers the following benefits:

• Financial help on a weekly basis
• Job seeking assistance
• Professional CV writing service and training on how to successfully pass an interview
• Job placement
• Information on other helpful resources and services

The most important aspect of Reemployment Assistance is that its created for workers who lost their job through no fault on their own and who earned wages during the first four quarters of the previous five quarters prior to filing a claim. This means that you can receive benefits only in those cases when you actually get fired, not if you voluntarily quit. This also means that you wont be able to use Reemployment Assistance benefits in any of the following cases: If you find your job too hard If you were underpaid If your work environment was hostile If you simply didnt like it. Its important to know that if you quit your job, no matter what reason it is, youre automatically ineligible for this program.

Exact Answer: 12 23 Weeks

The state of Florida administers unemployment benefits for its citizens. The benefits are governed by the Reemployment Assistance Program through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The Reemployment Assistance Program provides temporary and partial wage replacement for qualified workers who have become unemployed through no actual fault of their own.

One must be partially or totally unemployed. The person should have lost the job not due to his fault. This means that one must not be fired for malicious misconduct or have quit the job for personal reasons for availing unemployment benefits.

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Is It Possible For Furloughed Employees To Receive Unemployment Benefits

Yes. Furloughed employees those who have been placed on obligatory unpaid leave are encouraged to apply for unemployment benefits in Florida. You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if your hours were cut or you were put on a zero-hour schedule. Even if your boss thinks you wont be qualified, you should still apply. Your earnings from the previous week, not the number of hours you worked, determine your eligibility. The Reemployment Assistance team will analyze your information and determine your eligibility after you apply for benefits.

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Those Unemployed Feel Left Behind By Desantis Special Legislative Session

Four new laws are now in the books in Florida after legislators met during the special session to address vaccines mandates.

One of the laws includes a provision to allow employees let go for being unvaccinated to collect unemployment benefits.

But, unemployment activists say they want consistency from the state.

They hoped for a special session at the beginning of the pandemic to address the needs and the broken unemployment website.

Now, they say last weeks session was a waste of time.

Kathryn Brady is a Connect survivor. But surviving hasnt been easy.

Her unemployment account got hacked during one of the states breaches and she couldnt receive her payments.

The main thing for me was like my security had been breached, you know, like, who actually has the information? And who, now what can they do with it, Brady said.

Community activist Vanessa Brito has dedicated nearly two years helping people navigate Connect.

She said the special session left those having a hard time collecting benefits feeling left behind.

I think its a slap in the face for the claimants that at least Ive been working with for almost two years, who have been calling DEO every day, who have been complaining to the governors office, you know, so you call a special session for this pocket of people. But what about everybody else, Brito said.

DeSantis office said the goal of the special session was to protect Floridas jobs and employers are already changing their vaccine policies to comply.

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How Do I Apply

To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked. Depending on the state, claims may be filed in person, by telephone, or online.

• You should contact your state’s unemployment insurance program as soon as possible after becoming unemployed.
• Generally, you should file your claim with the state where you worked. If you worked in a state other than the one where you now live or if you worked in multiple states, the state unemployment insurance agency where you now live can provide information about how to file your claim with other states.
• When you file a claim, you will be asked for certain information, such as addresses and dates of your former employment. To make sure your claim is not delayed, be sure to give complete and correct information.
• Find the contact information for your state’s unemployment office to start your claim.

Unemployment Benefits In Florida: A Step

You are eligible for unemployment compensation if you have been laid off from your job through no fault of your own. It is understandable that you probably have a lot of questions on how unemployment compensation works. Florida has specific rules about eligibility, benefit amounts, and earnings requirements. You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you meet the states requirements and are actively looking for a new job.

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