How to Apply for Florida Unemployment Benefits

1. How to Apply for Florida Unemployment Benefits According to Business Insider, 30 million Americans had filed for unemployment in the six weeks leading up to May 2020. If you’re out of work because of COVID-19 or another circumstance that wasn’t your fault, you may qualify for Florida unemployment benefits. The program is called Reemployment Assistance, and it’s overseen by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The DEO encourages anyone who needs temporary help to apply for unemployment. Unfortunately, the application process and ongoing requirements — such as those for job seeking — are not as straightforward as they were prior to COVID-19. You might hear or read conflicting information. There are good reasons for that. The federal government has expanded unemployment benefits, and many states, including Florida, have temporarily waived certain rules to make it easier for people to get help. That’s why it’s crucial to stay current with changes and carefully read all instructions and updates as you seek assistance online. For now, here are the basics on how your state’s unemployment system works. There’s also good information about applying online using the new Florida unemployment application. Florida Unemployment Benefits and the CARES Act Soaring unemployment prompted Congress to pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, in March 2020. It has significant impact on unemployment benefits.

2. The federal government is funneling an additional $600 per week to people receiving state-provided benefits. The extra funds will continue through July 31, 2020. Also, benefits are extended up to 13 weeks beyond what individual states provide. CARES helps people whose jobs and incomes were directly affected in any of these ways by COVID-19: They were laid off, furloughed or had their hours reduced solely because of the • pandemic. They were told to self-isolate or were put under quarantine. • They’re caring for a family member who has COVID-19. • They’re caring for at least one child whose school has closed. • Florida Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Self-employed people, contractors and gig workers are not normally eligible for benefits. Now, however, they may qualify for Florida’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. There’s a two-part application process for PUA. If you think you might be eligible, you must first apply for ordinary Reemployment Assistance. You’ll be denied, but don’t panic; you’ll then be invited to file a PUA application. You can find eligibility requirements, instructions and answers to common questions here. Amount and Duration of Unemployment Benefits Weekly benefit amounts are calculated based on prior earnings. The maximum is currently $275 per week. Remember that the federal government is kicking in an extra $600 per week for a limited time.

3. Normally, duration of benefits is based on Florida’s current unemployment rate. It ranges anywhere from 12 to 23 weeks. Under these special circumstances, benefits could last up to 39 weeks. Florida Unemployment Eligibility Requirements There are three fundamental requirements for collecting unemployment in Florida: Your past earnings must meet minimum thresholds. Florida considers your earnings during a base period to determine if you qualify. The base period is the first four of the five calendar quarters prior to your filing for benefits. For people who filed in April 2020, for example, the base period was Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2019. All three of these requirements must have been met during your base period: You earned wages during at least two of the four quarters. • Your wages over the entire base period are at least 1.5 times the earnings in the highest • quarter. If you earned $4,000 in your best quarter, say, earnings for all four quarters must total $6,000 or more: $4,000 × 1.5 = $6,000 You must have earned at least $3,400 over the entire base period. • You are out of work through no fault of your own. You may be entitled to unemployment benefits if you were involuntary laid off, affected by company downsizing or furloughed. If you were furloughed, your boss might tell you that you can’t collect benefits. Apply anyway, because the DEO says you can if you meet certain requirements. You might even be eligible if you were fired for poor job performance, for lack of necessary skills, or for just being a less-than-ideal fit for the position or the company.

4. Getting fired for misconduct, however, makes you ineligible for benefits. If you voluntarily quit your job, you must have had a very good reason for doing so. Examples include long-term illness or a military transfer for your spouse. You are able to work, available for work and actively looking for work. You must be physically and mentally able to work. There can’t be any problem, such as lack of child care or transportation, that would prevent you from working. Under Florida unemployment eligibility rules, you’re expected to keep looking for work while you collect benefits. You should keep a detailed record of your efforts; you’ll have to answer questions about your job search each time you request benefits. If a job is offered, you’re expected to take it. Preparing to Apply for Unemployment Gather all the necessary documents and information before you start the application process: Social Security number. • Driver’s license or state ID number. • The employer name on the pay stub, the address, and the phone number for each • employer over the last 18 months. The FEIN numbers found on your W-2 or 1099 forms if you have them. • Gross earnings (wages before taxes are deducted) for the last 18 months. • First and last day of work for each job. • Reason for separation at each job. •

5. There are additional requirements for noncitizens, military employees, union members and federal government employees. Accessing the Florida Unemployment Application Online The DEO has recently made it much easier for Floridians to apply for unemployment. The application is now on a new website that is mobile-friendly and easier to navigate. When you apply, you’ll be asked to create a personal ID number, or PIN. Write it down, and keep it in a safe place. You’ll need it to request your benefits. If you don’t feel confident about applying on your own, employees at CareerSource locations around the state can help you complete and submit your online application free of charge. Participating FedEx centers will download, print and mail a paper application for free if you prefer. Be aware, though, that mail-in applications take longer to process and are less secure. Requesting Florida Unemployment Benefits Depending on how you apply, you’ll receive an electronic or written determination on eligibility. If you qualify for assistance, you’ll be told the amount of your weekly benefits and the first date on which you can request them. Request your benefits — or “claim your weeks”as it’s sometimes phrased — every two weeks using the CONNECT system on the Reemployment Assistance website.

6. You must do this within seven days of the start of each new two-week cycle. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on benefits for that time period. State leaders have discussed temporarily relaxing some job search requirements, but don’t count on that. Have your job search records handy. Just follow the prompts on CONNECT, and truthfully answer all the questions. Again, as you navigate the system in coming weeks, be watchful for updated rules or temporarily waived requirements. Things frequently change as COVID-19 raises new issues.