Crist signs executive order extending unemploment benefits

Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo today applauded Governor Charlie Crist for signing Executive Order 10-170, authorizing Floridians who qualify for Extended Benefits to resume receiving those benefits through December 4, 2010, as authorized by federal law on July 22, 2010. The Governor’s executive order is in response to this new law that provides an extension of full federal funding for Extended Benefits (EB) in states that are currently in an EB period.

“We have been closely monitoring this legislation and working with the Governor’s Office to explore implementing the necessary programming to ensure Floridians entitled to these benefits receive them as quickly as possible,” said Director Lorenzo.  “We anticipate that, within two weeks of receiving guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Floridians will be able to certify for these benefits and we will begin issuing payments.”

Florida’s Extended Benefit (EB) period ended on June 5, 2010. Qualifying individuals will receive the benefits retroactive to that date if benefits lapsed. The Extended Benefits (EB) program pays up to 20 weeks of additional benefits to individuals who previously exhausted the up-to-79 weeks of regular state and Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits.  AWI estimates the Governor’s Executive Order will benefit approximately 250,000 long-term unemployed Floridians.

The new federal law also extends the deadline for establishing eligibility in the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program by approximately six months, retroactive to May 2010, and extends the phase-out date for the program to April 30, 2011.  This action will provide immediate assistance to nearly 900,000 Floridians.

Following enactment of the federal legislation, four tiers of federal EUC benefits remain available to eligible beneficiaries. Details on those tiers can be found on the Hot Topics section of the agency’s website at http://www.floridajobs.org/unemployment/hottopics.html. No new tiers of benefits were created.

Because the new eligibility dates were approved by Congress after the previous deadlines had passed, some beneficiaries have already received final payment notices in the mail.  The agency is now mailing notices of the new eligibility dates to potentially eligible beneficiaries.

Those who believe they may be eligible under the new dates should visit www.floridajobs.org or call (800) 204-2418.  Eligible beneficiaries will be able to begin certifying for any weeks to which they may be entitled within the next two weeks, once the agency completes necessary programming. Certifying online at www.floridajobs.org is the quickest and most efficient way to process payments.

Federal Additional Compensation

Beneficiaries who established a new state unemployment compensation claim by May 27, 2010, remain eligible to receive Federal Additional Compensation payments of $25 weekly, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Customers who have been receiving the additional $25 payments will continue to receive them with the extension of EUC.  The FAC program ends on December 11, 2010.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

·     Beneficiaries who are potentially eligible for additional EUC and EB benefits will be notified by mail.

• The new law did not add any additional weeks of benefits through new tiers of EUC.
• Beneficiaries who believe they may be eligible may begin certifying for benefits within the next two weeks at www.floridajobs.org or by calling (800) 204-2418.

Related posts:

1. Crist signs unemployment benefits legislation
2. Unemployment benefits extended in Florida….again
3. New extended unemployment compensation available in Florida
4. Governor Crist Signs Legislation to Reduce Unemployment Compensation Tax
5. Extended unemployment compensation heads to Crist for approval

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