Categories
Money

Florida Unemployment Benefits Extension – 20 More Weeks

Update – Feb 7, 2011 – Legislation to add extra weeks for 99ers

Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Bobby Scott (Va.) are reintroducing legislation this week to provide additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for “99ers,”

Main article

In 2009, the 2009 stimulus package was created by President Obama and provided extra funding for states to extend the length of unemployment benefits if necessary.  Most states have a fixed number of weeks available for benefits but can increase the number of weeks if necessary.  The Florida unemployment rate in April was 9.6%.

The state of Florida recently approved an extension of the unemployment benefits by 20 weeks as a result of Senate Bill 810 sponsored by Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Miami and Rep. Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola.  This applies to unemployed persons who have already used up the previous maximum of 59 weeks of unemployment benefits.  The legislation allowing this EB extension was signed by Governor Charlie Crist and will provide more benefits for up to 250,000 unemployed Floridians.  The payments will be up to $300 per week.

The money to pay for these extended benefits will come from the stimulus package of 2009 – about $415 million in total.

The agency responsible for these benefits is called the Agency for Workforce Innovation – they expect to start sending out the extended benefit checks in July.  According to a spokesman from the agency Robby Cunningham – some people might be able to collect benefits retroactive to February of 2009.

“It’s actually retroactive to February 22nd of this year so some qualifying receiptence could receive initial payments up to 5,100 dollars.”

Please note that any retroactive payments will be from February 22, 2009 or when your last claim ran out – whichever is later.

How to apply for extended benefits

If you qualify for the extended 20 weeks then you still have to apply – go to www.floridajobs.com and click on the big red “Extended Benefits” square near the top of the right side of the screen.  The actual link which will open up the application form is here.  You can also fill in and mail the EB application to the address indicated on the EB notice/application you will be receiving in the mail.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

Here are a few guidelines you can use to determine eligibility:

  • You are totally or partially unemployed.
  • You exhaust all entitlement to regular and emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) benefits prior to February 22, 2009 but your benefit year ends after February 22, 2009.
  • You exhaust all entitlement to regular and emergency unemployment compensation benefits after February 22, 2009.
  • You are not eligible for unemployment compensation benefits in any state (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, The District of Columbia) or Canada.
  • You satisfy all requirements of the Florida UC Law that apply to regular UC and EB, such as being able and available for work, and have not been disqualified from receiving benefits based on your reason for separation.
  • You actively seek work for each EB week claimed and provide the work search record as instructed.
  • You do not refuse an offer of suitable work or fail to apply for suitable work.

 

698 replies on “Florida Unemployment Benefits Extension – 20 More Weeks”

Thanks Mark. You were filled with information we had a hard time finding anywhere else. Also it was here we realized we are not alone and that we can fight. I really appreciate it!!! Good Luck to all! And thanks again Mark, you made a difference.

Hi, Mark. We’re fading, but I hope not completely gone. I think we all know where to come when news breaks. I’m grateful we all found each other and hope that we’ll all check in here from time to time and let everyone know how we’re doing.

I’m still in touch with Kathleen. She’s told me about Chapala, Mexico where she used to live and where she hopes to return. There’s a huge American and Canadian community there where people are living on small incomes. I’m seriously thinking about moving there where I can live on what is now my small fixed income. Like many others, I really needed to work more years after I lost my house and savings. I’ve patched together small pensions from different employments. I didn’t stay a lot of years in any one. Anyway, that’s what I’ve been focusing on recently.

By the way, the petition now has 46,917 signatures. I get an email from change.org every week telling me how many have signed. It’s always around 20 to 50. I don’t know how people keep finding it, but I hope it gives solace to some to know they are among many. And the president, senators, and congress still get the email every time someone signs!

I still consider the people on the ‘4 Pillar’ site a blessing for each other , and I’m grateful to all of you. (Hey, Walt!)

You have made all the difference in the world Mark. You were the soul reason I read this page every single day. I will not stop fighting the good fight ever. I am so sorry to see you go. Mark stop in and chat once in a while and take great care.

Hi Everyone!

Peachy – Thanks for your kind comments, but I’m not going anywhere! Just wanted to get my thoughts out there & let everyone know how I feel. I’ll still be here.

Issa – I know how you feel….sometimes I feel like I’m drowning over here. But I’ll always hang tough & make it through!

Joe – Mooooooooo!

I’m with you, peachykeen. Mark keeps me going. And I’m really glad he’s not going anywhere!

Mark, you have your troubles like the rest of us, and I’m impressed and grateful that you find the strength to be there for all of us. Your kids are lucky to have a great dad. You’re carrying a heavy burden so please remember that if you should falter, we will all be there for you.

Mark in FL: Saw this on the http:www.dawu.forumotion.com website that HR 589 meeting will be tomorrow 4/14/2011. Faith and Hope!!! Keep the Emails/Faxes/Tweets going too.

In the week ending April 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 412,000, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 395,750, an increase of 5,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 390,250.

Thanks for the update Sherri! Keep us posted on any news….preferably good news 🙂

Issa – Thanks for your strength & encouragement. It is very difficult for me at times. I only have one son and he keeps me going, but sometimes I get so tired & stressed. I do my best not to as I know I have to keep going like all of us.

Smiles to all 🙂

MEETING FOR 99ERS and HR589…..Barbara Lee’s statement after the meeting: “We had a productive meeting with the Speaker and the Majority Leader to discuss this critical issue of providing aid for long-term unemployed workers. Speaker Boehner encouraged us to work with the House Ways and Means Committee to move this bill forward, and while we will certainly do so, we maintain that these long term unemployed workers deserve a floor vote NOWWWWWWWW
4-14-11

It SICKENS me how we the people have to beg and plead to stay alive and the big corporations don’t even pay taxes.

Does anyone know if you get a day labor job for a few days here and there if that will effect your unemployment or unemployment extension if another one passes?

Holding On – From what I understand , when you file unemployment it asks did you make $ this week and you would say yes. How much, you put in amount. Lets say $50. If you normally received $150 from unemp, they would subtract that $50 and send you $100 for that week. The other 50 remains in your balance and your unemp will last you longer that way. At least this is how it worked when my husband had a part time job. Good Luck!

03 May 2011
12:42 PM CST

Hi Folks,
Question: Any news on an extention? I had my computer in the shop.

I Have an EUC08 Payment being deposited today. My Last one I believe.My Balance says Zero on the IDES site. My BYE is 31 May 11. So if I were to get anything more it would have to be EB under an extention? Am i correct? My turn for Ramon Noodles??
Best wishes to all of you…

Walt 1948: Its hard to say because so much has changed since 2008. My understanding on the EB is if you have already gotten it, then there is no 2nd time around BUT if you haven’t yeah you should BUT again so much has changed, I would suggest sitting down (OH NO) a talking to a Supervisor or Manager and bring your paperwork with you at your local unemployment office. P.S. I will do some research and see if I can find anything out for you!

Hang in there everyone, Yes its hard but to come this far is truly a momentous triumph in its self. Washington likes to play games but they know the 99ers rolls are increasing and that means the voices will become louder along with emails,faxes and tweets to the media and our Reps in both houses. Nothing wrong with getting pissed off or discouraged or melancholy as these are human emotions, Just dust yourself off say a prayer and continue on. Mark YOU are truly an advocate and your son is your leverage that keeps you sane!

Good Morning All! Just checking in. Yes Sherri, my son definitely helps keep me strong! Have a good day all

I hope I can get some information from the good people in this forum,. I am alone and don’t know what can I expect from the following, I need a bit of help, please,

I became unemployed today, was working full time, 12$ an hour and worked for 10 and a half months straight. I believe I may apply for unemployment so I can at least pay my rent, and If I apply tomorrow online, is there any extension available for me when my regular unemployment is finished? I am a total wreck as I am all alone and don’t have anybody to assist me. Pls help! Thank you so much

Toll-Free #’s to our Reps in Washington. TOLL FREE to Senators 1 888 245-0215. TOLL FREE to the
Switchboard-Congress – 866 338-1015 ( You can reach Rep.Dave Camp at this # as well )

Beatrice:

There are extensions until the end of the year, and you’ll come close. Apply immeidately to get the ball rolling.

Good luck!

Joe

Joe! You made my day, I did file today online, so in case I do not find anything by the time whatever my UC is for, I should get a little more help, thanks so much, my friend, now I know I have a place here in this forum!

GodBless!

Hi Mark, Sherry, everyone – I’m usually on the New York forum. I have a question, a friend of mine applied for EB-20 weeks but Florida’s unemployment told her that’s it on hold for now and that she should have it soon, but did not give a reason… It also happened with another friend of hers. Do you know if it’s because of the lack of reserves because of so many claims being filed?

Any information would be really appreciated! Thanks:)

Beatrice:

You are welcome, glad to hear you got everything filed. You should play out your 26 weeks then go into Tier 1 automatically and be able to exhaust that without issue. I don’t know if they will pass another law enabling the tiers to go past the end of this year or not, that will come later.

Pauline:

I have no idea what ‘on hold’ would mean. See if one of your friends can get an exact explanation of what is on hold and why, of course we assume the checks are what’s on hold 🙂

Joe

Hi Joe, thanks so much for responding… I’m usually on the NY site advocating for HR589.?

She filed in March and they said that the funds are there, but they’re not being released as yet, but she was definitely approved so I was just wondering if anyone else on “Extended Benefits” were experiencing the same situation and if they know why the funds are not being released… I mean it was since March 10th that she filed so it’s very strange – her friend also.

Hello glad to see everyone is still holding it together well I have some new things that have happened in my life and I want to share it with my unemployed friends. Well I have completed schooling with 4.0 GPA and Perfect Attendance my graduation was on the 29 of April it was great after 3years I finally land a job Its not in medical office Administration career what I went to school for but it is a job and I will take it and work on my career in the meantime I can I am blessed to be giving the opportunity I start training Thursday so I just so ready to get back in the work industry I will still come to the site and help all of you out faxing, signing petitions etc. to get the benefits extended because no one deserve to be unemployed God Bless all of you and there are going to better days Mark,FL you have been such an impact to me you don’t even realize it I want to thank you for being so positive during the downfall of my life and this economy stay sweet 🙂 ttyl…

Bre – WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!! That is awesome! Congrats on your graduation & your new job! And thank you so much for your nice comments. I do my best to stay positive & seek out the best in all. Everyone has good qualities that sometimes may just need a push or a pack on the back. Congrats again Bre….you should be very proud of yourself!!

Also Happy Mother’s Day to all the nice, sweet & hard-working Moms!!! Believe me, you are loved & appreciated more than you know!

Smiles to all 🙂

Happy Mothers’ Day to us moms!
Bre, congratulations on you graduation and your new job. You’ve worked hard and deserve some good luck.

It ‘s been a long time since I’ve been on this site. I was one of the fortunate ones that got a job the week that my unemployment ended over a year ago. It wasn’t what I wanted … but I managed to pay all my bills, lease a new car etc.

I’ve never liked the job, and have decided to start looking while I’m still working. Unfortunately, there are a lot of commissioned jobs, and 5 million healthcare jobs. Even if you are an 85 year old nurse or health care tech you have a multitude of choices.

I was offered a position on a 90 day trial period. Great company, nice people, exciting industry… but I called and turned it down because I thought that It might be over my head with the accounting portion…. and then I would be let go and defeat my purpose. I was also offered a retail manager
position for more money and less hours, so I gave it a try on my day off and
remembered why I hate retail and standing for 6 to 8 hours.

I have 2 more interviews tomorrow. It’s a lot easier when you are working because you can turn things down when they are not right for you, unlike the job that I have now and had to take because I was desperate when EU was running out.

What I’m saying is like BRE just got out of school and found a job. It’s easier when you have been doing something. No one likes to work for free
but to volunteer at a hospital or non profit thrift store, etc. will give you contacts and references.

Hello Mark
Hello Joe, you probably just took early retirement……………….not many people left on here. I’m back to hitting craigslist, and indeed.com every morning and evening. No one ever told me
that life would be a rose garden…. but they didn’t tell me that I would be thrown into a briar patch either! Good luck

Is there any hope for 99’ers yet? if not. please tell me now .. i get one check with 40 bucks left on it.. with 700 in the hole in debt. i know my answer would most likely be answered as a NO im screwed. hopefuly somehow its not a no and i can be saved for a little longer. People like me don’t get hired on the spot. i look to roughed upevwen when dressed nicely and have very low prior training or colledge edeucation only a highschool diploma. 🙁 sadly.. this most likely means im going to have to move into my car and pray they dont repo me and my car when i can no longer afford it eaither.

Sorry but I’m not privy to Florida’s procedures as it relates to the EB program, from what I have read it appears to be held up due to some type of legislation taking place that will affect the EB program in some way and it might have something to do with that legislation that your Governor signed into law reducing UI benefits and other issues taking place with giving the states their own leeway in using the BILLIONS of dollars earmarked for UI benefits, letting the states use some of the $$$$ for other pressing issues! There maybe House Bills and/or Senate Bills in Florida that are pending and these unemployment offices are on hold but I can’t image they would hold off paying the EB benefits. Can only suggest you do some extensive research because its clear you wouldn’t get any answers from the local unemployment offices!

P.S. If I run across any information I will certainly post on the FL side. Keep faxing,emailing for HR 589 everyone.

Republicans are sticking it to the unemployed once again. If either of these bills pass it will stop all Tiers 1 thru 4 for EVERY unemployed person, basically you will not collect 99 weeks unless your state decides to continue with the program.

H.R. 1745 – Introduced in the house on 5/5/11 by Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI)and has a hearing scheduled for 5/11/11

S. 904 – Introduced in the senate on 5/5/11 by Sen. Orrin Hatch

http://www.unemployed-friends2.org/t2126p60-attn-all-unemployed-proposed-legislation-would-allow-states-to-use-euc-funds-for-jobs-ending-tier-benefits#23266

Sherrie, #245 thanks re EB, I made a call to the Florida ui office and explained the situation to them then conferenced her in. I thought it was kind of odd that there were no comments anywhere about a hold being on EB since they told her that she was approved and the funds are there but just not being released, but not giving any reason and my instincts were correct, it had to do with her particular claim.?

Guys, I am so scared about what is going on in our state, and more our country!

I have 2 small children and I see their future falling apart.

Does anyone know what’s going on with the issues teachers were facing? I have my masters and am certified by FL to teach English 6-12. (Let me know, also, if you hear of any openings..)

Thanks! God bless!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *