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”
14 may 11 8:58pm cst
wishing all a happy weekend for what is left of it. Best wishes for an extention. cheers!
nnn
Hi, everyone!
The petition is at almost 47,000. I’m going to start a “Watch the 99er Petition Turn 50,000? campaign targeting Congress, just for fun. Stay tuned.
Related, but not the same: I can now only list 20 congressmen at a time to receive the petition when people sign. I’ll try to change the names according to what’s going on. With HR589 important now, I should probably type in 20 reps. Who do you think would be the most vulnerable to change at this time? I need names.
18 people signed last week, with no publicity. I’m thinking that once I start a ‘campaign’ more will find it.
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-99ers-need-a-tier-v-added-to-unemployment-benefits-2
I need some help from the forum. I have only been collecting for 2 months and today was my day to claim weeks when going online it said I had to input work search I did for the first week and then I was given a message that my weekly certification has been suspended and I needed to call the 800 number. It is always busy how do you get through and what does this mean???? Thanks for your help.
HR 589 is still in the House/Ways/Means Committee so don’t STOP emailing-faxing your US Reps in both houses.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/162627-house-gop-readies-legislation-allowing-states-to-use-federal-unemployment-funding-to-reduce-taxes/
@fran1960 you just have to keep calling….have you been outting down atleast 5 contacts..I went through the same thing took me 2-3 days to get through to them and find out what the problem was. You can also contact them via email go to fluidnow and at the bottom there is a link that says contact us..explain your situation and usually they get bsck to you with 24 hours. It says it can take up to five business days for them to get in contact with you, but I have been lucky enough to have soneine contact me back the same day. I to have been trying to get through on the hotline to ask about extended benefits with no luck
In the week ending May 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 424,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 414,000. The 4-week moving average was 438,500, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 440,250.
Your access to the Weekly Certification program has been suspended. Please contact 1-800-204-2418 for further assistance.
What does this normally mean?
Rep. Barbara Lee (Co-Sponsor of HR 589) On CSPAN-1 TODAY Thursday 7:45 AM Est..
She just spoke on the need to extend benefits beyond 99 weeks, before worrying about putting the countries fiscal house in order, as emergency spending, until jobs are created. Anyone that missed can go to C-SPAN’s website and watch the tape later today when they load it. http://www.c-span.org/ (KEEP THOSE EMAILS/FAXES/TWEETS going for HR 589)
.
My understanding of what I’ve been reading recently is they’re going to start checking things randomly. You guys/gals better be truthful on your certification, i.e., the name, number, business you say you contacted. A suspension means you were “selected” for random spot checks and you will be held up for your 2nd week until they verify your information on the first week.
Times are tough folks.
Good Luck!
Joe
By the way, you can thank Obama for spending 2 years of his presidency worrying about “healthcare”. I never heard the word “jobs’ out of a single democrats mouth until they lost the house of representatives in the last election.
Shame on them. Business as usual. Did any of you think a democrat congress and president would change anything? LOL
He spent the country into bankruptcy and debt to China which you will be assured of paying for the next 5 generations. Glad I won’t be here.
Hi Everyone!
Hi Joe – how’s it going? Our forum is dying out. I’m still around….doing well…making money. Can’t wait for football season!
Saturday, June 4, 2011 8:35 pm
HI Mark!
Yes, football season is coming. We are going to see a whole different setup, it will be interesting to see!
Glad to hear you are doing well!
Yea, everyone has become a 99’er and either lost their internet, home, car, etc, or just gave up. Since there is nothing in the works going forward the purpose of the forum sort of went by the wayside I guess.
-Joe
Hi, Joe and friends!
Just to let you know that I do remember the forum although is very quiet lately, I did start coming here just recently but I can see that this was a tremendously active forum before, sad, very sad….. Joe, I just started my first check last week. I am applying everywhere I can, I simply can’t just sit and wait as I don’t have any family left or would not force myself upon any friends, that is a no- no, and my savings will last for close to 5 months for rent and the rest, light, phone etc is paid by the unemployment help, so, if I do not find work before the 5 months are up i am toast. Probably will have to go to a refugee center or under a Miami bridge, as I don’t drive so I do not have a car and honestly, I don’t know if I can resist that horror.
Do they still have extensions available for example, in my case? I just pray your answer is yes, that would be a true relief for my tired mind, i know they used to have 3 tiers or something like that but I don’t know if there are any available for when you finish your first part of the unemployment help.
Well, it is scary outthere, i feel for all that have lost their homes, their families, their everything, I feel very sad right now.
Blessings, Beatrice
There are extensions available through the end of this year. If you are on the original claim, which used to be 26 weeks, but who knows anymore, when that exhausts you will roll into the first tier of extensions. Those will continue until the end of the year. At that time, whichever tier you are in you will be able to complete, but that’s it.
I cannot see any further extensions for 99’ers being done, nor the 4 tiers ever being extended again.
Good Luck Beatrice!
Joe
Thanks, dear Joe! I will keep coming here, where people like me come and are understood and treated like friends by the bloggers, I do thank you for your answer, which, in a way, has given me a little bit more of peace in my tired mind, I think you all are the best!
God Bless, always,,,,,Beatrice, Miami, Fl
Hi, everyone.
As difficult as it is nationwide, it’s unbelievable how bad things have gotten in Florida. I hope you guys have the energy to vote the b_s__rds out. My heart and prayers go out for you every time I hear more about Fla politics. My sister lives in Orlando and is just sick about how things have changed there over our lifetime.
Mark, Joe- It’s comfortable coming to this site and seeing you’re still here. It feels like we’ve all been through so much together. I’m not much of a football fan, but I’m delighted you two are and that your cheers recur each season.
Beatrice- I’m glad you found this site. You’ll find comfort here. There are a lot more people who read this forum than who post very often. Every once in awhile we hear from them.
🙂
Thanks Issa! I hope that this forum will never close, and that the nice bloggers will never stop coming here, I love this forum!
Beatrice
Hi, I claimed weeks for the first time ever on 06/13/2011. I go onto the web to check the status and I still have the SAME status I have had since Friday the 11th. Debit card processing and my claim date of 6/13/2011. How long does it take for this to update? My benefit year started on 05/29 – when will I get paid?!?
Sorry for a dumb question, i am not in this situation right now but how do you know or where do you go to apply for the EUC benefits. Does it automatically go in your virtual bank account when you exhaust your regular 26 weeks or do you have to file a claim? I see the EB benefits page for the state of Florida but not anything for the federal.
Thanks for any help.
thursday i will be getting my last check for 210 and will be a 99er….another 14 or so weeks would be nice
From what Joe-Gville said it only goes to the end of this year but it kind of gets confusing because they gave a phase out date of June 2012. It’s confusing because if you were in Tier at the end of the year and claimed it before Dec 31st, 6 more weeks is not June 2012. Don’t get it.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) – The new federal law also extends the deadline for establishing eligibility in the federal EUC program by approximately 13 months, retroactive to November 2010, and extends the phase-out date for the program to June 9, 2012. Four tiers of federal EUC benefits remain available to eligible beneficiaries:
Tier I: Under this new law, unemployed workers currently receiving benefits from their regular state claims have until December 24, 2011 to exhaust their state benefits and establish eligibility for EUC Tier I, which provides up to an additional 20 weeks of benefits.
Tiers II and III: Unemployed workers currently receiving benefits on EUC Tiers I, II, or III can now qualify for the next level of benefits if their current tier is exhausted by December 31, 2011. EUC Tier II provides up to 14 weeks of benefits and Tier III provides up to 13 weeks of additional benefits.
Tier IV: Those who exhaust Tier III benefits by December 31, 2011 can establish eligibility for Tier IV benefits, which provides up to 6 additional weeks of benefits.
Those who will exhaust EUC Tiers I, II, and III between now and the dates provided above will be automatically enrolled in the next level of benefits.
Those who received a final payment notice for regular, EUC Tier I, II, or III will be automatically enrolled in the next level of EUC and should be able to begin certifying for the additional benefits during their regular claim reporting cycle. Some customers will be able to claim weeks of unemployment as soon as next week.
I just got 2 letters today, one telling me Im eligible for Tier III benefits of 13 weeks. In the second letter, it says that Tier III is my final payment of EUC on this claim. The last date to establish eligibility under the next tier of EUC was Nov. 28, 2010.
Im confused by the tier flow Ive been reading around the web and on the floridajobs website about EUC, I initially filed my claim 4/25/2010.
They missed almost a month of payments for an internet error in the reporting job search portion. But I finally got my determination today for an additional 13 weeks.
I dont understand how the cut off dates work, it seems I should be eligible for tier 4 since Ill have exhausted all EUC before Dec. 2011. It looks like I should be eligible for EB too.
But here they are saying this is my last payment on this claim because I didnt establish eligibility by Nov 28, 2010.
Can someone explain if they errored here, or if this is my final period of benefits under the current regime? much appreciated in any help!
Hey Kris,
What did you have to do to get the first round of payments for Tier 1 if i may ask? I see nothing on the Florida’s web page and i am getting no answers from here. Sorry i could not help you with your Tier problems. I guess we all get what is left from what i am hearing up until Dec 2011 then its bye bye for everyone.
well after the initial “regular” benefits ran out I called the office to see if I qualified for more, miraculously getting someone on the phone the first try ever, and the guy said that I was automatically enrolled for the next round. So I didnt have to do anything. In the past month Ive been trying to call and when I make it past the busy signal and get the automated system running, and press 4 for representative, it says all lines are busy and to call later. Frustrating…
mike- are you the mike that owns this site?
Some of you will remember Peggy Lowe. She’s one of the earliest reporters that took on the 99er cause. Until this week she worked for the third largest newspaper in CA, in an extremely conservative area. She sent this link in an email today. I thought you might find it interesting. It’s her good-bye.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/job-304551-unemployed-many.html
Just popped in to see if anyone had posted anything new,,,,,no luck…8-(,
oh well, will check back soon. H ope everyone is ok!
Bea
In the week ending June 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 429,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 420,000. The 4-week moving average was 426,250, unchanged from the previous week’s revised average of 426,250.
are they still working on something for extensions? I do not have cable anymore so I do not hear much news about what’s going in in Congress or Senate, I see people living under a few bridges and in vacant areas near canals and stuff, this is terrible!
Beatrice, you will not see anything added to the deficit this year or next. There is an election next year and Congress is trying to slash spending. It wouldn’t pass the House anyway. Controlled by Republicans. Sorry. Florida and especially ST Pete is notorious for homeless people. Tampa has a few also. You probably won’t see to many more homeless people out there after what the mayor wants to propose. My car is paid off so i would sleep in it if i had to.
Hi, Larry! Thanks so much for your input, like I said, I do not have cable, cannot afford to spend monies everyday for the paper as I am almost out of monies, so I appreciate coming here and reading your comments. You mention the cuckoo Gov. has something in store for us, can you tell me about what it is? I am borrowing the computer from my neighbor so I cannot make it everyday, but will be back as soon as I can. I am at awe at how things are turning out. Politics are dirty. Real dirty. very sad. Regards, Bea
No Beatrice,
I do not know anything else the governor of Florida is doing. I know he cut the benefits for new ones to 23 weeks. Like i said, there is a HUGE deficit in Washington and you will not see any extensions for this year and probably not next year as well. The president is trying to look good by slashing spending and are trying not to default on the debt. I highly doubt you will see anything on the unemployed when it comes to extending the benefits.
Well you can’t continuously spend and not eventually have to raise taxes and cut spending.
Nobody out of the new presidency said the word “jobs” at all, until they lost the house of representatives. Think about it. It was all about healthcare.
-Joe
Hi Joe – Yes way too much focus on healthcare. It is unbelievable that absolutely nothing has been done for job growth. The tax breaks for incomes over $250,000 (I think it was) should have never been “renewed” in the first place.
I started my unemployment benefits in Feb 2011. I am still collecting my regular unemployment benefits. Once my regular payments are exhausted (which I dont know when that is), would I qualify for extension weeks and if so, for how long? I also heard that an extension here in Florida was just approved (7/1/2011)? is that true and would I qualify for it in the near future? I am very confused about the tiers, etc., and I am very concerned to run out of unemployment payments when I am still trying desperately to find a job to no avail. Also, are we getting the stimulus that people in 2010 had which was $25 more per week?. Thank you for any input on this issue. I am glad I found this website. Thanks!
My initial claim was 6/2010 and on the 21st I submitted my weeks and was only paid for one week and no additional weeks to claim. I do not know what happened. Have any changes come and I haven’t realized it? I still had funds in my account. I’m dying. I cannot survive without that money. 🙁 Thanks for any comments.
I had just spent $200 for a test to be able to teach elementary education and the $75 for the certificate. I was a teacher to high school students and thought this would accelerate my possibilities in getting a job. Now, I spent all this money, that I should have kept for my household bills.
This is what it states: (I dont understand what it means – someone PLEASE help me understand what I did wrong!)
Section I
SINCE FILING A PREVIOUS CLAIM, THE CLAIMANT HAS NOT EARNED REMUNERATION FOR SERVICES PERFORMED OF AT LEAST THREE TIMES THE CURRENT WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT. NOTE: THIS DETERMINATION APPLIES ONLY TO THE CLAIM FOR REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. IT DOES NOT AFFECT RECEIPT OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
Section II
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 443, FLORIDA STATUTES: BENEFITS ARE NOT PAYABLE BECAUSE: THE EARNINGS REQUIREMENT WAS NOT MET. THE LAW REQUIRES INELIGIBILITY FROM 06/13/11. ANY BENEFITS YOU HAVE RECEIVED FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED ARE OVER PAYMENTS AND SUBJECT TO RECOVERY.
Payret,
When you run out of your unemployment benefits you will go on EUC from the FEDERAL GOVT first. That runs out after Dec 31 2011. 2012 the Federal govt is not doing any compensation. That means if you go into the first tier BEFORE this year and it goes into next year you will get paid. The federal govt does not give an extra 25.00. That has expired. You claimed UB the same month i did. If you get EUC then that will take you until Jan then you out of benefits. Hope that helps. I doubt the Extension in Florida is good for next year. If it is then you COULD apply for that AFTER the federal runs it course this year.
Eve,
Call the Unemployment office and they could help explain why you have not been extended benefits. Did you go from FLORIDA unemployment to FLORIDA extended unemployment benefits because your suppose to exhaust the FEDERAL one first. 4 tiers. That expires next year Jan 2012. No more FEDERAL after that for anyone.
Larry thank you for the information provided.
So, pretty much I only have until the end of this year for payments or Jan and after that I’m out of luck and on my own? A friend told me a couple of days ago that an extension had been approved so that’s really not the case correct?
Sorry about so many questions but I am totally new to this and I quite dont understand how the unemployment system works. Their websites dont give much information and are pretty vague.
I am very concerned because down here in Miami there are really no jobs out there. I keep applying and to date have gotten not one phone call.
Let me know if my understanding is correct. I really appreciate it.
I’ll keep coming back here for information, advice and updates.
Thanks!!
Yes that is correct. That is of course if you GET approved for the Federal benefits. I am not sure how that step works but from my experience in other people getting them they notify you online if you are approved. Then the money is deposited in your account. First tier is 20 weeks. That would put you near or over the end of this year. You could not claim Tiers 2, 3, or 4 because the extensions expire this year. Calender year 2012 no one can get them. As far as FLORIDA’S extensions i would not know. If they are available to claim next year after the federal i would check. Some how i doubt it. Rick Scott just signed a bill into law and any new people going on UB only get 23 weeks now. I doubt there is an extension in Florida. You go thru the federal govt first then florida’s unemployment extension “IF” it is available.
Larry, thanks for your response.
No, I exhausted my first original claim for 26 weeks in December 2010. I believe now I am on Tier 2. (if I am not mistaken)
At the present time, I still had funds in my account, about $2400.
The only thing is that it has been exactly one year since my original claim, mid-June. I am not sure if that has anything to do with it..perhaps you know?
I will pray for a favorable response from the unemployment office when I call them on Tuesday.
Thanks again for the words of wisedom. Hope everyone has a nice 4th of July. God bless you all.
Eve,
I have never had to go on the Tiers from the Federal govt so i don’t know the procedure. Once you go thru the tiers then you progress on to the next one.
This is what i wrote above:
Tier I: Under this new law, unemployed workers currently receiving benefits from their regular state claims have until December 24, 2011 to exhaust their state benefits and establish eligibility for EUC Tier I, which provides up to an additional 20 weeks of benefits.
Tiers II and III: Unemployed workers currently receiving benefits on EUC Tiers I, II, or III can now qualify for the next level of benefits if their current tier is exhausted by December 31, 2011. EUC Tier II provides up to 14 weeks of benefits and Tier III provides up to 13 weeks of additional benefits.
Tier IV: Those who exhaust Tier III benefits by December 31, 2011 can establish eligibility for Tier IV benefits, which provides up to 6 additional weeks of benefits.
Those who will exhaust EUC Tiers I, II, and III between now and the dates provided above will be automatically enrolled in the next level of benefits.
Those who received a final payment notice for regular, EUC Tier I, II, or III will be automatically enrolled in the next level of EUC and should be able to begin certifying for the additional benefits during their regular claim reporting cycle.
You will have to call the office if you are not getting into the next level.Sorry
LG
Hi, everyone. Just checking in. Happy 4th!
Hi Issa! Always good to see your post….Hope you are doing well! Happy 4th to you!
Eve – I have been through ALL the tiers & EB (extended benefits). What’s going on in your case is you reached your 1-year mark. At that time, they recalculate your earnings & see if you requalify for “regular benefits” again. Since you don’t, you will just continue to receive EUC (emergency unemployment compensation). EUC & EB are both federally funded programs.
Tier 1 = 20 weeks
Tier 2 = 14 weeks
Tier 3 = 13 weeks
Tier 4 = 6 weeks IF the 3-,=month unemployment rate is at 8.5% or above
EB = 20 weeks
I know the “tiers” were extended through the end of the year. SO, for example, if you start tier 3 by Dec 27, 2011, you will get to finish that tier & get the 13 weeks since you started in that tier before the cutoff date. I’m not sure if EB was extended through the end of the year or not….I would think so since it is federally funded. BUT on the other hand, Rick Scott likes turning down free federal funds….go figure! Hope this helps
Smiles to all 🙂
04 July 11
time: 9:15 am CST
Time and date entered by me since it isn’t on there otherwise!( Nice to know when someone made an entry)!!
Happy 4th of July everyone.!! Hope you have a safe and enjoyable day. I have to be the “cook” today. lol
Any more news of extentions???
take care,
walt
Hi everyone,
My husband had to recently file . He claimed his first 2 weeks a week ago and no funds yet. The waiting week and 3 weeks is over. No funds. The 800 204-2418 doesn’t answer. Does anyone please have a number for a rep that is ready to assist at AWI?
Elissa, this happened to me! I filed exactly on May 5th. Was asked to claim on the internet for my pertinent weeks, and I never got my first check unttil May 31st, and they said this was perfectly normal. Don’t worry, please, your husband will get his weeks or will be notified on claiming his weeks again, I had to do mine twice, looks like AWI changed their ways or I can’t see any other reason for all of this to happen, anyway, good luck to your husband, let us know when he finally gets his check!
Hi Mark in FL,
It was exactly that. However, they suspended my account since I didn’t enter my Work Search. I was not notified that I had to enter it. As soon as I got off the phone with them this morning, I went in and entered it.
A couple additional questions:
-Was I supposed to be notified?
-Will I be paid for my additional week last claim, and 2 upcoming weeks that are currently suspended?
-The rep told me I had to call back and let them know it was done. I tried calling multiple times and either it was busy or TWICE when I called and waited 15 and 25 minutes the rep said they couldn’t hear me and requested I called back. Do I really have to call back, or will it auto update?
-How long will it take for them to verify my work searches and release my suspension?
Anything else I should do as a preventative measure for the future? This experience was extremely emotional. I cannot wait to be re-employed.
Thanks Larry and Mark for replying to me!
Hi Elissa – Long time!! See the better AWI number below.
Hi Eve – I only had to enter work searches for EB & it was on the screen when you claimed your weeks online. If it’s on there when you claim your weeks fill it in & keep it simple. Many times the people at the 800 number are have no clue & just tell you something. You can call back 10 minutes later & get a different answer. But since they told you to call back, it may be necessary as they may not release your claim until you do call.
Had to dig this out of my file, but here is a better number to call with several extensions. The people at this number are much more knowledgeable that the idiots at the 800 number.
(ELISSA – Hi!! Use this number as well)
1-877-846-8770
ext 5296 Josh
5293 Melody
1493 Cassandra
1781 Stacy
1786 Chris
I don’t know if these people are still at these extensions, but I guarantee you will have much better luck with this number. Once I left a message & they actually called me back. You could give it a few days & see if it does update, but if it was already flagged, I’m guessing that you will have to call. Just tell them you didn’t have your work search file with you when you claimed your weeks so you had to go back & do it & now it’s done. Hope this helps!
Smiles to all 🙂
Moo Mark!
What’s going on? We’re getting close, it’s almost that time of year.
I’ve been doing some consulting and in-home service and repair. I recently applied for a one year contract with DOT but haven’t heard anything. Never know.
Other than that pretty much the same ole.
HI Issa, Elissa, Beatrice, Larry, Walt, Eve Payret, Kris, Jayril !!
Joe