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”
Hey Joe,
You have been here a long time i know that. Most have gotten off here. I have found some work but you never know in this economy with the govt can’t even cut the deficit. Unreal.
Hey Larry.
Yea they released this morning that only 18,000 jobs were added last month, that’s probably more like 8,000.
UE rate rises to 9.2%, that’s more like 19% or even higher probably.
Yea, been here a long time, that’s for sure. 2 years or so I think, all throughout the 99 weeks I collected and that ended a year or so ago.
Hi Joe!!
Glad to hear you’re doing well. Yeah it will be interesting to see how Muschamp does for us….what’s the buzz around Gville? Hope you get the DOT contract….that would be cool.
Yeah I’ve been doing some contract work around here as well. Not many hours last month though, but things tend to get busier in the fall. Too many people on vacations, etc.
Wonder what ever happened to Nancy – FL, Kathy- Jax, Just Me & others?? For some reason, I just keep following this board although I don’t post like I used to. The economy & jobs are still in the tank as well as the housing market in Tampa….
Smiles To all 🙂 and MOOOOOO to Joe!
Hi all. Like Mark in FLA I continue to check in from time to time.
@Mark- I remember that JustMe found a job about a year ago just before I moved to Sacramento.
Have been unemployed for three years soon and received my last check in April, 2010. Since then have lost house due to non payment of back taxes and car blew headers same day as eviction last August. Subsequently lost license for non payment of insurance and was unable to tag the broken down car that is at a friend’s. Finally have a bit of cash unfortunately due to death and am not sure what the sequence might be in order to get back on the road legally if I can get the car fixed. Thought I might check in with this forum to see if anyone has reached this kind of low and has some advice. (The house is another story with Lee County still holding on to the funds that was over the amount of taxes.) Thank you since this is not too much money I can’t afford a lawyer, lol.
I’m really sorry ‘Lost It All’ that you’ve had such a hard time. I was in FLA last week and discussed the situation in your state with family members. Unbelievable! I hope you all can clean house of the abusive governor and other politicians.
I’m really sorry ‘Lost it All’. I have been unemployed two years and am not yet where you are, but fear I will get there. I don’t really know where you should start. Maybe some one at the tag/license office could give you some direction. Good Luck!
Lost it all…… that’s what legal aid is for! I’m sure that they have a full docket, but get on the list! You may have to wait all day in the legal aid office to get in but take a coke and sandwich with you, and don’t leave until they see you. Make sure that you have all the paperwork you have, even if you don’t think that it is important. Trust me…… you are qualified for their services
Hi Joe…. Hi Mark I’ve had my job for 15 months now and it is a decent hourly job, not the excitement of my last career, but I thank God every day that I have a job and an income. I also say, God….. please bring back capitalism, because socialism sucks! Didn’t work in Europe and doesn’t work here.
my friend Joe, hope all is well with the nice folks here, I don’t come often because I depend on my good neighbor’s computer and I am visiting her tonite so she kindly let me use her pc.
Joe, you told me not too long ago that, as I became unemployed on 5/6/11 and filed that day, I could be able to get all the tiers, 1,11,and III,…reason I am asking is that I have about 3 more weeks left of my initial claim of 5/6, according to what I see in my claim record online, I have 746.00 left on my initial 5/6 claim account. So, after this amount is finished, will I roll over to the next tiers? I don’t know much about these things but I went to AWI’s website tonight and by what I read, seems like I am able to get those still, please let me know, I am very nervous by all this, and I don’t want to get sick, thanks so much, my friend Joe, I send you my blessings.
Beatrice
08 aug 11 ,time 09:24 am CST
Hi everyone.
Any news? I haven’t been on here in a while. there are no DATE/Time on our entries so I don’t know when the last entry was made
by Joe. I try to remember to date/time my entries.
Hope everyone is doing Okay considering our situation. Take care.
Aug 9, 2011
Hi Beatrice!
Yes, when your initial claim ends, you will roll into Tier 1 EUC. You will exhaust that and roll into Tier 2 EUC, as you’ll exhaust that prior to the end of the year.
Good luck!
It’s bad out there. We’re heading into another recession perhaps worse than the 2008 one. Stock market is tanking again today.
Take care,
Joe
Aug 9, 2011
Hi Gail!
Yep, socialism doesn’t work. I hope that everyone who thought the new “era” wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. We now know this way doesn’t work either, not that the previous administrations ways worked, but this way doesn’t work either. In fact we’re in MUCH worse shape now than in the history of the country.
Glad to hear you have a job Gail!
I do consulting and that’s slow but I’m ok.
Take care!
Joe
August 9, 2011
Lost it all:
They suspend your license if the insurance company reports your insurance has lapsed for non-payment, etc. What you do to prevent this is simply surrender your tag, which I assume you never did since your license was suspended.
At this point it’s all about money. They’re going to want some enormous sum to reinstate your license and you’ll have to carry a SR22 for a certain amount of time, which is some financial responsibility deal. This might cost you more in insurance premiums or something.
For the future, just remember, if you end up not being able to renew or pay for vehicle insurance to go surrender the tag and that will prevent your license suspension.
Take care!
-Joe
8/9/11
Thank you, Joe for your comment. I had no idea about surrendering tags since I had never found myself in such dire straits before having worked all my life and playing by the rules. I’ll have to look up SR22 since I have no idea what that is. And here I thought I pretty much knew the scenery of the bottom of the barrel lol.
8/17/11
Yea, the bottom of the barrel is deeper than anyone realizes until they find themselves at the bottom and try to climb back out!
Joe
8/24/2011 – thought this was kind of comical!
Dr. Seuss Government Poem:
I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks, or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals, I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like ex-speaker Nan, I do not like this ‘YES WE CAN’.
I do not like this spending spree, I’m smart, I know that nothing’s free.
I do not like their smug replies, when I complain about their lies.
I do not like this kind of hope. I do not like it. nope, nope, nope ~
Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well.
I have a quick question – I am currently unemployed, just moved to tier 3. I was thinking of advertising for tutoring services as I am a State of Florida certified teacher.
I understand I have to let the Unemployment Office know of my earnings. How do I go about doing that? How do I prove it? Do I need to create a business, or can I work as myself?
Thank you very much. Any details are greatly appreciated.
Hi Eve – I do some tutoring myself….work for myself. All the parents pay me cash or some a personal check…so do what’s best for you. They only know what you tell them & unless the person or student is going to give you a 1099, I would keep it to myself. If you claim it as income, you’ll have to pay both sides of social security on it even if you only make a $1000 per year. I personally like keeping the most money in my pocket….Again I would do what’s best for you! Hope that helps.
Smiles to all 🙂
8/30/11 Just passed by to see if anyone was here, it is a very slow
forum lately, sooo sad,
I just entered today Tier 1, finished my regular unemployment claim 2 weeks ago, I might have a job offer in about 10 days. If I accept that job
and let’s say things don’t go well and I have to leave, will they start me back on whatever amount and Tier I left on? This is all so confusing to me,! Tiers will be finished for good for everybody in December??? I need a bit
of explanation, I don’t have anyone and I feel very afraid.
Thanks my friends, again, I miss seeing this forum so active as it used to be,will try to return in couple days.
Love, Beatrice
Beatrice,
As long as you were not terminated or let go from your job for misconduct or you left voluntarily, you would back on where you came off of. Dec 31, 2011 is the cut off date correct. No more in 2012 unless congress extends the benefits which is not very likely since we have this thing called a 12 trillion dollar deficit. hope this helps.
8/31 Hi Larry! I was glad to see someone here, and firstly, thanks for the explanation, if I don’t get that job that I told u about and I don’t get any other offers I guess I will be able to at least, if not terminate all the 4 tiers, use most of them for my rent,,,..this is very sad for everyone, I know about the debt stuff, things are not good and none of the politicians are worth a dime, reps, dems, or whatever, they all s.u.c.k….I am feeding myself with the cheap brands of tuna cans, soda crackers and caprisun and sometimes cheap dry powdered milk, I am losing faith in everything,. anyways, thanks so much for your help, it was most welcome, will be back soon.
Love, beatrice
9/5/11.
Hi everyone. My regular unemployment ended and today I claimed the first 2 weeks of whatever extension it’s called ( I get confused with tiers and names). When I looked at the balance it said that I have now a balance of $5,500 (the weeks I claimed today would be included in that amount). So, that means that I have until December to collect? My calculation (if I did it correctly would take me up to the first week in January @$275 per week) but at the top of the page in big red letters it said something about termination of all unemployment by the end of this year. I am totally confused and nervous because I have not found a job since I started collecting in February of this year (2011) and have received no response of the many, many applications I submit online and via fax. I even went to a job fair which resulted in nothing.
Would there be a possibility that I would still be able to collect or qualify for some other extension after December?.
Thank you all for your help!!!!
Payret,
you are absolutely correct on your calculations on not getting paid after this year terminates. Unless the Fed passes some kind of extension for the unemployed next year 2012, you will only collect until Dec 31, 2011 and when Jan 1 2012 comes around you will be finished regardless of if your extension is exhausted or not. I could be incorrect on that but i think i am. Even though i have found employment nothing is guaranteed today. Sorry for your predicament but lots of folks are in the same boat as you are or worse. Hope you find something out there. There are many job sites to go on. Have you tried indeed.com? Employ Florida website, etc? All depends on what you are trying to find. Some jobs are harder to find than others. Don’t give up hope, I know it gets frustrating but you have to keep trying. Hope this helps.
9/5/11
Thanks Larry!!
That is exactly what I thought but wanted to get your feedback since my knowledge in unemployment matters is very limited. I hope they pass something for 2012 because the end of the year is really bad for finding employment (not that the rest of the year has not been). I am trying many websites like monster.com, careerbuilder, lawjobs, the newspaper online but not the one you mentioned which I will definitely try. My profession is legal assistant but I am looking for anything that is office related even outside of the legal field, it really does not matter as long as I can find a decent job. I also hope that I get something soon. Thank you again for your response. Have a wonderful day!!!!
Hello my dear friends! I just heard on MSNBC that Obama has included in his Plan coming out, more Unemployed Extensions, being the way things are, so, let'[s keep our faiths up and strong, maybe this time there will be a miracle, you never know, and hoping the Congress leaves all their no’s behind and start cooperating with the President once and for all, for the sake of this magnificent country and us the citizens, specially the long term unemployeds and the new unemployeds. I am so tired already of feeling scared to death that I wish I could hide my head under the ground like those big birds do, can’t remember their names. We are all hurting BAD;
May the Good Lord Bless you all, my friends…
9/8/11
Hi Beatrice! Wow, I hope you are right about the extensions that you heard. I will be done in December and I am so afraid because I do not find any jobs. I am even considering going to one of those employment agencies and see what they are about (just a bit afraid about their fine print and all). If you hear of anything else, please come back here and post it. Thank you!!!!
09 sept 11 AT: 10:18AM
Hello anyone? anyone having more info about the unemployed benefits? None of the above entries have a date/time on them so I don’t know what the last entry was.
Obama wants to extend employment. But is he talking about a Tier 5 in that? Don’t know.
Best wishes for all of you. Hope you find work soon.
Aryone remember me from back in the”day”………..Im still here and still unemployed…a major 99er!…..any other 99ers out there?….did Obama propose anything for us or no?…Im confused…anyone please answer…..Bruce
9/10/11
My friends, I know Obama has a request for Unemployment Extensions in this new Jobs Plan he just talked about, in fact, many times they show
that that is one of the items on the ball, now, I do not know if this is Tier 5, or it is going to be a new thing by another name, I do not know,. Seems like Congress is seen themselves “forced” to cooperate this time and the last I heard yesterday was that Boehner said he probably would be able to
work with Obama on the Jobs Bill. So. This is it, my friends, we have to keep on top of this see what’s going on, something is definitely cooking on the hot stove, and hope is for our benefit, My Extensions will be forced to finalize at the end of December, even if I have not finished Tier 4 by then, so, like I said, I am tired of feeling scared to death and with no options whatsoever, so, I will keep coming and reporting what I find out.
Good Luck in the meantime to all! and a special HELLO to Joe, and all my other sweet friends that have helped me so well!
Beatrice
9/10/11
Thanks Beatrice!!! My Tier 1 will end in December and I am scared to death because I cannot find employment. I really hope that something good happens and that they do it soon. Please keep us informed of whatever you find out!! Thanks so much!!!
Anyone else out there who has been unemployed for over 2 years? Do you have any answers as to whether or not us 99ers will again qualify for any help?….please respond…..
Anyone else out there who has been unemployed for over 2 years? Do you have any answers as to whether or not us 99ers will again qualify for any help?….please respond…..I cant make heads or tails out of what is proposed…
Hi Bruce and Walt. We’re all wondering the same thing.
An entire Tier V might be a little too ambitious right now, but I think we should all get back on the bandwagon and try to get SOMETHING. Maybe a few weeks tacked on for the 99ers? It’s not going to happen if we don’t fight for it.
HELLO ALL,
I see some long time old names here. Hi Joe-Ville and Tom.
For me it has been over 3 years unemployed. Been thru alot of rough times.
Yes I am a 99r! Hope they do something
Hey guys…has anyone seen the language in the new jobs bill?…does it mention anything for the long term unemployed?…..I mean we 99ers dont qualify for any extension, but Ed Schultz said that there was something for us 99ers???….Bruce
He Mark……..are U still here?…remember me?……heard any possibilities for us on this new bill?…Im still unemployed….Bruce
9/12/11
Hi! I have a question about the tiers, I really hope someone can help me!! Ok, I was automatically moved to tier 1 once my regular benefits ended, and it seems as if it just continued giving me money based on my original balance. Well, my balance just reached $0 (the last check was actually about $60 less that usual because of this), and it says the next week to claim is today (instead of in 2 weeks, like usual). So, is that it for me? Am I elegible to recieve EUC (or EB, I’m not even sure I know the difference)?? Do I apply for something, or is everything automatically handled?
This whole time, I thought when the balance reached $0, it would replenish as I would automatically move on to the next tier. I guess not 🙁 I will check in the morning, I REALLY hoping when the database updates overnight, I’ll get good news?!
Sorry for such a long comment. Thanks for any help!!
Good Morning All!
Hi Bruce….Yes I remember you! How are you? Hope you’re hanging strong. Based on what I’ve read so far, the jobs bill is a mere extension of the date for those who have not yet completed 99 weeks. So right now there is nothing in there for us 99ers……..need to start sending emails/faxes etc to our senators & anybody else who may throw in some support.
I’ll check in later today…..Smiles to all 🙂
Hey, I,m trying to learn how the florida trie system works. Is your first unemployment trie 1? or is trie 1 after that? And how is the trie system made up?
HELLO FOLKS!
Boehner does not feel like approving many things inside this jobs’ bill, I don’t know if he also means the Unemployment Extensions, if that is the actual case, i am going to hate this satanic fiend until the day I die, it is
horrible the way they are playing with us, I am checking all the news on this matter day by day, MSNBC has great shows after 5:00 that talk about this, and specially a guy, Ed Schultz, he, very often
talks about this problem with the 99ers, the Extensions in the Jobs’ bill etc, this is the only way I find out about these things, CNN usually do not
talk about this problem as often as these other shows in MSNBC. let’s see if Boehner softens and starts feeling lousy and bad about all the humongous problems we, unemployeds, are going thru.
Beatrice…if you’re not a 99er…you may get something…however if you are a 99er…forget it…theres nothing….Bruce
Hello, Dear Bruce!
No, i am in the EB, I think that’s what it’s called what comes right after the regular claim ends, or maybe Tier 1, I don’t know, this is crazy, but I am checking this for everyone here, and If I continue without a job I will in the same shoes you all are right now, something’s got to give, and soon, this cannot go on, how in the world are people gonna survive? specially people that are alone, that don’t have any money reserves, any relatives that could help, anything??? i have to vent off otherwise I will explode. If I hear anything I will check in immediately. Tomorrow morning I will check MSNBC at 7:00 am, it’s a new politics show with some guy named Chris something or other, I have heard him many times talk about this problem with the unemployeds, let’s see if this time I hear something.
9/16/11
Hi Beatrice! Thanks for keeping a watch on the information. I think you are in the same boat that I am. I finished my regular (look at my post above) and I claimed my first week of extension (or Tier 1) on 9/5/11. Unless something changes from here to there I will not get anything else after December of this year. I am very concerned because there are no jobs available. I even went to a recruiter and there is nothing. I am truly hoping that something is changed and that more extensions are allowed (that I can benefit from) otherwise I do not know what I will do. Keep us posted of anything you find out! Thanks!!!
Just stopping in to say hi and God bless.
9/18/2011
Hi Peachy!!!! Long time…how are you? Great to see your name pop up!
Hey Joe – How bout them Gators! Did you go to the game….the stadium was packed!
The tiers start after your initial unemployment…the first 26 weeks (which drops to 23 weeks max after the first of the year thanks to our wonderful Gov Rick Scott). Then all the tiers.
Beatrice – If there is no extension of the date, you still get to finish the tier you are on. So if you start tier 1 on Dec 12, you get to finish your complete tier even if it end in March.
Smiles to all…hope everyone is doing okay 🙂
Hello Hello! Payret, Mark, Peachy, Joe, everyone! Well, here I am as promised, after watching this guy’s news show on Tv they did not mention anything about the unemployed extension in the President’s bill,…I know Boehner and Mcconnell are against most of the Bill, and I wonder if they are also against one of the points in the Bill, the Unemployment Extensions, all I hear in the politics shows is that they are not cooperating with the Prez, so, here we go, how can they do this to us? then they better not complaint if truly desperate individuals steal food to feed their young, or even commit suicide because they can’t stand their situation anylonger, as we had a case tha we know of, he took his life after being unemployed without any help for over two and a half years and no relief in sight, this is very very sad, now that I have access to a pc from my neighbor, I will send several emails to the Ed Schultz show, as he many times worried and had
long talks about this problem with the 99ers, and probably cc to the
CNN to see if this jumpstarts again the talks about the 99ers. Thanks so much for your explanation, Mark, really appreciated it, and I want to assure you that I am on top of all the politics shows in the afternoons and evenings and as soon as I hear one of them mention the 99ers I will post right away. This is getting to be unreal. They should send Scott to the slammer for un-helping instead of helping the unemployed. Love u all
Mark, one question: when you were explaining above, you meant “finish the tier even if it ends on March, or finish all the TIERS, meaning if you would start Tier 1 on Dec 1, then you can finish all the tiers from 1 to 4 as long as you start them before that day in Dec? I could not understand very well if you meant all the tiers or just one tier. Thanks again, Mark, y ou are very kind! ;-]
Hi, everyone! Will I just want in to trie2 of my benefits. I been unemployed for allmost a year now!!! I,m scard to death about unemployment ending dec.31,2012 I can,t beleave this country anymore. To leave all us unployed in the country out in the cold!!! I,m going to lose all I worked for for 50yrs. Prez. Obama just sucks……. How will some one live with hinself put so many people homeless and hungery….. We need Bill and Hillary back in office They got a 0 budget….We need to stand up…
Hi Beatrice – No you can only finish the current tier you are on IF they do not extend the deadline. So if you are on tier 1 (20 weeks) when the deadline of Dec 31 rolls around & you have 14 weeks left in that tier then you will get that 14 weeks, but that will be it. You will not be allowed to start tier 2.
Hi everyone!
9/19/11
Now I am a bit confused. My regular unemployment ended and on 9/5/2011 I claimed the first two weeks of whatever extension (I think its Tier 1). The balance that showed for me was $5,500.
I thought that no matter whether I have a balance or not, my benefits/extensions will be over in December of this year. Am I correct? or do I still have some months left in the beginning of next year (2012)??
This is worrying me sick because I cant find a job no matter what.
Thanks to all!!!