Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Provides Weekly Reemployment Assistance Update - October 26

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued its weekly Reemployment Assistance updates. Daily updates can be found on the Reemployment Assistance (RA) Claims Dashboard.
 
PAYMENT PROGRESS:

• As of October 25, DEO has paid 2,428,757 claimants more than $31.8 billion ($31,800,001,251). Over 5.7 million (5,798,534) unique claims have been processed, representing 99.4 percent of unique claims submitted. 
• 97.9 percent of all eligible benefits requested prior to October 1, 2021, for state Reemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) have been paid to claimants. Additionally, 99.9 percent of all eligible benefits requested by claimants for weeks of unemployment prior to July 25, 2020, have also received their corresponding Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits for that week. 
• DEO recommends that claimants and employers utilize the Reemployment Assistance Help Center—an online portal for claimants and employers to provide and receive additional information from DEO. This online resource continues to be updated with additional features for claimants and employers to notify DEO of instances of Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft, provide documentation to DEO, and has several resourceful materials for claimants or employers who have additional questions. To visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center, click here. 

 
Overpayments

• To ease burdens that overpayments may cause on claimants, and at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, DEO submitted a request to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, to indefinitely defer all referrals to collection agencies for all non-fraudulent debts owed by claimants for state Reemployment Assistance benefits owed for weeks beginning March 1, 2020, through September 4, 2021. Read more about this announcement here.
• This request does not apply to fraudulent overpayments and DEO will continue to investigate fraudulent overpayments to ensure individuals and bad actors are held accountable for their fraudulent actions in accordance with the law. For more information on this request, click here.
• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) remains committed to Floridians and understands the financial hardships and uncertainty the pandemic has caused for many claimants and their families.
• Federal and state law requires DEO to issue a Notice of Disqualification that may have overpayments attached. However, DEO understands how confusing and burdensome these federal and state requirements may be following the economic hardship experienced by claimants throughout the pandemic.
• In addition, to assist claimants in navigating overpayments on their accounts, DEO has made the following resources available:
• FloridaJobs.org/Overpayments - with easy-to-understand information and resources on overpayments
• Reemployment Assistance Overpayments Guide for applying for an overpayment waiver
• Informational Flyers with helpful information on overpayments and overpayment waivers
• FloridaJobs.org/RAHelpCenter - Reemployment Assistance Help Center self-service paths for notice of disqualification, overpayment, and appeals assistance
• For more information about Reemployment Assistance overpayments, click here.

 
CONNECT Hours

• DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to process claims and payments. CONNECT's regularly scheduled hours are from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily, Monday - Friday.
• Beginning Saturday, October 30, through Sunday, October 31, CONNECT will be unavailable to claimants while DEO works to continue to process payments, and send necessary correspondence to claimants. CONNECT will be available Monday, November 1, at 8:00 a.m.
• This schedule does not affect individuals who wish to file a new claim. Individuals can file a new claim 24 hours a day, seven days per week at www.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim."  

 
Customer Service Centers

• Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Centers are available this week Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for all account inquiries and questions. On Saturday, October 30, through Sunday, October 31, staff resources will be dedicated to processing claims and payments. The Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center will reopen Monday, November 1, at 7:30 a.m.
• For additional questions, please visit the Reemployment Assistance Help Center. This online portal can assist claimants or employers provide additional information to DEO. Individuals can also notify DEO of suspected Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft. To access this new online portal, click here.

 
Additional Resources

• If an individual is not eligible to receive Reemployment Assistance benefits, there are additional resources readily available to Floridians and their families.
• DEO, in partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), provide additional opportunities and resources for Florida families who need additional assistance. Resources include food assistance for low-income households, medical assistance, and temporary financial assistance to families who qualify. For more information, click here. 

 
About DEO
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.