Fla. Is Rolling Out Extended Unemployment Benefits

By Kerry Smith

Officials say website updates are underway. Under the latest law, PUA unemployment benefits were extended until April 5 for independent contractors and other claimants.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced Monday that benefits included in the latest pandemic relief bill authorized by Congress and signed by Pres. Trump will soon be reflected on the state’s website.

Florida DEO spokeswoman Paige Landrum said Monday that the agency started to implement benefit extensions while “working diligently to fully implement program updates.”

Under the latest law, PUA unemployment benefits were extended for independent contractors and other claimants.

The bill extends:

• The maximum number of weeks individuals may receive unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 50 weeks.

• All unemployment assistance, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, from Dec. 26, 2020 to March 14, 2021.

• Eligibility to receive PUA benefits to April 5, 2021, as long as an individual hasn’t reached their maximum number of weeks of unemployment.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) is $300 per week. This provides supplemental unemployment benefits for individuals receiving PUA or regular unemployment compensation for weeks after Dec. 26, 2020, until March 14, 2021.

In short, Realtor members already claiming unemployment benefits (PUA) can continue to claim benefits for a total of 50 weeks. The benefit can include $300 from the federal government and $125 in state benefits that they have already been receiving.

© 2021 Florida Realtors® Reprinted with Permission

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