Gov. to Tap Federal Unemployment Money, Extend Benefits

Gov. DeSantis will apply for additional unemployment funds authorized by a memorandum signed by Pres. Trump. The rules are complicated, but independent contractors might receive an additional $300 per week if they’re eligible Reemployment Assistance claimants.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) would apply for money under the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program. If qualified, unemployment recipients may receive an additional $300 per week.

A memorandum signed by President Trump authorized the funds after a program that provided $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits expired in July. It applies to Floridians who were eligible for Reemployment Assistance for weeks of unemployment ending on or after Aug. 1, 2020.

Pending federal approval, DeSantis says the money will allow Florida to offer the additional $300 per week to eligible Reemployment Assistance claimants.

It appears possible that independent contractors in Florida – a category that includes most Realtors – will be eligible under the general guidelines. However, the DEO application must be approved first.

DeSantis said in a release that Floridians who qualify are a) currently receiving Reemployment Assistance benefits, b) unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19, and c) currently receiving at least $100 per week in Reemployment Assistance benefits. If all of those situations apply, individuals should be eligible to receive the additional $300 per week. If the federal government approves Florida’s application, payments will be retroactive to Aug. 1, 2020.

Qualified Assistance benefits include:

• State Reemployment Assistance, including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service members (UCX)

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• Extended Benefits (EB)

• Short-Time Compensation (STC)

• Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)

• Payments under the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program

According to DeSantis, the LWA program will be administered similarly to the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. No additional application is necessary. Eligible Floridians will receive their LWA benefits the same week they receive their weekly Reemployment Assistance benefits. DEO recommends that claimants select direct deposit as their means of receiving benefits to receive payments as quickly as possible.

The program’s funding comes from FEMA disaster relief funds, and guidance suggests that Florida should receive about three weeks’ worth of benefits upon approval. After that, the program will approve additional weekly benefits on a week-by-week basis, with the continuation dependent on the amount of money remaining in the fund.

As a result, the program’s funding could end at any time.

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