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.
Unemployment benefit information for other states
Florida unemployment benefits extension - 20 more weeks.
Will New York add 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits?
New York extends unemployment benefits by 13 weeks
Will Tennessee add 20 weeks of unemployment benefit extension?
Ohio unemployment benefits extension - 13 more weeks
Texas Unemployment Benefits Extension - 13 more weeks
Unemployment benefits extended in 2009 stimulus package.
Bill H3548 - 13 week extension for high unemployment states.
Kentucky Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
Illinois Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
Michigan Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
California Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
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http://www.change.org/actions/view/the_99ers_need_a_tier_v_added_to_unemployment_benefits
The 99ers need a Tier V added to Unemployment Benefits
So who doesn’ t like Venice, Florida? Not me.
Here’s another link to media contacts.
http://www.congress.org/stickers/?dir=congressorg&media=1
Is anyone getting additional 8 weeks that the state passed? They passed something that would give up to 8 weeks of benefits for those who finished Tier 4 before 27 February. I think at least 40.000 people could be qualified for it. It doesn’t look like Tier 5 is gonna happen soon if ever.
Crunch, thanks. I agree – I haven’t planned on another tier and I’ve been fortunate to pick up some temp jobs. I’ve been trying stores, hotels and restaurants, too.
jen
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/-obama-get-the-unemployment-extension-on-the-floor
Question for someone who’s gone through it before.
I have read on here before regarding going from tier 3 – tier 4.
I have 1 week left of tier 3 to claim on 3/30/10.
From others expierence i have read on here, i believe when i claim my last week of tier 3 on 3/30/10 i will get a payment that day for 1 week, then that night my account should update with tier 4 and the next day 3/31/10 i should also get a check cut for 1 week out of tier 4 to cover the other week i would also claim on 3/30/10? Has this been working automatic for others or do i need to call AWI to get the 2nd week paid out of tier 4?
Thanks in advance.
Tha’t how it went for me dee. Filed on a Monday for the last week of tier3. Was allowed to claim 2 weeks. One check was cut Monday afternoon and the other check was cut Tuesday afternoon. I have DD so I had one deposited on Wednesday and the other deposited on Thursday. Was completely automatic dee,never had to call.
Thanks GonzoFl, yeah it was you and erica’s comment’s that i read earlier so i was hopeing it would be automatic with only a day or so delay, but being one of the long term unemployed like alot of other’s here my past dealing’s with AWI on tiers or just about anything have been less then automatic, so i alway’s have some doubt. But seem’s to have gone pretty smooth for you and erica. So i will hope for the best.
Thanks for your help.
Dee
It worked differently for me. I received one week tier 3 $275.00 and something like $36.00 for the second week. (shorted for that period)
The next claim week for tier 4 was back to $275. for both weeks.
So it could go either way. good luck!
Crunch & Jennifer
I did the same. Once I knew that tier 5 was not likely to happen, I Picked up temporary jobs to get me through April. Have not given up hope of my perfect job. I look for it everyday! We can’t lose sight of hope!
Wow, I had a great day! I am set up to do business again starting in April. I think I will be bringing in the bucks again soon.
I hope all of you are doing well too!!!!
Have a great night!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDDTxRrtK4
Tier 5 to Survive!
that video is excellent! thank you to whoever made it!!
Suzie,
Thanks for the tip regarding the clothes. Actually, I love to shop at Goodwill and other thrift stores. It’s amazing what you can find. I find it almost impossible to go into a department store and pay retail prices. $40 for a pair of jeans? No thanks. I can get them for $5 at Goodwill. It takes patience and more than one trip to find what I’m looking for, but that’s fun, too.
Job interview went okay, I guess. I’m the world’s worst interviewee. (Is that a word?) I get too nervous and my mind goes blank when I’m asked questions like, what is your biggest weakness and stuff like that. I guess I need more practice.
I should know something in a few weeks, but since there were 200 applicants I’m not getting my hopes up. Plus the job is in the oncology department and I have mixed feelings about that. If I’m offered the position I will take it, because come on – it’s Mayo Clinic! But I won’t be crushed if I don’t get it.
I signed the petition and will keep all the 99ers in my thoughts.
Smiles to all!
So saw this on unemployed friends website, looks like a new bill introduced today in the house to yet again extend the dates to quailify for next tier, 30 more days from april 5th 2010 to may 5th 2010. Here’s the links. Not sure what this mean’s for the bill that was sent to the house to extend dates to the end of the year. Yet again it does not seem to help anyone who has run out of all tiers or who are about to run out of all availible tiers.
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11069
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/March_2010_Extenders.pdf
crunch – Thanks for the link…the video is awesome & needs to go to the media.
dee – Thanks for the links as well. I can not believe they are just going to extend the date another 30 days. Well I can believe it & we wonder why our country is in such economic shambles. Congress can’t get anything done in a timely, correct, efficient manner. Look how much time & money they’ve wasted on health care & they still haven’t accomplished anything. I’ll definitely be casting my vote in November!
the perfect political move for the dems is to bring up a tier 5 extension right after health care passes it would be political suicide for the gop to vote no.
dee
For what it is worth I ended tier 3 with claiming the last week Monday. It let me claim 2 weeks as if I would get 1 from tier 4 also. But when it updated today and showed the total of tier 4 left and next claim date the 29th I called and asked she told me no I would have to start claiming on tier 4 on the 29th so I missed a week in the mess.
When this happened coming out of tier 2 to 3 they let me claim that week over the phone but she said this time I would have to wait. But at least it is just a week I was afraid there would be a longer delay because of the extension bill taking so long thru congress. I know the 6 weeks of tier 4 is going to go fast though.
This may just because of some circumstance in my case I don’t know.
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