DEO activates Extended Benefits program to provide additional unemployment assistance

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity activated the federal Extended Benefits program Friday to continue to help provide unemployment assistance to Floridians during the pandemic.

According to the DEO press release, Extended Benefits is a federal program implemented by the state. Extended Benefits authorizes up to an additional six weeks of benefits to eligible individuals who have exhausted Reemployment Assistance benefits during periods of high unemployment.

DEO says it’s working diligently to stand up the Extended Benefits program as quickly as possible. The department anticipates having the Extended Benefits application completed and ready for Floridians in December.

Floridians who have exhausted their state Reemployment Assistance and their Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits and may be eligible for Extended Benefits will receive the opportunity to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Individuals are told to review the application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and apply to determine if they are eligible.
Once Extended Benefits is available in the CONNECT system, the department will do continued outreach to those individuals to ensure they are receiving benefits from the appropriate program.

MORE: Review all of the Florida Reemployment Assistance benefit programs