Scream for ice cream! Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day happening todayNorth Port brush fire closes roads, skate park and disc golf course
Credit: WINK News. According to the CONNECT website Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to waive the waiting week, work search and work registration requirements for claimants through Feb. 27, 2021. WINK News discovered the change ahead of when this provision would have expired Jan. 2, 2021. We did not see an announcement from DEO or the governor’s office prior to confirming it on the CONNECT website. MORE: CONNECT, Florida’s Online Application for Reemployment Assistance According to CONNECT, answers to work search questions are still required to process claims in the CONNECT system but will not impact benefit payments. When the requirement is in place, it usually makes claimants input jobs they’ve searched in order to qualify for benefits. These waivers make it so people don’t have to input job searches to qualify for benefits. For ongoing updates and information on unemployment, follow WINK News Investigative Reporter Sara Girard on Twitter and Facebook. She also updates the WINK News FAQ: Unemployment Resources page as information is received.