Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Florida News

Florida DEO Tries to Make Unemployment Assistance Process More User Friendly

Share this Story via Text Message, Facebook, X, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DEO is seeing dramatic increases in Floridians filing for unemployment assistance. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order directing DEO and other executive agencies to take all necessary actions to improve the program.

Share this Story via Text Message, Facebook, X, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail

On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced multiple actions taken to improve the ability for Floridians to access the state unemployment assistance program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DEO is seeing dramatic increases in Floridians filing for unemployment assistance. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order directing DEO and other executive agencies to take all necessary actions to improve the program.

“I want to thank Governor DeSantis for providing my agency with the resources needed to assist Floridians as quickly as possible,” said Ken Lawson, the executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “It is imperative that my team can provide multiple avenues to Floridians who have lost their jobs and been impacted by COVID-19. We are all hands-on deck throughout the state working with every state agency and resource we have, and we will not rest until the issues are resolved.”

Additional Ways to Apply for Reemployment Assistance

As many Floridians do not have access to a computer at this time, DeSantis has instructed DEO to make paper unemployment assistance applications available for Floridians.

Beginning this week, CareerSource locations across the state will be providing paper applications and assisting Floridians with submitting their applications. Visit www.CareerSourceFlorida.com for information and center locations.

FedEx is offering free printing and mailing of paper applications at over 100 storefronts across the state.

Applications can be downloaded at www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. Once the application is complete, individuals should mail them to:

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
P.O. Box 5350
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350

Additionally, to make it easier for Floridians to receive assistance, DeSantis waived:

  • The waiting week, so individuals can claim their very first week of assistance.
  • The work search and work registration requirements so individuals filing for assistance are not required to register in Employ Florida or submit information on a biweekly basis regarding the employers that they contacted each week while the state mitigates the spread of COVID-19.

Technology

DEO has worked with the Department of Management Services to dramatically enhance the capability of the online application system for assistance.

See also  Ron DeSantis Says Florida’s Unemployment Rate Has Been Lower Than the National Rate For 40 Consecutive Months

DEO has installed 72 new servers from the state’s back up data center in Winter Haven to increase capacity. The system can now handle up to 120,000 simultaneous connections by individuals filing claims. This allows for greater capacity than the 20,000 simultaneous connections that the system has been experiencing recently.

An additional 10 servers are being installed to assist the CONNECT system this week.

“Governor DeSantis is bringing all resources to the table to respond to an unprecedented volume of need,” said Jonathan Satter, the secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services. “Our DMS team is committed to supporting DEO in getting Floridians the assistance they desperately need at this time. We will continue to allocate the technical and personnel resources necessary to provide Floridians the level of service they expect and deserve.”

Providing Additional Customer Service Support

The governor has supported DEO by making resources available to assist with helping more Floridians as quickly as possible. Last week, DEO had nearly 200 staff working on the claims process for assistance.

Beginning on Tuesday, more than 500 individuals will be providing support for the claims process through contracts with customer call centers, CareerSource center staff and state employees.

By next week, that number will more than double when additional contracted staff, state employees and local workforce development boards are added to the team.

The Florida Department of Revenue has provided DEO with 579 additional employees to begin processing applications. This week, more than 2,300 state employees have volunteered to be available to answer calls, reply to emails and process applications.

“The Department of Revenue is eager to assist the Department of Economic Opportunity in verifying the applications for Reemployment Assistance during this statewide health emergency. DOR has nearly 600 experienced employees who are ready to mobilize for this all-hands-on-deck effort,” said Dr. Jim Zingale from the Florida Department of Revenue.

 

Author

  • Florida Daily

    Florida Daily offers news, insights and analysis as we cover the most important issues in the state, from education, to business and politics.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Michael E Branum

    July 22, 2020, 1:03 am at 1:03 am

    Got Covid19 permanent layoff 03/20/2020 tried applying online,FAIL,mailed in information,rejected.Florida has waived work search from March – August.Seemingly they now are sending card loaded with around 100 dollars.Surely they can backlog records with no hasty time limits? Did get the 1200 dollar stimulus check.What Florida has done is nothing short of a Public Rip-off ? PS earned around $15,000.00 in 2019 and was off to a good start in 2020 before Covid19 permanent layoff earning over $6,000.00 . Maybe government will do something in IRS tax refunds in lost wages later this year ?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

<

Ed Dean: Publisher

 

Ed Dean is a leading radio and news media personality including hosting the #1 statewide radio talk show in Florida. Contact Ed.Dean@FloridaDaily.com

You May Also Like

Florida Politics

Share this Story via Text Message, Facebook, X, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo MailEarlier today, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 621, which protects property...

Florida News

Share this Story via Text Message, Facebook, X, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo MailThe Orlando Business Journal reported that Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts...

Florida Politics

Share this Story via Text Message, Facebook, X, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo MailFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 3, a bill that prohibits children...

Florida Politics

Share this Story via Text Message, Facebook, X, Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo MailFlorida First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded five Suwannee, Madison, and Columbia County...

Follow us on Social Media