Reemployment Assistance benefits are available to Floridians who have been negatively impacted as a result of the mitigation efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. Eligible individuals include those who have lost their job through no fault of their own, are quarantined by a medical professional or a government agency, laid off or sent home without pay for an extended period by their employer, or caring for an immediate family member who is diagnosed with COVID-19.

Reemployment Assistance benefits, formerly known as Unemployment Compensation, can be filed online below.

Before You Apply:

Before applying, it is recommended that you review the Reemployment Assistance Handbook and Claimant Guide.

How to Apply:

Individuals may apply online or download the Florida Reemployment Assistance paper application available in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole.

Governor DeSantis has waived work search, online work registration and waiting week requirements for Reemployment Assistance applications.

Disclaimer: The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their employees on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. If your employer is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program, this may affect your eligibility for state or federal Reemployment Assistance programs.

CARES Act Benefits and Implementation

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 provides Reemployment Assistance benefits for the self-employed, independent contractors, certain nonprofit employees, gig economy workers, those who have exhausted other unemployment insurance benefits, and those who may not have sufficient work history to qualify for regular state Reemployment Assistance benefits.

The CARES Act also includes Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) for those receiving any amount of Reemployment Assistance benefits. This will include an additional $600 weekly benefit for individuals that are eligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). FPUC applies to weeks beginning March 29, 2020 and ends July 25, 2020.

After receiving guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor, DEO has begun aligning resources and technology to create the necessary processes to pay qualified individuals the benefits they are eligible for as quickly as possible.

Click below for more information and to apply for federal Reemployment Assistance Benefits.

After You Apply:

Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to waive the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through December 5, 2020. Pursuant to federal law, claimants will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits. In so doing, claimants will confirm that they are still unemployed due to COVID-19 and acknowledge that they are able and available for work should it be offered. For more information, click here. To review account updates and claim Reemployment Assistance benefits, please utilize the CONNECT portal.