Floridians begin receiving $25 increase in weekly unemployment compensation
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Charlie Crist today announced the processing of additional payments to Floridians currently receiving unemployment benefits. The payments, which are in the form of checks or Electronic Fund Transfers, are the result of an agreement Crist signed on Feb. 20, with the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The agreement authorized the state to issue additional federal stimulus payments of $25 per week to people receiving unemployment compensation. The federally funded benefits are expected to provide $345 million to Floridians through July 3, 2010.
“These are difficult economic times for Floridians who rely on unemployment benefits to pay their bills and feed their families,” said Crist in a prepared statement. “These additional funds will help job seeking Floridians bridge the gap between jobs and provide much needed financial help for their essential needs.”
The Agency for Workforce Innovation has begun mailing payments and electronically depositing funds for qualified unemployment compensation recipients. Subsequent payments will be issued bi-weekly in payments separate from regular unemployment compensation benefits. People qualified to receive unemployment compensation for weeks beginning Feb. 22, 2009, or later will also receive a retroactive payment for those prior weeks. The federally funded increase will continue through July 3, 2010, for claims filed no later than December 26, 2009.
“Governor Crist’s efforts to fast-track this federal stimulus funding is critically important to nearly half a million Floridians in need,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Interim Director Cynthia Lorenzo. “The additional $345 million will provide a financial boost to people receiving unemployment compensation payments and also benefit our overall economy as those dollars are spent in our communities.”
In addition to the increase in weekly payments, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extends the window to qualify for federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits through Dec. 26, 2009. These benefits can be paid through June 5, 2010. This extension is expected to provide more than $1 billion in additional federal funds to the people of Florida.
State unemployment compensation claims currently carry a maximum of 26 payable weeks; however, the federal extended benefits provide an additional maximum of 33 weeks for a total of 59 weeks for qualified Floridians. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also exempts $2,400 of unemployment compensation from federal income tax beginning with the 2009 tax year.
For more information about Florida’s use of the federal recovery dollars made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, please visit www.FlaRecovery.com.
Floridians begin receiving $25 increase in weekly unemployment compensation
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Charlie Crist today announced the processing of additional payments to Floridians currently receiving unemployment benefits. The payments, which are in the form of checks or Electronic Fund Transfers, are the result of an agreement Crist signed on Feb. 20, with the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The agreement authorized the state to issue additional federal stimulus payments of $25 per week to people receiving unemployment compensation. The federally funded benefits are expected to provide $345 million to Floridians through July 3, 2010.
“These are difficult economic times for Floridians who rely on unemployment benefits to pay their bills and feed their families,” said Crist in a prepared statement. “These additional funds will help job seeking Floridians bridge the gap between jobs and provide much needed financial help for their essential needs.”
The Agency for Workforce Innovation has begun mailing payments and electronically depositing funds for qualified unemployment compensation recipients. Subsequent payments will be issued bi-weekly in payments separate from regular unemployment compensation benefits. People qualified to receive unemployment compensation for weeks beginning Feb. 22, 2009, or later will also receive a retroactive payment for those prior weeks. The federally funded increase will continue through July 3, 2010, for claims filed no later than December 26, 2009.
“Governor Crist’s efforts to fast-track this federal stimulus funding is critically important to nearly half a million Floridians in need,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Interim Director Cynthia Lorenzo. “The additional $345 million will provide a financial boost to people receiving unemployment compensation payments and also benefit our overall economy as those dollars are spent in our communities.”
In addition to the increase in weekly payments, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extends the window to qualify for federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits through Dec. 26, 2009. These benefits can be paid through June 5, 2010. This extension is expected to provide more than $1 billion in additional federal funds to the people of Florida.
State unemployment compensation claims currently carry a maximum of 26 payable weeks; however, the federal extended benefits provide an additional maximum of 33 weeks for a total of 59 weeks for qualified Floridians. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also exempts $2,400 of unemployment compensation from federal income tax beginning with the 2009 tax year.
For more information about Florida’s use of the federal recovery dollars made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, please visit www.FlaRecovery.com.