The Agency for Workforce Innovation announced recently that an estimated 250,000 unemployed Floridians will be eligible for Extended Benefits as a result of legislation signed by Governor Charlie Crist.  Senate Bill 810 allows eligible Floridians to receive additional temporary unemployment compensation made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 

To receive Extended Benefits individuals must:

• Be totally or partially unemployed.
• Exhaust all entitlement to regular and Emergency Unemployment compensation benefits prior to February 22, 2009, and the claim benefit year ends after February 22, 2009 or
• Exhaust all entitlement to regular and Emergency Unemployment compensation after February 22, 2009.
• Not be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits in any other state (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) or Canada.
• Be actively seeking work and provide work search documentation for each week claimed.
• Not refuse an offer of suitable work or fail to apply for suitable work.

Payments will begin in early July and will be made retroactive to February 22 for eligible claimants.  Eligible Floridians are invited to apply online at www.floridajobs.org, which is the most efficient way to process claims.  For those who do not have Internet access, forms will be mailed from the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation beginning June 3.

 For a comprehensive list of questions and answers about Extended Benefits, please visit www.floridajobs.org.