The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced the state will stop its participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, the $300 per week supplemental FPUC payment, effective June 26, 2021, as part of DEO’s ‘Return to Work’ initiative.
The state calls it another key step to returning more Floridians to work, following April’s labor statistics which show total private-sector employment increased by 18,800 jobs and more than 460,000 online job postings available throughout the state for job seekers.
Additional federal Reemployment Assistance benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC), will continue for the time being as DEO continues to carefully monitor job posting and industry hiring trends. These additional federal benefit programs are set to expire on September 6, 2021.
“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s economy has bounced back tremendously with over 460,000 jobs available throughout our state and the strongest economic conditions in the nation,” said Dane Eagle, Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “Florida’s employers are also seeing employment growth, as more Floridians, including some who completely left the workforce, are now eagerly reentering the workforce. Transitioning away from this benefit will help meet the demands of small and large businesses who are ready to hire and expand their workforce.”
Florida will be dropping its federal benefits boost early, @FLDEO announced this morning. @DaneEagle said the option was on the table a few weeks ago. https://t.co/ZEpFh8jw2E pic.twitter.com/H4QQCvDFlY
— Forrest Saunders (@FBSaunders) May 24, 2021
For the week beginning June 27, 2021, eligible Reemployment Assistance claimants will no longer receive the supplemental $300 weekly FPUC payment.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist slammed the move by DeSantis.
"With this decision, Governor DeSantis is doubling down on Florida's disgraceful unemployment system that effectively punishes Floridians for falling on hard times, paying one of the lowest rates in the country, and tangling regular Floridians in pointless red tape. Florida deserves better. Floridians deserve a governor who cares for the people and listens to what they need — and that's why I'm running for governor."
