DEO claim confusion - should I see PUA payment link after answering COVID questions?

PUA doesn't exist anymore!!! It was only for during the pandemic and ended years ago. The system still asks the COVID question because they never updated CONNECT (typical DEO). You're just applying for regular Reemployment Assistance now. The COVID answer doesn't matter anymore.

The previous comment is correct. PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) ended in September 2021. Florida's DEO system still has some outdated questions in the CONNECT system that reference COVID-19, but those responses don't affect your claim anymore. You're applying for regular Reemployment Assistance (RA) now, which has different eligibility requirements than PUA did. As a self-employed photographer, you'll need to have earned W-2 wages during your base period to qualify for regular RA benefits. Did you have any W-2 employment before becoming self-employed?

my sister try to apply last month and got denied for same thing, if ur self employed they dont give u benefits now that covid programs r gone

Yeah the DEO is absolutely TERRIBLE at updating their systems. They haven't bothered to remove questions that no longer apply and then wonder why people get confused. I spent WEEKS thinking I qualified for something I didn't last year because of these outdated questions. You might want to call and confirm your eligibility before waiting weeks just to get denied. Good luck even getting through though - their phone system is a complete joke.

I went through this exact same thing in February! The confusing part is that even DEO staff sometimes don't know their own systems. I called twice and got two different answers about those COVID questions. But here's what I found out definitively: self-employed people generally don't qualify for regular Reemployment Assistance unless you had some W-2 income during your base period (the first four of the last five completed quarters before filing). However, if you paid into the unemployment system through an employer during that time, you might qualify for something. Check your monetary determination letter - did they show any wages for your base period?

sorry ur going thru this confusion. def sucks. DEO is the worst agency in FL imo

Since you don't have qualifying wages for regular RA, you might want to look into other assistance programs that don't require W-2 employment history. The Department of Children and Families offers temporary cash assistance and SNAP benefits that self-employed individuals may qualify for depending on your income. Also, check with CareerSource Florida as they sometimes have grants or training programs available for self-employed individuals looking to expand skills or transition careers. I know it's not the same as unemployment benefits, but it might help bridge the gap while you rebuild your photography business.

This is why I HATE the DEO system. They NEVER update anything properly and leave misleading info everywhere. I wasted 6 weeks waiting for benefits I was never going to get because of outdated questions in CONNECT. They should be sued for this garbage.