DEO pandemic assistance extensions ending - what options exist in 2025?
I've been hearing conflicting information about Florida DEO possibly extending some pandemic unemployment assistance. My neighbor swears there's a new program coming that picks up where the old pandemic benefits left off, but I can't find ANYTHING about this on the DEO website. Has anyone gotten any official notice from DEO about pandemic assistance extensions for 2025? I exhausted my regular benefits 3 weeks ago and I'm getting desperate. Job market in Tampa is brutal right now with all the layoffs in healthcare. Any info would be appreciated!
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Dylan Mitchell
There is NO pandemic assistance anymore. PUA, PEUC, FPUC - all that ended years ago. Your neighbor is confused. Regular RA benefits from Florida DEO are still just 12 weeks max (maybe up to 23 if state unemployment rate gets high enough). Anyone telling you different is misinformed.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Thanks for the quick reality check. He was so convinced... said his cousin's wife got some letter about it. Guess I'll have to just keep applying for jobs and hope something comes through. Do you know if I need to do anything with my CONNECT account now that I've exhausted benefits?
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Sofia Gutierrez
What your neighbor might be referring to is the Extended Benefits (EB) program that can activate when FL unemployment rate hits certain thresholds. It's not pandemic-specific. Right now FL unemployment is at 3.1% which is too low to trigger extensions. The only thing available is regular Reemployment Assistance which maxes at 12 weeks in Florida currently. You can check your eligibility for other assistance programs like SNAP through ACCESS Florida in the meantime. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
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Dmitry Petrov
•This is corect. Im on regular unemployment and my DEO rep confirmed theres no pandemic extentions coming in 2025. They barely even mention covid anymore lol
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StarSurfer
The government doesn't care about us anymore!!! They gave billions to corporations but the second regular people need help, suddenly there's NO MONEY. I lost my benefits in February and have been living in my car since March. DEO website is DELIBERATELY confusing so people give up applying. This is all BY DESIGN!
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Ava Martinez
•I understand your frustration, but spreading misinformation doesn't help anyone. The DEO website has actually been improved considerably since 2023. While the 12-week benefit period in Florida is one of the shortest in the country, that's a legislative decision, not a DEO conspiracy. Have you connected with your local CareerSource office? They can help with job placement and sometimes have emergency assistance programs.
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Miguel Castro
i think your talking about the new floridas back to work program? its not really unemployment but some kinda training benefit where you get paid while learning new skills. saw something about it on news last week but dont know details
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Ava Martinez
•You're probably referring to the Florida Workforce Training Initiative that was announced recently. It's not an unemployment extension but rather a separate program through CareerSource that provides stipends during approved vocational training programs. It's targeted at industries with worker shortages (healthcare support, IT, skilled trades). Eligibility is different from unemployment - you don't need to have received unemployment benefits to qualify. Information should be available through CareerSource offices by late March 2025.
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Zainab Abdulrahman
Have you tried calling DEO directly to ask? I spent THREE HOURS yesterday trying to get through to someone about my claim issues and just kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold. So frustrating when you need actual answers!
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Connor Byrne
•Try using Claimyr - it's the only way I could get through to DEO after trying for weeks. They connect you directly to a DEO agent without the hours of hold time. Saved my sanity when my account was locked and I needed to verify some work search activities. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. Their website is claimyr.com
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Dmitry Petrov
my sister in law works at career source and she said theres NO pandemic extensions but they DID add some extra weeks for people in counties hit by hurricane last year. maybe thats what ur neighbor meant?
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•That makes so much more sense! My neighbor's cousin is in Fort Myers which was hit pretty bad. That explains the confusion. I'm in Tampa so wouldn't qualify for that anyway.
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Ava Martinez
Just to clarify some information shared in this thread: 1) Regular Reemployment Assistance in Florida is capped at 12 weeks (can extend to 23 weeks if state unemployment exceeds 10.5%, which it currently doesn't) 2) Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available in some hurricane-affected counties but has specific eligibility requirements 3) The Florida Workforce Training Initiative is launching soon through CareerSource offices 4) All pandemic-specific federal programs (PUA, PEUC, FPUC) have permanently ended If you've exhausted regular benefits, I'd recommend: - Connect with CareerSource for free job search assistance and training opportunities - Check eligibility for other assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid) through ACCESS Florida - Look into the new Workforce Training Initiative if you're interested in changing career fields - Keep claiming weeks in CONNECT (even with zero benefits) if you want to maintain an active claim status Hope this helps!
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I have an appointment with CareerSource on Thursday. Fingers crossed the Workforce Training Initiative will be a good fit for me.
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