If you’re unemployed like me, you’ve probably heard about the extended benefits program for Florida’s jobless, mostly likely while waiting on the Agency for Workforce Innovation phone line. So, you are probably — like me — completely freakin’ confused about the whole thing. How do I apply? How many weeks do I get? Any extra requirements?
Here’s the short answers:
You apply either by mail (the state will send you application) or at the online site you normally claim your benefits from after you’ve exhausted the normal benefit limit. You get up to 20 weeks, provided you don’t find a job before then. There are no extra qualifications, but you may be asked to provide proof that you’ve been looking for work at least twice a week. If you have all those e-mails, letters and application copies saved on your computer, now is a good time to compile them.
I don’t have time to put all the details in Alex-speak, but I hope the following couple links help you out:
- FAQ on extended benefits by the incredible shrinking Sun-Sentinel. Here’s a follow-up with more possible scenarios. This no doubts helps many of the paper’s former reporters.
- FAQ by the state. This has a little bit more info about your work requirements.
- If you still can’t figure it out, Jim Stratton of the Orlando Sentinel’s Blog-o-nomics understands.
- And if you need to blow off some steam, send this CNBC hack Erin Burnett some mail.