I am part of the wonder that is the furloughed workforce and I am filing for unemployment until my job calls me back.
Because of the new bill I know that the amount I’m getting is whatever my state (Florida) gives me, and additional 600 or whatever from the government. I’ve just applied for Florida’s benefits, do I need to do another, separate application for the extra from the government? Or is that wrapped in with the state automatically?
There is no federal unemployment, you apply through your state employment system like any other time a person is out of a job.
Information can be found here at the Dept of Labor site.
Select your state here to find out a little more about the Covid-19 layoffs:
https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/find-unemployment-benefits.aspx
Basically the “stimulus” is money from the federal government to the states to use in their unemployment programs. Some are offering extensions to the amount of time you can receive benefits, most are waiving the need to search for another job if it is assumed that you will return to your previous job at some point. There seems to be a lot of interest in the “up to $600 per week” but that is still through the state system. It remains very unclear.
You will not be getting your usual unemployment benefits from the state with a federal $600 on top, that much is clear.
We really won’t know how this all works out until money starts hitting bank accounts. There is another thread on here about someone’s employee wanting to get laid off in order to make more money on unemployment insurance than they are making while working, because $600! These people are desperate and I feel for them, but they are wildly optimistic, in my opinion.
Remember Florida doesn’t have a state department of labor, like most states do.
It does have a division for handling unemployment claims though.
In some states and in some cases you may be getting that, though – as you stated, it is a program set up in each state so the shape it takes on the street level will vary. The federal law, besides additional funding, provides for allowing this funding in some cases when the regular unemployment benefit would not apply, just as long as the cause for claim is Covid19-related.
How is it clear that you will not be getting your usual unemployment benefits from the state with a federal $600 on top?
Here is what the U.S. Department of Labor
has to say about it:
"Under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, eligible individuals who are collecting certain UI benefits, including regular unemployment compensation, will receive an additional $600 in federal benefits per week for weeks of unemployment ending on or before July 31, 2020. "
That matches all of the reporting I’ve seen on the CARES Act, that there is a $600 “kicker” directly and fully funded by the federal government, which is in addition to the normal UI compensation.
What sources are you looking at that indicate something different or that the situation is not that clear?
Yeah it’s through the Florida economic something-or-other. I did that part of it this morning and it was SUPER annoying.
There was a box I checked that did say it was COVID related, so I think that should help with the government assisted stuff.
Even though there’s a bit of a disagreement on the funds, I think my question was answered in that I don’t have to file anything more than I already did
re the Self Employed
Traditionally they don’t pay into the system and are not eligible however that is supposed to change. Have any states put that into place yet? My state (MI) doesn’t seem to have.
Minnesota’s unemployment website details how their approaching it. You will receive your benefits plus an additional $600, if using traditional unemployment. Those people generally NOT eligible for unemployment (self-employed, etc.) will receive that same $600 a week, once guidance comes from the federal DoL - hopefully by the end of the month - through a separate program but administered by the same department.
For me, given I didn’t have a qualifying quarter in Colorado before being furloughed the middle of March, I’m actually filing unemployment through Minnesota, after a stressful day of calling and emailing and reading and swearing. My side gig back there was enough to net me a bit over $300, which is enough to pay my bills and feed my dog, which is all I require. The extra money will go to helping local restaurants to keep them open until all this passes.
From my experience, the COVID-19 question is more so I don’t have to be actively looking for employment while furloughed, which has always been a standard requirement for unemployment.
35 years old, and my second time on unemployment in my adult life, through absolutely no fault of my own and to circumstances FAR beyond my power to effect. I’m starting to see a pattern here.
Looks like the US DOL published guidance on the $600 for the self-employed on 4/5. I haven’t read the whole thing but hopefully the states will be able to work with it soon.