STATEWIDE — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that the state is applying for a federal program that would allow extended unemployment benefits.
What You Need To Know
- President approves $44B for Lost Wages Assistance Program
- It adds $300 a week in unemployment benefits
- That is on top of whatever a state will give out
- FLORIDA'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM: Your Questions Answered
The Lost Wages Assistance Program allows states to add $300 a week in unemployment benefits to any unemployed person getting at least $100 a week in benefits from the state.
Florida's baseline unemployment program provides about $275 a week, which is one of the lowest in the nation. This would provide $300 a week on top of that.
Where the money is coming from is a question right now.
The program, which was originally part of President Trump's executive order, was supposed to use still available CARES Act funds, and states were supposed to contribute to part of that pool to get the extra unemployment funds.
Trump's executive order is providing $300 a week under a new "lost wages assistance" program, but states have to put up an additional $100 a week, making that $400 in aid, the president said.
However, in Florida's case, much of the CARES Act money was already earmarked.
Earlier this month, DeSantis said the state may take a loan from the U.S. Dept. of Labor to make up that difference, but in the statement Wednesday from the state there was no mention of that loan.
The program is being administered through FEMA and the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The state must get approval.
The length of the extra funding will be contingent on how much money is available, and could end at any time.
Spectrum News has reported on what a rocky road that was during the first round of supplemental unemployment help.
Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani sent a letter to the governor back on August 21, asking, among other things, for the expansion of the weekly benefit amount.
The reason is that rent is due in September which is only a few days away and there is a big concern many Floridians will not be able to pay it. The Associated Press reported that 23 million renters nationwide are at risk of eviction by October.
Because much of Central Florida relies so heavily on tourism – which has yet to make a big comeback – Orange and Osceola counties are seeing some of the biggest unemployment claims in the state, ranking third and eighth respectively. As for Brevard County, it is ranked 12th among the state’s 67 counties.
Statewide unemployment rate for July 2020 was 11.3 percent with 223,000 Floridians reentering the workforce. To put that into perspective, the unemployment rate has gotten so bad, in July 2019, the unemployment rate in Brevard County was 3.4 percent according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This year in July the unemployment rate in the county tripled to 9.2 percent.
As for Congress, it has tried to get something going for those people who are unemployed. Democrats had a plan since May, but Republicans balked away because of the price tag and they have been in limbo ever since.
Information from Spectrum News reporter Greg Angel contributed to this report.
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