Unemployment recipients will have to claim number of weeks they need benefits

ORLANDO, Fla. — Starting Monday, people filing for unemployment will once again have to report the number of weeks they need benefits.

In response to the high number of claims filed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis initially waived the requirement that claimants log in every two weeks to restate their need and report their efforts to find work.

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According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, weeks have to be claimed to comply with federal requirements.

One woman Channel 9 spoke with said she has not received the PIN number required to take that step.

The woman said she hasn’t been able to access her claim on the CONNECT website, where she and others are required to claim weeks to verify a need for unemployment assistance.

She said she is worried that going back to the original reporting requirements will cause the website to function even worse.

“The 800 number that is online, to get any status -- I wasn’t able to get through to any of it,” she said.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said that help lines are only to assist people in filing a claim. However, with the new website, filing is no longer the main trouble.

Earlier, the website showed the different reasons why more than 434,000 claims are still processing, and the reason claims ultimately might be rejected.

Forty-four percent of unique claims were found ineligible for state benefits and almost one-third aren’t eligible for federal assistance.

Just 12.7% of those denied by the state have been found eligible for the federal assistance that was supposed to be a lifeline for so many Americans.

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Being found ineligible is what the woman said she fears, as she struggles with rent increased by her landlord and dwindling savings.

“I mean, right, right now, at the end of the month I have nowhere to go. I have a car, which I’m sure car payment has to be made or they’re going to come and pick it up,” she said.

She said she worries that if the money does come it won’t be enough to dig out of the hole she’s in now.

On average, those who have been approved for benefits have received $923 from the state fund.

Video: Unemployment benefit changes, hair salons to reopen The unemployment system will be changing Monday and recipients will have to begin claiming their weeks. Hair salons, barber shops and nails salons will be reopening Monday.

Cox Media Group