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Former state Rep. Dane Eagle is the executive director of Florida s Department of Economic Opportunity
TALLAHASSEE - Florida plans to stop providing $300 a week in additional federal unemployment benefits as it pushes for people to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Monday that starting June 26 the state will no longer participate in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. State and business officials have argued that, when added to state unemployment payments, the $300 a week in federal aid is keeping people from returning to jobs.
After a report Friday showed that an estimated 487,000 Floridians were unemployed in April out of a workforce of 10.24 million, the Department of Economic Opportunity called Monday’s move “another key step to returning more Floridians to work,” dubbing it the “Return to Work” initiative.
By Jim Turner-News Service of Florida
• 1 hour ago
Credit AP Florida plans to stop providing $300 a week in additional federal unemployment benefits as it pushes for people to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Monday that starting June 26 the state will no longer participate in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
State and business officials have argued that, when added to state unemployment payments, the $300 a week in federal aid is keeping people from returning to jobs. After a report Friday showed that an estimated 487,000 Floridians were unemployed in April out of a workforce of 10.24 million, the Department of Economic Opportunity called Monday’s move “another key step to returning more Floridians to work,” dubbing it the “Return to Work” initiative.
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Florida will become at least the 22nd state to end participation in the federal benefits program, which is scheduled to expire in September.
Jobless Floridians will no longer get an extra $300 a week in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits starting in late June.
Florida is the latest GOP-controlled state to announce plans to cut off the payments early.
Unemployed workers in Florida were supposed to continue receiving the extra $300 weekly federal supplement through Sept. 6, according to a state Department of Economic Opportunity press release.
A report released Friday showed that an estimated 487,000 Floridians were unemployed in April out of 10.24 million. DEO called the move “another key step to returning more Floridians to work,” dubbing it the “Return to Work” initiative.
AP
A Marshalls retail store displays a Now Hiring sign during the new coronavirus pandemic in Miami on May 7, 2020. Florida plans to stop providing $300 a week in additional federal unemployment benefits as it pushes for people to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State and business officials have argued that the $300 a week in federal aid is keeping people from returning to jobs.
Florida plans to stop providing $300 a week in additional federal unemployment benefits as it pushes for people to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Monday that starting June 26 the state will no longer participate in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. State and business officials have argued that, when added to state unemployment payments, the $300 a week in federal aid is keeping people from returning to jobs.
Starting June 26 the state will no longer participate in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, hoping more unemployed people will return to work..