unemployment benefits

Unemployed Floridians will receive 12 weeks of benefits, down from the pandemic-boosted 19, starting Jan. 1.

Thousands of Floridians received overpayment notices from the state with minimal information. Also, a discussion on the opioid epidemic in South Florida. Plus, a Key West artist finally gets recognized for designing many Lilly Pulitzer textiles.

The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) says of the jobs initially lost during the pandemic, nearly 80% have been recovered. In addition, the agency's Deputy Secretary Adrienne Johnston says there are more people in the labor force now than in February of last year. But Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) says issues remain with the state's unemployment assistance system.

Enhanced unemployment benefits launched during the pandemic expire Monday, cutting a vital lifeline for millions of jobless Americans. Research suggests most will not find work right away.

Judge Layne Smith, in an 18-page decision, said Gov. Ron DeSantis had the legal right to halt $300-a-week payments to Floridians from what is known as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, or FPUC, program. DeSantis said stopping the payments was aimed at helping spur people to return to the workforce.

Judge Layne Smith heard testimony from plaintiffs who said the decision to stop the $300 a week in federal benefits has caused them to struggle to pay for housing and other expenses. As part of COVID-19 assistance, the federal government made the money available on top of Florida's maximum $275-a-week unemployment payments.

Private universities begin to require COVID-19 vaccines. Public school districts are struggling with best practices to protect students and staff as coronavirus cases are on the rise. And Florida ended federal benefits months before they expired — now there’s a lawsuit.

Broward County residents struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic have filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to cut off federal unemployment money for Floridians.

Mississippi, Missouri, Alaska and Iowa are ending the extra $300-a-week unemployment benefit provided as part of COVID-19 relief in a controversial bid to get people back to work.

Citing a severe shortage of workers, half of the nation's governors have decided to end extra federal jobless benefits months early. But an economist says that will set back households and businesses.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, along with officials from the Florida AFL-CIO and the Florida People’s Advocacy Center embarked on a long-shot effort to get Gov. Ron DeSantis to reverse a decision to stop providing $300 a week in federal unemployment assistance starting June 26.

Biden said that his administration would not stand for people gaming the system but pressed the importance of continued financial support for those left jobless as a result of the coronavirus crisis.