JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Floridians are one day from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation expiring, which are those $600 checks tacked onto regular unemployment benefits.
FPUC has been what many unemployed Floridians are surviving off of as Florida provides nearly the lowest unemployment benefits in the country at $275 per week.
Many Americans are begging Congress to extend FPUC or create another relief package.
“It is one of the scariest thoughts for Floridians across the state,” said state representative Anna Eskamani. “Working with these families, some that have become homeless in the process, living in hotels and motels, living in their cars, really paints a picture that if we don’t speak up, the situation is only going to get worse.”
Eskamani has taken on the Florida unemployment battle, fighting for about 20,000 Floridians who haven’t received all, or any of their benefits from the Department of Economic Opportunity.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ron Desantis was asked whether Congress should extend the FPUC payment. DeSantis did not directly answer.
“I haven’t been following what they’re doing,” DeSantis said.
The FPUC money is federal money, so renewing it, or creating another relief package, will not take a penny from Florida’s pocket. That is why Eskamani said she is frustrated the government isn’t advocating for struggling Floridians.
“He’s ‘not following what Congress is doing,’ is offensive on multiple degrees,” Eskamani said.
That’s why Eskamani is writing to Congress and U.S. Senators on behalf of the thousands of Floridians she’s helped.
If you are waiting on back payments, the expiring FPUC will not affect your eligibility for the payments you have yet to receive. You will still receive money owed to you, even if it is dispersed after July 31.
If you claim the week of July 19-25 on the 30th, you will also claim 7/12-18, so you will be eligible to receive the whole $1200. If you claim on 8/6, you’ll claim weeks of 7/19 - 7/25 and 7/26 - 8/1. You will then be able to receive one $600 payment related to weekended 7/25.