Jobless Benefits – Florida

Posted on March 9, 2011 by townsend

• Floridians may get fewer federal unemployment benefits, if state insurance cut, By Marcia Heroux Pounds, March 6, 2011, Sun Sentinel: “Florida residents who lose their jobs will get fewer unemployment benefits than residents in any other state if a House bill reducing benefits is passed, says a national advocacy group for the unemployed. Republican legislators said the cuts are necessary to protect Florida’s business climate. But benefits experts say Florida’s unemployed will get penalized twice. At issue are the federal unemployment benefits that kick in after state benefits are exhausted. House sponsors of HB 7005 said reducing the state’s payment would not cut the federal entitlement the unemployed can claim. But not everyone agrees…”
• Fla. House gives first OK to reduce jobless benefits, By Jason Garcia, March 9, 2011, Orlando Sentinel: “The Florida House of Representatives tentatively approved a plan Wednesday that would slash unemployment benefits for out-of-work Floridians and pass much of the savings on to businesses. The sweeping legislation would both cut the maximum number of weeks unemployed workers could receive state payments, from 26 to 20, and reduce the tax levied against businesses to pay for the program. It would also make it easier for businesses to deny benefits. A top priority of the state’s business lobby, the unemployment-compensation package was the first substantive measure taken up on the floor of the House in the 2011 legislative session, which opened Tuesday. An estimated 400,000 Floridians are currently receiving unemployment benefits, as the state’s unemployment rate remains stuck at about 12 percent…”