Florida Unemployment Eligibility
What are the general eligibility requirements to receive unemployment compensation benefits?
To establish a monetarily eligible unemployment compensation claim, a person must have worked and earned wages during the first four quarters of the previous five completed quarters prior to filing a claim. This period of time is called the “base period.” The base period changes every three months at the beginning of each new quarter starting in January, April, July and October.
To qualify monetarily, a person must:
-
Have been paid wages in two or more calendar quarters in the base period;
-
Have total base period wages of at least 1-1/2 times the wages in the quarter having the highest earnings;
-
Have at least $3,400 total wages in the base period.
This calculation is automatically done at the time you file your claim.
For claims filed during April, May and June, 2008, the base period is January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. To calculate the weekly benefit amount, use the quarter in the base period with the highest earnings and divide the earnings by 26. This number is your weekly benefit amount. The minimum weekly benefit amount is $32 and the maximum weekly benefit amount is $275. To calculate your maximum available credits, you divide your total base period wages as shown on your Wage Transcript and Determination by four (4). This number is the amount you have available to receive providing you meet all other eligibility requirements. The total amount of available credits can range from a minimum of $850 to a maximum of $7150.
After the monetary determination is issued, then the reason for separation from the last employer must be reviewed with the claimant and employer to determine eligibility for benefits. If you have not earned seventeen times your weekly benefit amount with your last employer, the reason for separation from your next to the last employer may also affect your eligibility for benefits. An individual can receive benefits if separated from the job through no fault of their own.
An individual may be eligible for benefits if the discharge was for reasons other than misconduct. Misconduct is defined as intentional or controllable acts or failures to take action, which show a deliberate disregard of the employer’s interest. Inefficiency, unsatisfactory job performance, inadvertencies or ordinary negligence in isolated instances or good faith errors in judgment or discretion are not deemed to be “misconduct” within the meaning of the law.
If an individual voluntarily quits, a disqualification must be issued unless you can prove good cause for leaving. The law provides that good cause may only consist of a cause attributable to the employing unit, illness or disability of the claimant, recall by the claimant’s permanent employing unit within six calendar months of a temporary termination or the military transfer of a spouse.
The claimant must also be able to work, available for work and actively seeking employment to be eligible for benefits. Agency regulations provide that to be considered available for work a claimant must actively seek work in a manner customary to the occupation in which work is being sought. The claimant must be without undue restrictions that lessen the chance of becoming re-employed at the earliest possible time. All claimants are required to keep a record of their work search contacts while receiving unemployment compensation benefits. This information must be recorded on the Work Search form (Form AWI-UC 20A) which is available on line http://www.floridajobs.org/Unemployment/uc_claims_app_forms.html
and is also provided in the Florida Unemployment Compensation Program Booklet which is sent to all claimants. Individuals claim weeks of unemployment on a bi-weekly schedule and answer questions concerning their availability for work. At any time during the claims series, the claimant may be requested to submit their list of job contacts.
Periodically during the claim series, an eligibility review notice, AWI Form UCB-231 is sent to the claimants concerning continued eligibility. You must complete the form and return it to the claims taking hub address indicated on the form. When you submit the completed form, you must also include your Form AWI-UC 20A which lists your job contacts. This form will be reviewed by agency personnel and if additional information is needed you will be contacted.
The best way to file a claim is by telephone or by internet. Telephones and computers are available at all of the One-Stop Job Center offices and you can file a claim at those locations.