JACKSONVILLE, Fla — As many people have started exhausting their 12 weeks of state unemployment benefits, many will need to apply for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation to extend their benefits an extra 13 weeks.
A link to apply for the program will typically appear in the user’s CONNECT portal.
Some people tell First Coast News that instead of the PEUC link, they are receiving a link for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Under the CARES Act, PUA provides federal benefits typically for people who don’t qualify for regular state benefits.
Single mother Susana Garcia knew her regular unemployment benefits would need to be extended after 12 weeks, so she was nervously awaiting a new application to show up in her CONNECT portal.
Garcia said her account showed that her benefits were soon ending, and it provided a link for PUA to continue to claim weeks.
“I didn’t question it, Garcia said. “I thought it would be right.”
Garcia said she filled it out and was approved immediately, which she now regrets.
“There was no link for me to claim and then it said claim suspended,” Garcia said.
Garcia said when she contacted DEO, they told her receiving the PUA link was a glitch and she should have received the PEUC link.
“They’re like honestly, you’re just going to have to wait,” Garcia said. “There’s a lot of people.”
Posts on Florida unemployment Facebook groups narrate the same story.
Vanessa Brito, who helps guide troubled unemployment claimants, said she has seen many cases of people being provided the wrong links as well.
First Coast News asked The Department of Economic Opportunity if this is a glitch they are aware of. The department acknowledged they received the email and they would respond, but never provided an explanation for the problem.
According to claimant accounts, it’s advised not to apply for programs you are not sure if you qualify for without speaking with DEO directly. Applying for an incorrect program may take longer to fix than if you wait for your intended program to show up.