Some lawmakers say Florida’s unemployment system is a topic of interest for the next legislative session, as we have seen Floridians struggle to temporarily live off of some of the worst benefits in the country.
“We pay a maximum of $275 per week and it costs so much to live in the state of Florida,” said Florida State Senator Annette Taddeo.
Taddeo has helped countless Floridians access financial help through different organizations, something she says wouldn’t have been needed as crucially if unemployment benefits were a livable amount.
“It’s supposed to be an insurance program,” Taddeo said. “It shows you there is a huge need.”
Taddeo drafted a bill making a claimant’s weekly benefit amount equal to 1/26 of the total wages earned in the last base period.
Base periods are three month quarters of the year.
For example, if a claimant makes $40,000 per year, they earn $10,000 per quarter. 1/26 of $10,000 is $380 per week.
“No one should get a check for $200 or less, and it should go up as high as $600,” Taddeo said.
Taddeo also proposes 26 weeks in benefits, instead of Florida’s 12 weeks. These measures would put Florida on par with the nation’s average.
The bill also develops a task force to analyze the Department Of Economic Opportunity and report their findings and needed improvements to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by 2022
“I want to make sure that if this ever happens again, we have a group of people who are actually looking out in the best interest to the consumer,” Taddeo said.
If the bill passes, Taddeo says it will be enacted July 1.
To view Taddeo’s full bill, click here.