What are Unemployment Tiers?

What Are Florida's Unemployment Benefit Tiers?

• Answer:

  Florida provides state unemployment benefits and distributes four tiers of emergency unemployment benefits provided by the federal government. Extended benefits include an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits beyond the state benefits and the four tiers of emergency benefits. The unemployed Floridian can potentially receive 99 weeks of unemployment benefits under the 2011 rules. Florida lawmakers are making plans for 2012 that are not as favorable to the unemployed, including fewer weeks of state unemployment benefits. State Benefits Florida state unemployment benefits pay 26 weeks of benefits at a maximum of $275 a week in 2011. The Florida legislature has enacted legislation to take effect in 2012 tying state benefits to the unemployment rate, with the maximum available benefits at 23 weeks in periods of high unemployment. The state may provide as few as 12 weeks in periods of low unemployment under the 2012 regulations. Tier 1 and Tier 2 Florida's unemployment benefits include the first two tiers of federal benefits after the unemployed individual exhausts 26 weeks of state benefits. These first two federal tiers of unemployment benefits are available in all states regardless of the unemployment rate. Tier 1 provides 20 weeks of benefits to those who continue to seek jobs and report to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. Tier 2 adds a maximum of 14 weeks of federal emergency unemployment benefits for Florida's unemployed who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state benefits and the 20 weeks of Tier 1. Tier 3 and Tier 4 Tier 3 federal emergency unemployment benefits provide 13 additional weeks to states that have a three-month seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6 percent or more. Florida continues to qualify for Tier 3 benefits in 2011. Tier 4 benefits require 8.5 percent state seasonally adjusted unemployment over a three-month period. Florida qualifies for this additional six weeks of unemployment benefits for those who exhaust Tier 3 benefits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Florida's three-month seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 10.8 in April 2011, the lowest since September 2009. Extended Benefits Florida pays extended benefits for a maximum of 20 weeks. These benefits are 100 percent federally funded in 2011 but are available only through Jan. 4, 2012, unless Congress acts to extend the time for availability of these benefits. Florida may lose some federal benefits with the state benefits changes scheduled for 2012, CNN Money reports.