73B-11.015. Continued Claims for Benefits

(1) Method of Filing Continued Claims.

(a) After filing an initial, additional, initial interstate, or reopened claim, a claimant will be instructed and required to report their continued claim bi-weekly for the duration of the unemployment by using the Florida Online Reemployment Assistance System at www.FloridaJobs.org. Depending on the type of claim being submitted, Florida’s Online Reemployment Assistance System will require responses to questions as incorporated by reference in Rule 73B-11.013, F.A.C.

(b) When a declared disaster or emergency, or system unavailability, makes the Florida Online Reemployment Assistance System unavailable, or when a claimant needs special assistance or accommodation, a continued claim may be filed by contacting the Department of Economic Opportunity toll-free at 1(800)204-2418.

(c) For the purposes of this rule, a claimant needs special assistance or accommodation when she or he:

1. Is legally prohibited from using a computer;

2. Has an impairment which makes her or him unable to use a computer; or

3. Is unable to read or write effectively in a language in which the Online Reemployment Assistance System makes available.

(d) When a declared disaster or emergency makes the Florida Online Reemployment Assistance System unavailable the Department of Economic Opportunity may make the following form available for filing a continued claim: Weekly Claim Certification, Form DEO RAB-60, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05572; effective date: October 25, 2015, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference. This form can be obtained at www.FloridaJobs.org.

(e) When the above-noted form is being used, a claimant may submit the completed form as follows:

1. Mailing it to the Department of Economic Opportunity, Reemployment Compensation Records Unit, P.O. Drawer 5750, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5750; or

2. Delivering it in person to the Department at the Caldwell Building, 107 East Madison Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(2) Work Registration. Unless exempted under Section 443.091(1)(b), F.S., or when special assistance or accommodation as defined above is required, a claimant must file a complete work registration on the Employ Florida Marketplace website, which will require responses to questions as incorporated by reference in Rule 73B-11.013, F.A.C. and which may be accomplished by logging onto http://www.employflorida.com.

(a) To complete the work registration, the claimant must:

1. Provide a valid email address assigned to him or her;

2. Complete the Background Wizard; and,

3. Create an Online Resume.

(b) The Background Wizard and Online Resume application requires the claimant to provide the following types of information:

1. Education History;

2. Occupational license or certification;

3. Skills and abilities;

4. Valid form of identification;

5. Employment history; and,

6. References.

(c) Valid forms of identification include the claimant’s valid social security number and one other approved form of secondary identification including:

1. Driver’s license issued by a state of the United States, or a Canadian government authority; provided it contains a photograph or identifying information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, and address;

2. Documentation issued by a federal, state, or local government agency that contains a photograph or identifying information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, and address;

3. School identification (ID) card with photograph;

4. United States (U.S.) military ID card, dependent’s ID card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card;

5. Native American tribal document;

6. U.S. Passport (unexpired or expired); or

7. Certificate of U.S. Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization.

(3) Time Limit for Filing Continued Claims.

(a) Scheduled Reports. Continued claims for benefits must be filed within 7 calendar days following the scheduled report date as shown on the Online Reemployment Assistance System Confirmation Page, or otherwise communicated to the claimant by the Department. The Department will stop providing this notice when the claimant ceases to report, has no additional benefits or weeks to claim, or benefits were denied and no appeal is pending at the end of the appeal period.

(b) Late Reports. If a report is not made within 7 days after the scheduled report date shown on the Online Reemployment Assistance System Confirmation Page, or communicated to the claimant by a Department representative, the claim will be re-opened effective the first day of the week in which a report is filed. Upon request, the claimant will be permitted to file a late report for weeks that were not claimed within the permissible time period and will be granted appeal rights to any resulting determination denying benefits for the weeks in question.

(c) Resubmitted Continued Claim. When a claimant is directed by the Department to resubmit a continued claim for completion or correction, the scheduled report date will be extended to 7 days from the date the Department notifies the claimant that the claim was incomplete or incorrect.

(d) Early Reports. The Department may accept a continued claim certification prior to the scheduled report date provided each claimed week has ended.

(e) Special Reports. At any time during the pendency of any claim for benefits, the Department may make a request in writing or by e-mail for information or documentation from the claimant regarding any question whose resolution is necessary to ascertain the claimant’s entitlement to benefits or the amount of any such benefits. The failure of the claimant to respond will result in a determination made from the available evidence.

Rulemaking Authority 443.091(1)(a), (c), 443.1317(1)(b), 443.151(2)(a)-(b) FS. Law Implemented 443.091(1), 443.111(1), 443.151(2) FS. History–New 8-25-92, Amended 4-1-96, Formerly 38B-3.015, Amended 8-14-08, 11-27-11, Formerly 60BB-3.015, Amended 2-13-13, 9-15-14, 10-25-15.