The Legislative Leadership created and passed two, tax-free holidays for consumers to stock up on supplies they need for the seasons ahead. Not only do these tax-free holidays help consumers save money, they also bring much-needed customers and revenue to Florida businesses during this difficult time.
 
The first tax-free holiday is just around the corner. The Disaster Preparedness Tax-Free Holiday begins Friday, May 29th, and runs through Thursday, June 4th.
 
Eligible items that consumers can purchase tax-free include:

• Portable self-powered light source selling for $20 or less;
• Certain portable radios selling for $50 or less;
• Tarps selling for $50 or less;
• Ground anchor systems or tie-down kits selling for $50 or less;
• A gas or diesel fuel tank selling for $25 or less;
• Packages of certain battery types, selling for $30 or less;
• A nonelectric food storage cooler selling for $30 or less;
• Portable generators for use in a power outage selling for $750 or less; and
• Reusable ice selling for $10 or less. 

• This week, DEO, in partnership with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, launched a website to verify the identity of claimants who have been locked out of their CONNECT account, the online system for processing Reemployment Assistance claims. 
• Individuals who were locked our of their CONNECT account have been notified and provided a direct link to verify their information so they can access their account and have their Reemployment Assistance claims processed.

• This week, the Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program is now available. This program, offered through the federal CARES Act and administered by DEO, provides up to 13 weeks of benefits to a claimant who has exhausted their Reemployment Assistance benefits.
• Floridians will need to apply for PEUC benefits once the balance of their current claim is exhausted. Floridians who have already exhausted their benefits or have a Reemployment Assistance claim that expired after July 1, 2019, will also be able to apply.
•  Through PEUC, Floridians may be eligible for up to $275, in addition to the $600 through Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), in weekly benefits. The additional $600 through FPUC applies only to weeks of unemployment beginning March 29, 2020 and ends with the week ending July 25, 2020.
•  All claimants participating in PEUC will still be required to claim weeks on a biweekly basis, certifying that they remain unemployed and are able and available for work during the weeks they are receiving PEUC. The first week a claimant can be eligible for this benefit is the week beginning March 29, 2020, and the last payable week is the week ending December 26, 2020.
• Unemployed Floridians who have exhausted their state Reemployment benefits will be notified with the next steps for PEUC. 

• Click here for the PEUC CARES Act Process. 
• Click here for more information on Applying for PEUC.
• Click here for the step-by-step guide PEUC Guide on how to apply for PEUC

• The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program provides unemployment benefits to those that may not otherwise be eligible under Florida’s state Reemployment Assistance program, including independent contractors and individuals who are self-employed. Individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 and believe they may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, can visit www.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim" to apply and be considered for PUA. 

• DEO will be conducting nightly maintenance to the CONNECT system to process claims and payments. CONNECT will be available from 8 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. daily. This schedule does not affect individuals that wish to file a new claim. Individuals can file a new claim 24 hours a day, seven days per week at www.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim."