Florida – Maximum weeks of unemployment available next year to be reduced

The next three months will determine just how long thousands of unemployed people will receive state jobless benefits next year.

Jobless rates from July, August and September will determine the maximum number of weeks people can collect unemployment payments in 2013. Officials will calculate average statewide unemployment for those three months and use the figure to set limits for next year.

A lower average means fewer weeks of benefits. A higher average means more weeks.

The change would apply to workers laid off after the first of the year. It would not affect those already receiving benefits.

The provision was part of package passed in 2011, making Florida the first state to put its maximum weeks of benefits on a sliding scale. The same bill cut total weeks available in the state unemployment program from 26 to 23.

The measure, pushed by Gov. Rick Scott and Republican lawmakers, was an effort to reduce the cost of jobless benefits in Florida. Those had ballooned during the recession, draining the state’s unemployment trust fund and forcing the state to borrow more than $2 billion in federal money.

In response, officials trimmed total weeks available and tied available weeks to the average statewide unemployment rate during the third quarter of the year. The formula works like this:

For each half a percent decline in the third-quarter average, a week is cut from the maximum weeks available. If the third-quarter average drops to 5 percent or less — not likely this year — the total number of weeks is capped at 12…

via Florida unemployment: State law will reduce maximum weeks of unemployment available next year – Orlando Sentinel.