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Tips from the Unemployment Webinar
Highlights from the session with Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI)
Patrons will get a confirmation number when they complete the Unemployment Compensation (UC) application. If they do not get a confirmation number the application was not successfully submitted.
The time to complete the application will vary from patron to patron. Most patrons will need at least 45-60 minutes to complete the application. The application cannot be saved.
The person applying for benefits must be present. He or she can have a relative or friend enter the information, but library staff should not complete the application for them.
If someone is unable to complete the application because of physical or language problems, he or she should call the hotline at 1.800.204.2418.
The Skills Assessment has three parts - math, reading, and locating information. Patrons must complete all three skills within 17 days of completing their application for benefits. They should complete each skill before exiting the system. They cannot return and complete a skill once they have exited. They can return later to complete the remaining skills. There is no pass or fail. Completing the sections is all that is required. There will be a green check mark next to
each part of the Initial Skills Review once complete.
It is important to try and complete as many levels as possible. The Initial Skills Review will be used to help match the claimant with employment opportunities.
Claimants must certify (or claim) for benefits every two weeks. They will be mailed an initial notice advising them to certify weeks. After they claim their weeks, the system will provide their next scheduled report date. Claimants who no longer receive a reminder to claim their weeks should make a note of their next reporting date. Claimants are now required to make five work contacts for each week claimed. Instructions and tutorials for claiming weeks and entering work search information are available online. The online system may be extremely busy on Monday and Tuesday when customers are scheduled to claim weeks. If they have difficulty, encourage them to try again at a later time. They can claim weeks within 14 days of their scheduled day. The Unemployment Compensation Hotline is 1.800.204.2418. Additional resources for helping patrons complete the unemployment application online, including screenshots from the unemployment application and skills assessment, as well as checklists of what information patrons need to have with them when completing the application, can be found on the Florida Workforce Recovery site. | 
ifeline program provides discounts on monthly phone service charges and Link Up provides a discount on the cost of installing phone service for qualifying low-income households. Lifeline and Link Up are supported by the federal Universal Service Fund (USF).