TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order eliminating the need for Floridians to reapply for unemployment benefits every two weeks.

Gov. DeSantis said in a press conference on Thursday the state has an “unprecedented” amount of unemployment claims, which is bogging down the Department of Economic Opportunity’s website.

WHAT TO KNOW:

  • Florida is reporting 85,926 cases and 3,061 deaths
  • Florida in Phase Two of reopening
  • Cases have spiked in past week, Gov. DeSantis says due to increased testing

“Well if the system is suffering under too much stress, why would we want people to have to go on and re-certify that? We know what the economy is doing right now,” the governor said.

“But clearly, this is not something that if you just look hard enough, you’re just all of a sudden going to find a new job.”

Gov. DeSantis hopes the move will free up more space to get more unemployment claims through.

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