Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, announced in May that the state would cease participation in the FPUC Program early. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesTen residents of Florida sued the state to stop federal unemployment benefits being stopped early.They claim that the state and Gov. Ron DeSantis ended benefits for "political reasons."Florida is one of 26 states that have ended federal unemployment programs earlier than expected.Check out more stories from Insider's business page.Ten Florida residents sued Republican Governor. Ron DeSantis was sued by ten Florida residents for ending $300 supplemental unemployment benefits two months earlier than expected.Plaintiffs requested that DeSantis restore the benefits, which were stopped in June, as well as retroactive payments to those who had missed them. They claimed that they could not afford housing, utilities and healthcare without the benefits.On Sunday, the lawsuit was filed in Broward County, Florida. It also named Dane Eagle, director of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity as defendants. They filed the lawsuit on behalf of all Floridians unemployed.26 states, almost all of them with GOP governors, have so far announced that they are ending at least one of the three pandemic unemployment programs.These programs were created by the CARES Act in March 2020. They will expire September 5. Although some lawmakers and business owners blame the benefits for the current labor crisis, JPMorgan stated earlier this month that there was no evidence that the early termination of unemployment benefits had resulted in people returning to work.According to the lawsuit, defendants "have taken action against Broward County residents in order to deprive them real and personal property rights by cutting off their access to Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ("FPUC") early.Continue reading: A millionaire businessman was arrested after protesting with workers at restaurants. We demand higher wages for our employees.DeSantis and Eagle announced in May that Florida would cease participation in the FPUC programme. The DEO followed suit. This was alleged to be "purely partisan and politically motivated."Continue the storySunday's lawsuit stated that each plaintiff has suffered economic hardships due to COVID, had difficulty finding work, and now faces even more pressing financial difficulties, following the end of the FPUC.It stated that plaintiffs had suffered and would continue to suffer "substantial and irreparable harms" as they couldn't afford their basic living expenses.Florida's unemployment compensation program is limited to $275 per week over 12 weeks. It is also one of the lowest-paying unemployment compensation programs, according to lawsuit claims.The lawsuit stated that the defendants have a clear statutory obligation to ensure Floridians receive all federal unemployment benefits, including those under FPUC.The state sought a mandatory injunction that would require it to accept all federal unemployment benefits from the US Department of Labor. Florida could not refuse any future benefits.Insider reached out to DeSantis' office but was not immediately able to get a response.Florida is not the only state that has been sued for its decision to terminate benefits too early.After the state Court of Appeals rejected its request to stop the benefit, Indiana began paying back pandemic unemployment benefits in July. Maryland was also ordered to continue receiving federal unemployment supplemental payments.In June, the bipartisan Joint Economic Committee stated that states could lose $12 billion if they stop paying FPUC payments earlier than expected. This is because people have less income to spend. It stated that Texas would lose $3.51 billion alone in just four months.Business Insider has the original article.
