Florida Unemployment Weekly Claim

How To File a Weekly Claim – Florida Unemployment Benefits

Florida residents can file for state unemployment benefits every two weeks, contrary to states that require weekly claims for unemployment compensation. There are certain requirements you must meet to keep collecting benefits from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Be ready and able to work

In order to collect Florida unemployment there are some ongoing requirements you need to fulfill—and one of those eligibility requirements is that you’re able and ready to work. If you are truly not able to work because of an illness or disability, you should not be collecting unemployment insurance benefits, but instead applying for something like workers’ compensation or social security disability insurance.

Be registered at EmployFlorida

Another requirement is registration with EmployFlorida. This is required as part of your initial application for unemployment benefits. You will need to provide personal information like your Social Security number, driver’s license or ID number, and information about each employer you worked for during the past 18 months. You will also need to include the name and address of that workplace, when you worked there (first and last day), gross earnings, the reason for your separation, and their Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), which can be found on any W2 or 1099 you’ve received from them.

Complete work search requirements

In the state of Florida, your job search must include applying to 5 jobs each week, unless you live in a county with less than 75,000 people, and then that number drops to 3 job searches per week.

In some states, filing an unemployment claim does not mean you have to show proof of what you did the prior week or weeks in terms of looking for work, unless the governing office requests those details. But jobless claims in Florida are different. While you don’t have to upload your paper application or provide photographic evidence of your visit to a Career Center, you will need to provide details about your work search in order to collect reemployment assistance.

Report any earnings

You will be required to report any earnings you make while collecting unemployment, and this does include tips, gratuities, and commissions earned beyond your wages. Earnings that exceed your weekly benefit amount mean you will not collect benefits for that week. The reemployment assistance program is about helping Florida residents get back on their feet. If you earn any money while collecting unemployment benefits, Florida law requires you to report it.

Request Payment Using the CONNECT System

Once you log on to CONNECT, navigate to the Request Benefit Payment tab. This will prompt you to input your address and answer a few questions relating to the points outlined above—namely your job search and your earned income (if any). Remember that filing your claim is a biweekly process in Florida, so you will see which weeks are in question. But before any of that happens, you will be required to acknowledge that you understand that reemployment benefits assistance fraud is a third degree felony. Withholding information or making false statements to increase your benefit amounts is considered fraudulent activity.

You will need to verify your current payment method, whether that’s your unemployment debit card or direct deposit. Then you will need to verify your address, confirming the existing one or updating it. You will then be asked if you looked for work, if you visited a CareerSource Center, if you were able and available to work, if you refused any offer of work, and if you earned any money.

If you select yes to any of these questions, a new screen will pop up next requesting more details. Remember that Florida unemployment job search requirements require you to look for 5 jobs per week (in most cases), so you won’t just be hitting no on all these questions if you want to collect unemployment.

Regarding your work search, you will be requested to provide details of your work searches and answer a few questions. Did you apply in person? Did you go to an interview? Did you submit a job application? You must also explain the nature of the work sought and provide a brief description of the outcome.

The exact types of questions you need to answer will vary based on what type of contact was made. For instance, attending a job fair will create a much different set of requested details than submitting an online application. Just answer the questions honestly and as thoroughly as possible. You must repeat this process for all job search activities. If you did not meet your required work search quota, you will be requested to provide details about why. Once you have answered these questions, you can submit your answers and request benefits.

How To Receive Payments

During the process of filing your weekly claim, you will be asked to confirm your payment details. In the state of Florida, there are two options for collecting unemployment: a Way2Go Debit Card, or direct deposit right into your bank account. If you do not provide banking details like a valid account and routing number, the default method is the Way2Go debit card, which is mailed to your home. Remember you can change the payment method each time you log in. If you’re curious about how much you’re going to get per week, you can use the Florida unemployment calculator. The Florida unemployment calculator can help make sure your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is the correct amount.

How To Stop Requesting Payments

If you’ve found a new workplace among Florida employers, congratulations. You’ve left the percentage of Florida’s unemployment rate and re-entered the workforce. Once you have a new job, you can no longer be considered a claimant once you start working. That said, you can request a UI benefit for every week up until the week you start working.

There is no particular formality you need to follow for closing out your claim, and it will be closed out for good within 365 days. If you have further questions or become unemployed again, you may need to open a new claim if it’s outside that time frame. Contact the reemployment assistance help center if you think your original claim is still open, or if you have not maxed out your benefits but cannot log on to CONNECT.