The official Florida unemployment website is CONNECT, run by the Department of Economic Opportunity

Florida's unemployment system operates through a single online portal called CONNECT (Continued information for Unemployed Necessary Employees). This is where you file your initial claim, certify weekly, check your claim status, and manage your account. The website is connect.myflorida.com. There is no separate phone line to file a claim — Florida moved to online-only filing in 2020 and has not returned to phone applications.

CONNECT is managed by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), which is the state agency responsible for unemployment insurance. When you hear about Florida unemployment policy, funding, or rule changes, DEO is the body making those decisions. The website itself is the primary tool you will use to interact with the system.

The site handles both Regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) — the standard program for workers who lost jobs through no fault of their own — and Reemployment information, which is Florida's term for the same thing. You will see both names used interchangeably in official documents.

Key Takeaways

  • CONNECT at connect.myflorida.com is the only place to file a claim or certify weekly; there is no phone or in-person filing option in Florida.
  • You need a username and password to log in, which you create during your first visit — there is no pre-existing account to set up.
  • Weekly certification (confirming you are still unemployed and looking for work) must happen every Sunday through Friday night, or your benefits pause.
  • The website shows your claim status, payment history, and any documents DEO needs from you, usually within 24 to 48 hours of filing.
  • If you cannot access CONNECT or need to report a technical problem, DEO's customer service line is 1-833-352-7992, though wait times are often long.

Creating your CONNECT account and filing your first claim

When you visit connect.myflorida.com for the first time, you will see a login screen. Click the option to create a new account — the site will ask for your Social Security number, date of birth, email address, and a password you choose. Write down your username and password somewhere safe; you will need them every week.

After you log in, you will start the claim form. The system asks for your work history (usually the last 18 months), the reason you are no longer working, your weekly earnings before you lost your job, and information about any severance or vacation pay you received. Answer honestly and completely — incomplete forms are sent back to you with a note about what is missing, which delays your claim by several days.

The form also asks whether you are able and available to work, whether you are looking for work, and whether you have any disqualifying factors (such as being fired for misconduct or quitting without good cause). These questions determine whether you are may be able to access for benefits. If you answer "yes" to a disqualifying question, the system will ask you to explain. DEO reviews your explanation and decides whether the reason counts as disqualifying under Florida law.

Once you submit your claim, CONNECT shows you a confirmation number. Write this down. The system then processes your claim — this usually takes 3 to 5 business days, though it can take longer if DEO needs to contact your employer or if your form has gaps. You will receive an email when a decision is made.

Weekly certification and how to stay on track

If your claim is approved, you must certify every week to receive your payment. Certification means logging into CONNECT and confirming that you were unemployed during that week, that you looked for work, and that you did not earn more than the weekly threshold. The certification window opens every Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and closes every Friday at 11:59 p.m.

You certify for the week that just ended — so on a Sunday, you certify for the previous Sunday through Saturday. The system asks how many days you worked, how much you earned, and whether you refused any job offers. Answer these questions accurately. If you earned money during the week, you must report it; Florida reduces your benefit by a portion of what you earned, but you still receive a partial payment in most cases.

If you do not certify by Friday night, your benefits do not pay out that week. There is no automatic extension or makeup window. If you miss a week, you must contact DEO to ask whether you can certify late — they may allow it, but there is no may provide. The safest approach is to certify early in the week, on Sunday or Monday, so you do not forget.

Certification continues every week for as long as you are unemployed and your claim remains active. If you return to work, you must still certify for the final partial week, reporting your earnings. After that, your claim closes.

Checking your claim status and payment history

Once you log into CONNECT, the dashboard shows your current claim status at the top. The status will say one of several things: "Active" (you are receiving benefits), "Pending" (DEO is still reviewing your claim), "Ineligible" (you do not meet the requirements), or "Closed" (your claim has ended). If the status is anything other than "Active," there is usually a reason listed below it.

The "Payment History" section shows every payment you have received, the date it was issued, and the amount. Payments are deposited to your bank account or loaded onto a debit card, depending on how you set up your account during filing. If a payment is missing or the amount is wrong, this section is where you will see the discrepancy first.

The "Documents" section shows any paperwork DEO has requested from you — for example, proof of separation from your job, a copy of your driver's license, or clarification about a job you listed. If there is a document request, you have a important date (usually 10 to 14 days) to upload it through CONNECT. If you miss the important date, DEO may deny your claim or pause your payments until you provide it.

You can also view your "Benefit Year Summary," which shows how much you have been paid so far and how much remains available in your claim. Regular UI in Florida has a maximum benefit amount based on your prior earnings; once you reach that amount, your claim ends even if you are still unemployed.

What to do if you cannot log in or the website is not working

CONNECT occasionally goes down for maintenance, usually on Tuesday nights. If you try to log in and see an error message, check whether the site is under maintenance by looking at the top of the login page — DEO posts maintenance windows there. If the site is not under maintenance and you still cannot log in, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log in again.

If you forget your password, click "Forgot Password" on the login screen. The system will send a reset link to the email address you used when you created your account. If you do not have access to that email address anymore, you will need to contact DEO to reset your account.

If you are locked out of your account after multiple failed login attempts, wait 30 minutes and try again. If the problem continues, call DEO's customer service line at 1-833-352-7992. This line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Wait times are often 30 minutes to several hours, especially early in the week or after a holiday.

If you have a technical issue with CONNECT itself — for example, the form will not submit, or a page keeps timing out — describe the problem clearly when you call. Have your username and the exact error message ready. DEO's technical support team can sometimes see what is happening on your account and fix it while you are on the phone.

Understanding the documents DEO may ask for

After you file your claim, DEO often requests documents to verify the information you provided. The most common requests are a separation notice (the form your employer gave you when you left, or a letter from your employer confirming the date and reason), a government-issued ID (driver's license or passport), and proof of earnings (recent pay stubs or a letter from your employer showing your weekly wage).

Upload these documents through CONNECT by clicking the "Documents" section and following the prompts. The system accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files. Take clear photos of physical documents — blurry or sideways images may be rejected. If a document is rejected, the system will tell you why; usually it is because the file is too large or the image is unreadable.

DEO reviews documents within 2 to 5 business days of receipt. If something is missing or unclear, they will send you another request. If you do not respond to a document request within the important date, DEO will deny your claim. You can then appeal the denial, but it is faster to provide the documents the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a claim by phone or in person instead of online?

No. Florida requires all claims to be filed through CONNECT online. There is no phone filing option and no in-person office where you can file. If you do not have internet access, you can use a public library computer or ask a friend or family member to help you file.

What if I did not receive my payment on the day I expected it?

Payments are usually deposited within 2 to 3 business days after you certify. If you certified on Friday and did not see the payment by Wednesday, log into CONNECT and check your Payment History to see whether the payment shows as issued. If it does, contact your bank — the delay may be on their end. If the payment does not show in CONNECT at all, call DEO at 1-833-352-7992.

How do I know if my claim was denied?

CONNECT will show your claim status as "Ineligible" and will display the reason — for example, "Quit without good cause" or "Earnings exceed threshold." You will also receive a letter in the mail explaining the decision and your right to appeal. You have 20 days from the date on the letter to file an appeal through CONNECT or by mail.

Can I update my information after I file, like a new address or phone number?

Yes. Log into CONNECT, go to "Account Settings," and update your contact information. Changes take effect when ready. If you change your bank account or debit card information, do this as soon as possible so your payments go to the correct account.

What happens to my claim if I return to work?

You must certify for the final week you were unemployed, reporting your earnings and the date you returned to work. After that certification, your claim closes automatically. If you lose that job later, you can file a new claim, but your benefit amount may be different depending on your new earnings history.