File your claim through Florida's online portal or by phone

Florida processes all new unemployment claims through the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). You can file online at the CONNECT portal (connect.myflorida.com), by phone at 1-833-FL-UNEMP (1-833-358-6367), or through a local CareerSource office. The online portal is fastest — most people complete it in 15 to 20 minutes — and you get a confirmation number when ready.

You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your most recent employer: their name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. Have your final pay stub or last paystub available if you can find it. If you were laid off, fired, or quit, have a brief explanation ready of why your employment ended.

File as soon as you become unemployed. Florida's benefit year runs from the week you file, so waiting costs you money — you cannot go back and claim weeks before you filed. If you were laid off on a Monday, file that same week.

Key Takeaways

  • File through the CONNECT portal (connect.myflorida.com), by phone at 1-833-358-6367, or at a local CareerSource office within one week of losing your job.
  • You must have worked in Florida for at least 20 weeks in the past 12 months and earned at least $3,400 total to meet the basic earnings requirement.
  • Your weekly benefit amount depends on your highest quarter of earnings in the past 12 months, and the maximum weekly payment is currently $275 (this amount changes yearly).
  • You must report any work, self-employment income, or gig work you do while collecting, or you risk overpayment and repayment demands.
  • DEO will contact your employer to verify the reason you left — if they say you quit without cause, you may be denied unless you can show you had good reason.

Work history and earnings requirements you must meet

Florida requires you to have worked in the state for at least 20 weeks in the 12 months before you filed your claim. Those weeks do not have to be consecutive. You also must have earned at least $3,400 total during that same 12-month period. If you worked part-time or had gaps between jobs, you can still meet this — the state counts all weeks you were paid, even if you earned very little in some of them.

The state looks at your "base period," which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. For example, if you file in March 2024, your base period is January 2023 through December 2023. If you worked in Florida before that but not during those four quarters, you do not meet the requirement.

If you worked in another state before moving to Florida, that work does not count toward Florida's requirement. However, if you worked in multiple states in the same 12-month period, you may be able to file under an interstate claim — contact DEO to ask whether your out-of-state earnings can be combined with Florida work.

Why DEO might deny your claim and what disqualifies you

The most common reason for denial is separation from work. If your employer tells DEO that you quit without good cause, you will be denied. "Good cause" in Florida means you had a real reason connected to your job — unsafe working conditions, wage theft, a substantial change in your duties, or harassment. Quitting because you found another job, did not like the commute, or wanted better pay does not count as good cause.

If you were fired for misconduct, you are also denied. Misconduct means you deliberately broke a rule or did something you knew was wrong — showing up late once is not misconduct, but a pattern of tardiness after warnings is. If you were fired for a single mistake or poor performance (not deliberate rule-breaking), you may still be found not disqualified.

You are disqualified if you refuse suitable work without good cause. Once you start collecting, DEO can refer you to job openings. If you turn down a job that matches your skills and experience, your benefits stop. You are also disqualified if you are receiving workers' compensation, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or retirement pay from a government pension — though some types of retirement income do not count.

If you are in school full-time, you cannot collect. If you are in part-time school or training, you may still be able to collect if you report your school schedule and remain available for work.

How much you will receive and how long benefits last

Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. Florida divides that quarter's earnings by 26 and rounds down to the nearest dollar. For example, if your highest quarter was $6,500, your weekly benefit would be $250. The maximum weekly payment is $275 (as of 2024, though this changes yearly). The minimum is $32 per week.

You can collect for up to 12 weeks in a benefit year under the regular program. During periods of high state unemployment, Florida may trigger an extended benefits program that adds up to 13 more weeks, but this is not automatic — the state must declare it based on unemployment rates. You will be notified if extended benefits become available.

Your total benefit amount for the year is your weekly rate multiplied by the number of weeks you are found not disqualified for. If you find work and earn money, your weekly benefit is reduced by 75% of what you earn that week. For example, if your weekly benefit is $200 and you earn $100 in a week, your payment that week is $125 (200 minus 75 of the 100 you earned).

What happens after you file: the waiting week and verification process

After you file, there is a one-week waiting period before you can receive any payment. This is not a week you are denied — it is straightforward unpaid. If you are found not disqualified, you will receive payment for that week along with your first weekly payment.

DEO will contact your employer within 5 to 10 business days to verify why you left. Your employer will receive a form asking whether you quit, were laid off, or were fired, and if fired, the reason. You will also receive a notice asking you to respond if you disagree with what your employer says. Read this notice carefully and respond within the important date — if you do not, DEO will decide based only on what your employer reported.

If there is a disagreement about the reason you left, DEO will hold a phone hearing. You and your employer (or their representative) will both be on the call with a hearing officer. You can bring documents — a termination letter, emails, text messages, or a witness — to support your version of events. The hearing officer will decide based on the evidence presented.

Reporting requirements and what you must do while collecting

Once your claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim to receive payment. You do this through the CONNECT portal every week, usually on Sunday or Monday. The portal will ask whether you worked, earned money, or refused any job offers. You must answer honestly — if you worked and do not report it, DEO will discover it when they verify your claim, and you will owe back the money you were paid.

You must report any income you earned that week, including part-time work, gig work (Uber, DoorDash, freelance), self-employment, or cash work. You must also report if you refused a job that was offered to you or referred to you by a job center. If you are in school, you must report your school schedule and any changes to it.

You are required to be available for work — this means you must be able to accept a job with short notice and show up. If you have a medical condition that limits your availability, you can request a medical exemption, but you must provide a doctor's note and DEO must approve it.

How to handle disputes and what to do if you disagree with a decision

If DEO denies your claim or stops your payments, you will receive a written notice explaining the reason. The notice will include a important date to request an appeal — usually 20 days. Do not miss this important date. You can appeal online through CONNECT, by mail, or by phone.

When you appeal, you are asking for a hearing before a hearing officer who works for the state but is not part of DEO. You can represent yourself or bring a lawyer or representative. Bring any documents that support your case: pay stubs, emails, termination letters, texts, or a written statement from a witness. If you cannot attend the hearing, you can request a phone hearing.

If you lose the appeal, you can request a second appeal to the Appeals Commission, which is a higher level. This process is free. If you lose at the Appeals Commission level, you can file a lawsuit in circuit court, but this requires a lawyer and costs money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I collect unemployment if I quit my job?

Only if you quit for good cause. Good cause means the job itself was the problem — unsafe conditions, wage theft, harassment, or a major change in your duties. If you quit to find another job, move, or because you did not like the work, you will be denied. Your employer will tell DEO why you left, and you will have a chance to explain your side at a hearing if there is a disagreement.

What if I am working part-time while collecting?

You must report the income on your weekly claim. Your benefit is reduced by 75% of what you earn. If you earn $100 in a week and your weekly benefit is $200, you receive $125 that week. There is no limit on how much you can earn — you just report it and the payment adjusts.

How long does it take to get my first payment?

If you file online and your claim is approved without a dispute, you can receive your first payment within 7 to 10 days. The one-week waiting period is included in this timeline. If your employer disputes the reason you left, the process takes longer — usually 3 to 4 weeks while DEO investigates and holds a hearing if needed.

What if I moved out of Florida while collecting?

You can continue to collect Florida benefits if you are still looking for work in Florida or willing to relocate for a job. You must report your new address to DEO. If you moved to another state and are no longer available for Florida work, your benefits will stop. Contact DEO to update your address before you move.

Can I collect if I am receiving Social Security or a pension?

It depends on the type of income. If you are receiving Social Security retirement benefits or a government pension (federal, state, or local), your unemployment payment is reduced by a portion of that income. If you are receiving SSDI (disability), you cannot collect unemployment. Contact DEO with details about your other income — they can tell you whether it affects your benefits.