How to apply for unemployment benefits in Florida?

Florida is the third-largest state in terms of population, after California and Texas, with more than 21 million inhabitants, and has a very dynamic economy, with a high percentage in the tourism and services sector.

The unemployment rate in Florida is usually very low and citizens who lose their jobs can easily find another job in a short period of time.

Still, unemployed people can apply for grants to get some income while they find a new job. In this article we tell you how to apply for them and what requirements must be met to obtain them.

What are the benefits of unemployment assistance in Florida?

Florida Department of Economic OpportunityReemployment assistance in the state of Florida allows you to get a weekly payment if you meet the requirements detailed in the following section.

In 2023, the number of weeks during which you can receive this benefit is a maximum of 12 weeks and the weekly amount is up to $275, for a maximum total amount of $3,300.

To calculate how much you will receive weekly, you must compile your earnings for the quarter in which you received the most and divide by 26. This will give you the amount of your weekly unemployment payment, up to a maximum of $275.

What are the eligibility requirements for unemployment in Florida?

In order to apply for unemployment assistance you must meet a number of conditions that make you eligible for its benefits. These are the requirements:

  • The reason you are unemployed is not your fault. You must have been fired without just cause or you must have quit your job for a justifiable reason.
  • Counting the last 5 quarters, you must have been working for at least the first 4 quarters, either in a single job or in several jobs.
  • You must be available and able to perform a new job, both physically and psychologically.

How do I apply for unemployment benefits in Florida?

If you meet the above requirements to be eligible for reemployment assistance in the state of Florida. You can apply by calling the Department of Economic Opportunity at 1-800-204-2418.

There is also a customer service phone number in Spanish: 1-833-352-7759, available Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm.

If you want to apply online you must start your application through the CONNECT system.

You must fill in all the information requested, among which you will find:

  • Your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Details of your employers in the last 18 months (name (as indicated on your W2 form), phone number and address), whether they are part-time, full-time, temporary or self-employed.
  • Start and end dates at each company you have worked for during the past 18 months.
  • Gross income received in each job (before taxes and deductions).
  • Reason for leaving each of the jobs held during those 18 months.
  • Identification document, such as your state ID, voter registration number or driver's license.
  • Foreign nationals without U.S. citizenship also need to present their Alien Registration Number and work permit or visa.
  • If you have worked for the U.S. military in the last two years, you must also submit a DD-214 form.
  • If you have been employed by a company, agency or federal agency, you must submit the SF-8 or SF-50 form.

Remember to save frequently, by clicking on the corresponding button, because if you spend too much time on the same page of the form, the system may disconnect, losing the data entered in it.

Here is a short video explaining the process:

How to receive benefit payments?

Once you have applied for unemployment in Florida and your application has been approved, you have two options for receiving your income, which, although calculated on a weekly amount, you will receive every two weeks:

Bank accounts
You can automatically receive the reemployment payment in your Florida bank checking account. 
Way2Go Prepaid Debit Card  This card will take a few days to arrive at your home and you will receive your unemployment benefit payments on it, and you can use it to pay for purchases or withdraw cash at ATMs. 

When will I receive my first unemployment check?

The approximate time from the time your application is approved until you receive your first payment is between 3 and 4 weeks. The start of the calculation for payment will be from the time you submit your claim, it does not apply retroactively.

What can I do if my apply is denied?

If you have applied for unemployment in Florida and your application has not been accepted, you have a period of up to 20 days to keep trying. You will need to provide as much information as possible about your employers and the reasons why you are no longer working.

Remember that the cause of your dismissal or resignation must be unrelated to you, and the Florida Department of Employment may contact your employers for more information.

Here are some tips to help you avoid problems with your reemployment assistance claim:

Florida Reemployment Assistance Benefit

What is the unemployment department in Florida?

The agency in charge of employment and unemployment in the state is the Department of Economic Opportunity and it has a complete website where you can apply for benefits and read information about any procedure.

This institution is in charge of everything related to work in Florida, both from the point of view of employees and employers, promoting all kinds of programs to encourage hiring and aid and benefits for the creation of companies.

What is the unemployment rate in this state?

The percentage of unemployed workers currently in the state of Florida is slightly above 3%, which in practice is considered full employment, since this small percentage is that of those people who are in the process of changing jobs but will not be unemployed for long.

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In addition, the average unemployment rate in the region over the last 20 years is around 6%, with ups and downs during recessions, but with a really healthy economy that makes it easy to find a job and very few people are unemployed for a long time.

How to look for a new job in Florida?

Once you have registered in the system to apply for unemployment benefits, you must also register as a job seeker on the official website employflorida.com.

There you can find many opportunities to find a job in the state, being able to select different categories in which you would be willing and qualified to work.

There are also other job search websites and you have the option of sending your resume directly to the companies you are interested in working for, either by email, mail or by delivering it directly to their offices.

Español: Cómo aplicar para el desempleo en Florida