File through Florida's online portal or by phone
You file for unemployment in Florida through the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), which runs the state's unemployment insurance program. The fastest way is through the online portal at connect.myflorida.com, where you can file your claim in about 20 minutes if you have your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last employer ready. You can also file by phone at 1-833-352-7759, though wait times are often longer than online filing.
Your claim goes into the system when ready when you file online. DEO will then contact you within one to three business days to verify your information and ask follow-up questions about why you left your job or were let go. Have your last pay stub and the name and phone number of your most recent supervisor available when they call.
Key Takeaways
- File online at connect.myflorida.com using your Social Security number and information about your last employer; phone filing at 1-833-352-7759 is slower but available if you cannot use the website.
- You must file within 15 days of your last day of work to receive benefits for the week you stopped working; filing later means your benefits start from the week you actually file.
- DEO will contact you by phone within one to three business days to verify your claim and ask why you are no longer employed.
- After your claim is approved, you receive a debit card in the mail within seven to ten business days and must file weekly claims to keep receiving payments.
- If DEO denies your claim, you have 20 days from the denial letter to request a hearing before an administrative judge.
What information you need before you start
Gather these documents before you go to the website or call. You will need your Social Security number, the date you were born, and either your Florida driver's license number or state ID number. If you do not have a Florida ID, have your out-of-state driver's license number ready instead.
You will also need details about your last job: the name and address of the company, your job title, the date you started, the date your employment ended, and the reason it ended (laid off, quit, fired, or hours reduced). If you were fired, be ready to explain what happened. If you quit, have a reason ready—DEO approves claims for people who quit only if the reason was something the employer did, like cutting your hours below what you agreed to or creating unsafe working conditions.
Have your most recent pay stub handy. It shows your gross weekly pay, which DEO uses to calculate your weekly benefit amount. If you do not have a pay stub, you can provide a letter from your employer or your last bank statement showing deposits from that employer.
Filing online step by step
Go to connect.myflorida.com and click "Unemployment" on the homepage. Select "File a New Claim" and choose "Unemployment Insurance." The system will ask you to create a login or sign in if you already have one. Use an email address you check regularly—DEO sends important messages there.
Answer the questions about your identity, work history, and reason for unemployment. The form takes about 20 minutes. When it asks why you are no longer employed, answer honestly and in detail. If you were laid off, say "laid off" or "reduction in force." If you quit, explain what the employer did that forced you to leave. If you were fired, describe what happened without arguing your case—you will have a chance to explain more fully when DEO calls.
At the end, the system shows you a confirmation number. Write it down or take a screenshot. You will need it if you have to contact DEO about your claim. The system also tells you the date your claim was filed, which matters for calculating when your benefits start.
What happens after you file
DEO processes your claim within one to three business days. Someone from the agency will call the phone number you provided on your claim. They will verify your information and ask more questions about your employment and why it ended. Answer all their questions truthfully. If they ask about something you do not understand, ask them to explain it.
After the call, DEO decides whether to approve or deny your claim. You will receive a letter in the mail explaining the decision. If approved, the letter tells you your weekly benefit amount and when payments start. If denied, the letter explains why and tells you how to request a hearing.
Once approved, you will receive a debit card in the mail within seven to ten business days. This is your unemployment debit card—money goes directly onto it each week. You can use it like a regular debit card at ATMs and stores, or transfer money to your bank account.
Filing weekly claims to keep your benefits
After your initial claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim every week to continue receiving payments. You file through the same website, connect.myflorida.com. Log in and select "File Weekly Claim." The weekly claim takes about five minutes and asks whether you worked that week, earned any money, or had any other income.
File your weekly claim on the same day each week—many people do it on Sunday evening or Monday morning. If you miss a week, you do not receive a payment for that week, even if you were unemployed. If you miss two weeks in a row, DEO may close your claim entirely.
When you file your weekly claim, report any work you did and any money you earned, including gig work, part-time jobs, or self-employment income. Florida reduces your benefit by 75 cents for every dollar you earn over $30 per week. If you earned $100 in a week, you report it, and DEO subtracts $52.50 from your benefit (100 minus 30, times 0.75).
Timing: when benefits start and how much you receive
Your benefits start the week you file your claim, not the week you lost your job—unless you file within 15 days of your last day of work. If you lost your job on a Monday and file your claim the following Monday (8 days later), your benefits cover the week you lost your job. If you wait 20 days to file, your benefits start from the week you filed, and you lose the earlier weeks.
Florida's maximum weekly benefit is currently $275 per week, though the amount you receive depends on how much you earned in the year before you lost your job. DEO calculates this from your wage history. Most people receive between $100 and $275 per week. You can receive benefits for up to 12 weeks in a benefit year, though this can change if the state or federal government extends the program during economic downturns.
What to do if your claim is denied
If DEO denies your claim, the denial letter explains the reason. Common reasons include: you quit without a work-related reason, you were fired for misconduct, you did not earn enough in the base period to may have access to, or you did not provide required information. Read the letter carefully and understand why DEO said no.
You have 20 days from the date on the denial letter to request a hearing. To request a hearing, log back into connect.myflorida.com, find your claim, and select "Request a Hearing." You can also mail or fax a written request to the address on the denial letter. At the hearing, an administrative judge listens to your side of the story and DEO's side, then decides whether to overturn the denial or uphold it. You can represent yourself or bring a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file for unemployment if I quit my job?
You can file, but DEO approves claims for people who quit only if the employer caused the quit—for example, by cutting your hours, reducing your pay, or creating unsafe conditions. If you quit because you found another job or for personal reasons, your claim will be denied. File anyway and explain the reason; if DEO denies it, you can request a hearing and present your case to a judge.
How long does it take to get my first payment?
If you file online and your claim is approved, you receive your debit card within seven to ten business days. Your first payment appears on the card within one to two weeks after approval. The entire process from filing to receiving money usually takes two to four weeks, depending on how quickly DEO processes your claim and how long the mail takes.
What if I was fired? Can I still get unemployment?
You can file, but DEO denies claims for people fired for misconduct—meaning you deliberately broke a rule or did something you knew was wrong. If you were fired for poor performance, not following instructions, or a first-time mistake, you may still may have access to. File your claim and explain what happened. If denied, request a hearing and tell the judge your side of the story.
Do I have to report income from a new part-time job?
Yes. When you file your weekly claim, report all income you earned that week, including part-time work, gig work, or self-employment. Florida reduces your benefit by 75 cents for every dollar you earn over $30 per week. It is better to report the income yourself than to have DEO discover it later and ask you to repay benefits.
What if I cannot access the website or do not have internet?
Call 1-833-352-7759 to file by phone. Wait times are often long, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays. You can also visit a CareerSource office in your county—these are free job centers run by the state where staff can help you file online. Find your local office at careersourceflorida.com.