Where to File and What You Need Before You Start

Florida's unemployment system is run by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). You file through their website at CONNECT.myflorida.com, not by mail or phone. The system is online-only — there is no paper process or phone line to call to file your initial claim.

Before you log in, gather these documents: your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, your most recent pay stub, and the names and addresses of your employers from the past 18 months. If you were laid off or fired, have the reason ready to type into the form. The whole process takes 20 to 30 minutes if you have this information in front of you.

You will create a CONNECT account the first time you visit. Use an email address you check regularly — DEO sends claim status updates there. Write down your username and password; you will need them to check on your claim and to file weekly certifications later.

Key Takeaways

  • File through CONNECT.myflorida.com, the only official way to submit a claim in Florida; phone and mail filing are not available.
  • Have your Social Security number, ID, recent pay stub, and employer information ready before you start, as the form must be completed in one session.
  • After you file, DEO mails a information letter within two weeks that tells you whether you are monetarily may be able to access and what your weekly benefit amount is.
  • You must certify your claim every week by logging into CONNECT and answering questions about work and income, or your benefits will not be paid.
  • If DEO denies your claim, you have 20 days from the denial letter to file an appeal through the same CONNECT system.

Step-by-Step: Filing Your Initial Claim

Go to CONNECT.myflorida.com and select "File a New Claim" if you do not have an account. If you already have one from a past claim, log in with your existing username and password. The system will ask whether you are filing a new claim or reopening an old one; choose "new claim" unless you filed within the past 52 weeks and are returning after a break in work.

Fill in your personal information: full legal name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email. Then enter your Social Security number and driver's license or ID number. The form will ask for your employment history. List every employer you worked for in the past 18 months, including the dates you started and stopped, your job title, and the reason you left (laid off, quit, fired, or other). Be specific about the reason — "laid off due to lack of work" is different from "quit without good cause," and the difference affects whether you receive benefits.

When the form asks about your separation reason, choose the option that matches what happened. If you were laid off, select that. If you quit, the form will ask why; answer honestly. If you were fired, say so and briefly describe what led to it. DEO will contact your employer to verify your account, so inaccuracies will be caught.

Review your entries before you submit. Once you click "Submit Claim," you cannot edit it — if you made a mistake, you will have to call DEO's appeals line or wait for the information letter and correct it then. After submission, you will see a confirmation number. Write it down or take a screenshot.

What Happens After You File: The information Letter

DEO processes your claim and mails you a information letter within 10 to 14 days. This letter tells you two things: whether you are monetarily may be able to access (based on your earnings in the past 12 months) and what your weekly benefit amount is if you are approved. Florida's maximum weekly benefit is set by state law and changes yearly; it was $275 per week in 2024, but check your information letter for the exact amount you may have access to for.

The letter also lists the weekly amount you will receive if approved. This is not a lump sum — it is what you get each week you certify. If you earned very little in the past year, you may not be monetarily may be able to access, and the letter will say so. If that happens, you have 20 days to file an appeal.

Keep the information letter. You will need the claim number on it to log into CONNECT and certify your claim each week. If you lose it, you can look up your claim number by logging into CONNECT and viewing your account.

Weekly Certification: How to Keep Your Benefits Active

After your claim is approved, you must certify every week or your benefits will not be paid. Certification means logging into CONNECT every Sunday through Friday and answering questions about whether you worked, earned money, or refused a job offer that week. This takes five minutes.

Log into CONNECT, go to "Claim Status," and select "Certify." Answer the questions honestly: Did you work? How many hours? How much did you earn? Did you refuse any work? Did you attend school or training? Submit your certification. You will see a confirmation message on screen.

Certify by the important date shown on your claim — usually Friday of the week you are reporting on. If you miss the important date, your payment for that week is skipped. You can certify up to two weeks in advance if you know you will be away, but not earlier. If you miss a important date, you can still certify late, but the payment for that week will be delayed.

Payments are deposited into your bank account or loaded onto a debit card, depending on how you set up your account. Most payments arrive within two to three business days of certification.

If Your Claim Is Denied

If the information letter says you are not may be able to access, read the reason carefully. Common reasons are: you did not earn enough in the past 12 months to may have access to, you quit your job without good cause, or you were fired for misconduct. Each reason has a different appeal process.

You have 20 days from the date on the denial letter to file an appeal. Log into CONNECT, go to "Appeals," and select "File an Appeal." Explain why you disagree with the decision. If you were denied for not earning enough, you can provide pay stubs or tax returns showing additional income. If you were denied for quitting or being fired, explain the circumstances — for example, if you quit because your employer cut your hours to part-time without notice, say that.

After you file an appeal, DEO schedules a hearing by phone with an appeals referee. You will receive a notice with the date and time. The referee will ask you and your employer questions about what happened. You can bring documents or witnesses. If the referee rules in your favor, your claim is approved and back pay is issued. If not, you can appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, but that requires a lawyer and is rare.

What to Do If You Stop Receiving Payments

If you certify but do not receive a payment, log into CONNECT and check your claim status. Look for messages from DEO — they may be asking for more information, such as proof of job search or clarification about your work history. Respond to any messages within the important date shown.

If you found a job and are now earning more than your weekly benefit amount, you may no longer be may be able to access. Report your new job and income when you certify each week. DEO will reduce or stop your benefits based on your earnings, but you may still receive a partial payment if you earn less than your full weekly amount.

If you believe there is an error — for example, you certified but the payment shows as "not paid" — call DEO's customer service line at 1-833-352-7992. Wait times are long, especially early in the week; calling Thursday or Friday usually means shorter holds. Have your claim number ready.

Common Mistakes That Delay or Stop Your Benefits

The most common mistake is missing a weekly certification important date. Even one missed week stops that week's payment. Set a phone reminder for Friday afternoon to certify before the important date closes.

The second mistake is not reporting work or income when you certify. If you work part-time or gig work while collecting unemployment, you must report the hours and earnings every week. DEO cross-checks with employers and tax records, so underreporting will be caught and you will owe back the overpayment.

The third mistake is not responding to messages from DEO. If they ask for documents or clarification, respond within the important date. Ignoring a message can result in your claim being closed or benefits being stopped until you respond.

The fourth mistake is filing a claim when you are not separated from your job. You cannot collect unemployment while still employed, even if your hours are cut. If you are still on the payroll, you are not may be able to access. Wait until you are officially laid off or quit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my first payment after I file?

DEO processes your claim in 10 to 14 days and mails a information letter. If approved, you certify the week after you receive the letter, and your first payment arrives within two to three business days of certification. Total time is usually three to four weeks from filing to first payment. If your claim is denied, you must appeal and wait for a hearing before any payment is made.

Can I file by phone or mail instead of online?

No. Florida only accepts claims through CONNECT.myflorida.com. There is no phone line to file an initial claim and no paper form. If you cannot access the internet, visit a public library or workforce development office, which have computers you can use to file.

What if I was fired? Can I still get unemployment?

It depends on why you were fired. If you were fired for misconduct — such as theft, violence, or repeated rule-breaking after warning — you are not may be able to access. If you were fired for poor performance, inability to do the job, or a single mistake, you may be may be able to access. DEO will contact your employer to ask why you were fired. If you disagree with their account, you can appeal and explain your side at a hearing.

Do I have to look for a job while collecting unemployment?

Florida does not require you to report job searches as part of your weekly certification, but you must be able and available to work. If an employer offers you a job and you refuse without good cause, you lose benefits. "Good cause" means the job is unsafe, pays significantly less than your usual work, or requires you to abandon family responsibilities.

What happens if I find a job while collecting unemployment?

Report your new job and income when you certify that week. DEO will calculate your partial benefit — if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you receive the difference. For example, if your weekly benefit is $275 and you earn $150, you receive $125. If you earn more than your weekly benefit, you receive nothing that week but remain may be able to access the following week if you earn less again.