How Do I File For Unemployment In Florida Online

Information You Need To Apply

You will need:

• Your last employers business name, address and phone number
• First and last dates you worked for your last employer. If you worked for your last employer on more than one occasion, provide the most recent employment dates.
• Number of hours worked and pay rate if you worked the week you apply for benefits
• Information about the normal wage for the job you are seeking
• Alien Registration number
• A valid Texas Driver License number or Texas Identification Card number

Florida Unemployment Phone Number

If you need assistance filing a Florida unemployment claim online due to a language barrier, a disability, computer illiteracy, or for legal reasons, you can call 1-800-681-8102 for help.

The following are the primary Florida unemployment phone numbers. Call these programs to get help filing your Florida unemployment claim.

Department of Economic Opportunity:; 1-850-245-7105

Reemployment Assistance Program Main Help Line:; 1-800-204-2418

Benefits Appeals Assistance:; 1-800-204-2418

When Should I Apply For Florida Unemployment Benefits

You should file a claim for Florida unemployment benefits as soon as you become unemployed.

When you apply for unemployment benefits, the effective date of your initial claim is important because that is the date that is used to determine when your benefits begin.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity cannot pay benefits for weeks before your claim effective date.

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How To Appeal A Denial Of Unemployment Benefits In Florida

If your claim for unemployment benefits is denied, you may file an appeal within 20 days after the date the determination was mailed to you. You may file online, by mail, or by fax. After receiving your appeal request, the agency will schedule a telephone hearing and mail you a packet of information to help you prepare. Following the hearing, the appeals referee will decide on your case and mail the decision to you.

If you disagree with the referee’s decision after the hearing, you may appeal it to the Unemployment Appeals Commission; you must file this second appeal within 20 days after the date the first appeal decision was mailed to you. The commissioners will review the evidence from your original hearing and issue a written decision. If you disagree with this decision, you may appeal it to the Florida District Court of Appeal.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity provides detailed information on the unemployment process at its reemployment assistance service center page.

What You Need For Apply For Unemployment Benefits

To apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits, you need to provide personal information including your Social Security number, birth date, home address, email address , and phone number.

You also need information about your employment history from the last 15 months, including:

• Names of all employers, plus addresses and phone numbers
• Reasons for leaving those jobs
• Work start and end dates
• Recall date

You may need additional information in certain situations:

• If you are not a U.S. citizen your Alien Registration number
• If you have children their birth dates and Social Security numbers
• If youre in a union your union name and local number
• If you were in the military your DD-214 Member 4 form. If you dont have it, you can request your DD-214 online.
• If you worked for the federal government your SF8 form

To receive payments by direct deposit, youll also need your bank name, account number, and routing number. Otherwise, the Department of Unemployment Assistance will send you a debit card.

If youre a non-U.S. citizen applying for UI benefits, DUA must verify that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. Non-English speakers can apply for UI in their own languages on DUA’s foreign language application site.

If you’re not sure that UI is right for you, you can check your eligibility or review our overview of unemployment assistance benefit programs.

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Submit An Application By Automated Phone

You can apply by phone on Fridays, between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm.

At the end of the call, you will be transferred to a Customer Service Representative to complete your application.

Do You Have Questions

Please visit DEOs;Frequently Asked Questions page. You may be able to quickly find the answer to your question or find information that you need online.

Contact DEO Directly at 1-833-FL-APPLY .

Agency Assist People who need assistance filing a claim online because of legal reasons, computer illiteracy, language barriers, or disabilities may call 1-833-FL-APPLY .

RA Fraud Hotline Reemployment Assistance Fraud is a;third-degree felony;and can result in jail time. Report RA fraud;online;or you may also report fraud by calling 1-833-FL-APPLY;.

Employer Contact Line For assistance related to an employers CONNECT account, responding to requests for information, and chargeability issues call 1-833-FL-APPLY;.

Identity Verification Process

DEO partnered with;ID.me to help keep Floridians identities secure from fraudulent activity and bolster current fraud prevention measures.; Any new claimant filing for Reemployment Assistance will need to verify their identity through ID.me. For more information about ID.me visit the claimant resource page.

Helpful Resources;

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Florida Unemployment Benefits: Changes Explained

ORLANDO, Fla. â More than a year and a half since the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic;â and surge of unemployment claim filings â persistent problems remain with Floridaâs unemployment system.;

Despite an overburdened state agency’s attempts to install fixes, countless individuals face dire home situations.

Editorâs Note:;This article is intended to provide a single source of answers and resources pertaining to changing policies and impacts with Floridaâs unemployment system. It is a comprehensive guide and covers a number of topics. We suggest using your browser’s search function to search on specific keywords, or topic words. Spectrum News will regularly update this article, at times adding, removing, and/or editing elements as needed.

Set Up A Personal Identification Number

When you fill out your application, you need to set up a PIN that you will use to log into the CONNECT system and claim your benefits. A PIN is not provided for you, so you must create one yourself.

Your PIN must be four digits long, and it cannot be:

• A repeating number
• Four sequential numbers
• The last four digits of your Social Security number

Make sure your PIN is easy for you to remember but not easy to guess.

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What Are The Tax Implications Of Unemployment

Your unemployment insurance is considered taxable income, so you must report it on your federal tax return in the income section.;

Taxes are not taken out of unemployment benefits, but when filing your federal and state taxes the following year, you must report the money you received. The IRS will send you Form 1099-G, which includes the taxable unemployment benefits you received in the previous tax year.;

“One benefit, however, is not having to pay payroll taxes like Social Security and Medicare on these payments,” said Riley Adams, a certified public accountant and owner of Young and the Invested, a personal finance website. “Should you so choose, you may also elect to have taxes withheld from your unemployment benefits when filing for unemployment insurance.”

Florida Department Of Economic Opportunity

P.O. Box 5350

Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350

Before you begin your application, its advisable to gather together the information and documents youll be asked to provide. As per the DEO guidelines, this includes:

• Your Social Security number.
• Your drivers license or state ID number.
• Your employment history to cover the past 18 months. This should include the name, address, and phone number of each employer; your first and last working day with each employer; gross earnings during each period of employment; the reason for leaving each employer.
• FEIN .
• Alien registration number or other work authorization form if you do not have US citizenship.
• Form DD214, if you have served in the military during the past 18 months.
• Form SF-8 and your most recent paystub, if you were a federal employee during the past 18 months.
• Union name, hall number, and phone number, if you are a union member.

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How Much Will My Florida Unemployment Benefits Pay

The weekly payment amount you receive during unemployment will vary from person to person. The only way to be sure of your benefit amount is to submit a claim.

The state determines your weekly benefit payments based on your previous earnings during employment. In 2020, you can receive a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. You are entitled to a maximum benefit amount of $3,300.

You will continue to receive Reemployment Assistance weekly for up to 12 weeks. When you secure a job, the payments will stop. However, working part-time or temporarily does not necessarily end the benefits.

Benefits For Victims Of Domestic Violence

Florida recently made it possible for domestic violence survivors who voluntarily quit their jobs to be awarded Reemployment Assistance benefits. In general, applicants must present a court injunction, protective order, or other evidence that reasonably proves domestic violence occurred.

Survivors of domestic violence must; try to keep their employment and show that they are likely to be the victim of a future act of domestic violence. They must also meet the other eligibility requirements.

If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, visit the CLSMF page on Violence Protection to learn your rights. If you need immediate protection from domestic violence, contact the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119 or visit them online.

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Your Unemployment Questions: Answered

While Spectrum News tries to provide a comprehensive resource to answer unemployment questions, it is important to understand that each personâs situation is different and ultimately only Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will be able determine the appropriate response for each individual claimantâs unique situation.

Questions and situations below provide a range of issues, and whenever possible specific steps or insight for solutions.In general, most can also be followed by contacting FL DEO through their new online Reemployment Assistance Help Center.

On June 21, 2021, FL DEO told Spectrum News: âDEO recommends that claimants and employers utilize the Reemployment Assistance Help Center â an online portal for claimants and employers to provide and receive additional information from DEO. This online resource continues to be updated with additional features for claimants and employers to notify DEO of instances of Reemployment Assistance fraud or identity theft, provide documentation to DEO, and houses several resourceful materials for claimants or employers who have additional questions.;

If you need more help or answers to questions, fill out the Spectrum News Unemployment Assistance Form.

QUESTION: DEO sent me a notification saying I needed to complete a Work Search Form. How exactly do I do that?

ANSWER: See the “completing your work search form” section of the Florida Jobs website.

ANSWER: This is an issue many users have reported.

ANSWER: From DEO:

How Do I Apply For Unemployment In Florida Online

Within a week of being unemployed, you want to submit a claim on CONNECT. To file a Florida unemployment claim, the state advises that you should have the following ready:

• Social Security number
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of past employers
• Dates worked and total wages from each employer
• Gross earnings for the current week
• ID such as a drivers license, state identification, voter registration number, or any other type of ID used to verify your identity
• The name and local number of your labor union hall
• Non-U.S. citizens need an Alien Registration Number and work permit
• If you were in the military within the last two years, you need your DD-214 form
• Past federal employees need a Form SF-50 or Form SF-8 with check stubs or W2
• If you want your benefits directly deposited into your bank account, youll also need a check or deposit slip

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Reasons You May Not Be Eligible

There are a number of situations that might affect whether you can receive, or continue to receive, Reemployment Assistance benefits.

Things like quitting your job without a reason or being fired because of your own misconduct could disqualify you from benefits. You also need to be monetarily eligible, meaning you have worked enough in the recent past to qualify.

Once you start getting your benefits, they can get cut off for things like not being able and available to work or failing to show up at a mandatory reemployment services appointment.

Some jobs simply do not qualify for Reemployment Assistance, such as children under 21 years old who have been working for their parents or inmates who have been laboring under a work release program.

To see a full list of everything that might affect whether you qualify for Reemployment Assistance, read this DEO document: Reasons for State or Federal Reemployment Assistance Ineligibility.

While generally ineligible, independent contractors may be able to collect benefits if they were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Unemployment Related to COVID-19 section of our Coronavirus Resources Page for more details.

How To Apply For Fl Unemployment Benefits

Because of the uptick in unemployment claims, its important to note that many Floridians have experienced trouble getting through to the states Department of Economic Opportunity. Both the online portal and the phone lines have been overflowing with requests, which has caused delays, errors, and frustrating experiences for many.;

If you are applying, dont let this discourage you. Here are the steps Floridians can take to apply for unemployment benefits:

Gather Unemployment Information

In order to apply for unemployment compensation, Florida residents will need to have all of their relevant employment information close to hand. According to the State of Florida, this includes:

• Your Social Security number
• Your driver’s license or state ID number
• Employment history over the past 18 months, including:
• Employer names, addresses, and phone numbers
• Dates of first and last day of work
• Gross earnings during employment periods

Some workers will be required to give further information:;

• Non-U.S. citizens will be asked for their A-Number.;

• Military employees will be asked for their DD-214 member copy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

• Federal employees will be asked for their SF 8 or SF 50.

• Union members will be asked for their unions name, hall number, and contact information.

Apply for Florida Unemployment;

Apply for Unemployment By Phone

P.O. Box 5350

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Before You Apply: Gather Your Documents And Information

For regular unemployment insurance benefits, you will need:

• Your name, Social Security number, birthdate and contact information.
• Your complete work history for the past 18 months including:
• employer name
• start and end dates of employment for each employer

How Do I File For Unemployment Benefits In Florida

Before you apply for Florida unemployment benefits, you will need to have the following information available to support your claim. ;Florida unemployment application requirements include:

• Social Security number
• Contact information for each of your employers for the past 18 months
• The dates you worked for each employer for the past 18 months
• The amount of wages you earned from each employer for the past 18 months
• The amount of pre-tax wages you earned for the current week starting at 12:01 am on Sunday which starts your first week of filing a claim for unemployment
• A drivers license or some other form of proof of identity
• The name and local number of your labor union hall if you are a member of a labor union
• Your Alien Registration Number and work permit expiration date if you are not a U.S. citizen
• A DD-214 if you were a member of the military within the past two years
• Your SF-50 or SF-8 and check stubs or W2 proof of earnings if you were a federal employee
• If you want your benefits deposited directly into your bank account, you will need a check or a deposit slip

To assure that you begin receiving benefits in a timely manner, you should start your claims process within one week after losing your job.; When your application is finished will determine when you will be able to start receiving benefits. Claims always begin on the Sunday prior to the day you complete and submit your application.

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Find Out The Unemployment Eligibility Rules Benefit Amounts And More For Florida

By Lisa Guerin, J.D.

In Floridaas in every other stateemployees who are temporarily out of work through no fault of their own may qualify to collect unemployment benefits. The eligibility rules, prior earnings requirements, benefit amounts, and other details vary from state to state, however. Here are the basic rules for collecting unemployment in Florida; the state calls these benefits “reemployment assistance.” In Florida, the agency responsible for unemployment benefits is called the Department of Economic Opportunity.