Congratulations on landing the retail management position! Just went through this exact process last month when I started my new job. The advice from @Giovanni Moretti is spot on - report your return to work during your final week claim, provide all employer details, and you're done. One small tip: screenshot or save confirmation of when you reported the job just in case you ever need proof later. DEO's system can be glitchy sometimes and it's good to have documentation. Best of luck with the new role!

Congrats on the new job! I just went through this same process a few weeks ago. One thing I'll add to all the great advice here - make sure you're 100% clear on your actual start date vs. orientation/training days. I almost made a mistake because my "orientation" was on a Friday but my actual first paid work day wasn't until the following Monday. DEO cares about when you start getting paid, not when you show up for paperwork. Also, if your new job offers any kind of signing bonus or immediate payment, that counts as earnings for the week you receive it. Just wanted to mention these details since they can trip people up! Good luck with the retail management position - hope it goes great!

This thread has been a lifesaver for me too! I'm currently on week 10 of my benefits and starting to panic about what comes next. The manufacturing industry really has been hit hard - I've applied to over 80 jobs in the past two months with only a handful of interviews. I wanted to add one more resource that helped me when I was between jobs a few years ago: many local community colleges have "continuing education" programs that are much cheaper than regular courses, and some are specifically designed for unemployed workers. I took a forklift certification course for like $150 that made me much more competitive for warehouse and manufacturing positions. Also, don't forget about your local library - most have free computer access, printer access, and many offer resume writing workshops or job search assistance. The librarians are usually really helpful about pointing you toward local resources you might not know about. @Luca Ferrari's point about TAA is something I'm definitely going to look into since my plant closure was also related to overseas competition. And @NebulaKnight, thank you for mentioning that Claimyr service - I've been trying to get through to DEO for weeks about a payment issue with no luck. The mental health aspect that several people mentioned is so important too. This whole process is incredibly demoralizing, but reading everyone's experiences here reminds me that it's not personal - the system is just broken and the job market is genuinely tough right now.

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly a bit overwhelming in the best way possible! I had no idea there were so many resources available. I've been so focused on the panic of running out of benefits that I didn't think to look beyond just applying to jobs online. I'm definitely going to call 211 today and see what's available in my county. The CareerSource appointment tomorrow suddenly feels much more promising knowing they offer resume help and have that "Employ Florida" system. I'm also going to swallow my pride and start looking at temp agencies - @Luca Ferrari's point about temp-to-perm opportunities in manufacturing really shifted my perspective on that. The suggestion about checking with my former employer for COBRA assistance is something I'm going to do first thing Monday morning. I've been dreading the health insurance situation almost as much as the income loss. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and resources. It's been really comforting to know I'm not alone in this struggle and that there are people who've made it through similar situations. Florida's system may be terrible, but this community has shown me there are ways to navigate it and survive until things get better. I'll definitely update after my CareerSource appointment tomorrow in case it helps others in the same boat!

I just wanted to add my recent experience from the CareerSource WPB office! Had my RESEA appointment there about 10 days ago and it was honestly much more helpful than I expected. The counselor was really knowledgeable about local employers and helped me tailor my resume for specific industries in the area. One thing I'd recommend is bringing a list of questions about your job search - they have access to labor market data and can give you insights about which fields are hiring and what salary ranges to expect. My counselor also connected me with a free workshop on interviewing skills that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. The appointment ran about 75 minutes and parking was indeed challenging - I ended up using a metered spot about 4 blocks away, so bring quarters! Overall though, I left feeling much more confident about my job search strategy. They really do want to see you succeed and get back to work.

I had my RESEA appointment at CareerSource WPB about 6 months ago and wanted to share some additional tips! One thing that really helped was that I brought a small notebook to jot down the resources and websites they recommended during our meeting. My counselor mentioned several local job fairs and networking events that I wouldn't have found on my own. Also, if you have any gaps in employment or unique circumstances (like being a veteran, having a disability, or being over 50), definitely mention it - they have specialized programs and resources for different situations that could be really beneficial. The counselors there genuinely know the local job market well. Mine was able to tell me which companies in the area were actively hiring and even mentioned that some employers specifically work with CareerSource to fill positions. I ended up getting connected to a temp agency that led to my current job! Don't forget to ask for their business card at the end - you can follow up with them if you have questions later or want to let them know about your job search progress. The whole experience really exceeded my expectations.

Dylan, congratulations on your first payment! I see everyone has given you great advice already. Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's been through this process recently. The waiting week confusion is totally normal - I think every first-time filer gets confused about this. You're correct that you won't get paid for that first week (6/30-7/4 in your case), and yes, you just move forward from here. Don't stress about it! One thing I wish someone had told me early on: set up a simple system NOW to track everything. I use a basic notebook where I write down: - Each work search with full details (date, company, contact method, result) - Screenshots of my biweekly claims - Any correspondence with DEO - My claim schedule dates It seems like overkill at first, but trust me, if you ever get selected for an audit or have any issues, you'll be SO glad you kept detailed records from day one. The people who run into trouble are usually the ones who tried to recreate their records months later. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions here! This community has been super helpful, and there's no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to navigating Florida's unemployment system. We've all been where you are now. You're off to a great start - just stay organized and you'll be fine!

Dylan, congratulations on getting your first payment! That's always such a relief when you're dealing with Florida's unemployment system for the first time. Everyone has given you excellent advice already, but I wanted to add one small tip that helped me when I was starting out: if you're ever unsure about anything related to your claim, check the "Messages" section in CONNECT regularly. Sometimes DEO sends important notifications through the system that don't always trigger email alerts. Also, regarding your work search activities - since you're just getting started, consider registering with your local CareerSource center if you haven't already. They offer free resources like resume help, job search assistance, and networking events. Plus, attending their workshops counts as valid work search activities, and they can provide documentation if you need it for an audit later. The learning curve is steep at first, but once you get into the routine of claiming every two weeks and keeping track of your work searches, it becomes much more manageable. You're asking all the right questions, which shows you're taking this seriously - that's going to serve you well throughout the process. Keep doing what you're doing, stay organized, and don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up. This community is really helpful for navigating all the quirks of the Florida DEO system!

I'm in the same boat right now - just exhausted my 12 weeks last Friday and I'm honestly panicking. Had no clue Florida was this stingy compared to other states. This thread has been a goldmine of information though. I'm making a checklist from all the suggestions here: calling 211, visiting CareerSource in person (not just online), checking for county rapid re-employment programs within the 30-day window, applying for SNAP immediately, and looking into those WIOA training programs with stipends. The construction temp work idea is brilliant too since that's my background. It's frustrating that none of this information is easily available when your benefits run out - they just cut you off with no guidance. But seeing how many people have navigated this and found resources gives me hope. Going to start making calls tomorrow and will report back on what I find in my county. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too - just hit the 12-week wall and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all of this. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening though. I had no idea there were so many different programs and resources scattered across different agencies. The fact that none of this information is provided when your benefits end is just cruel - they literally just cut you off with zero guidance about what to do next. I'm going to start working through everyone's suggestions systematically. Planning to call 211 first thing Monday, then schedule an in-person appointment at CareerSource to ask about WIOA programs and those training stipends. The county Rapid Re-employment program tip is huge - definitely calling about that within the 30-day window. For anyone else reading this who's in the same boat, I think the key takeaway is that you have to be really proactive and ask specifically about programs by name because they won't volunteer this information. It's like they're designed to be hard to find. But seeing how many people have successfully navigated this mess gives me hope that there's a path forward even though Florida's system basically abandons working people after 12 weeks. Going to bookmark this thread and come back to update on what I learn from my calls and visits. Maybe it'll help the next person going through this nightmare.