I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my manufacturing job cut me from 40 hours to about 20-25 hours per week. From what I've learned so far, the key things to remember are: 1. It's all about your weekly earnings, not the number of hours you work 2. You can earn up to $100 per week without any reduction in benefits (that's 8 times Florida's current minimum wage of $12.50) 3. After that $100, your benefits get reduced dollar-for-dollar 4. You still need to do all 5 work search activities every week, even though you're still employed The hardest part for me has been keeping track of everything accurately. I started using a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and earnings for each week I claim. Make sure you report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid - that seems to be where a lot of people run into trouble later. One thing that's helped me is looking at my determination letter in CONNECT to see exactly what my weekly benefit amount is, then using the formula others mentioned to figure out roughly what I can expect each week. Takes some of the guesswork out of it!

I've been through this exact situation and wanted to share what worked for me. I was a warehouse worker too and got my hours cut from 40 to about 22-28 per week last year. The most important thing I learned is to keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - hours worked each day, gross pay (including any shift differentials or overtime), and exactly which days you worked. I used a simple notebook at first but switched to taking photos of my work schedule each week. Here's what really helped me avoid problems: - Always report earnings for the week you performed the work, not when you got paid - Include ALL income - base pay, overtime, shift premiums, even small bonuses - Don't forget about any side gigs or cash work (like helping friends move, etc.) - Keep doing your 5 work searches every single week without fail The system actually worked pretty smoothly for me once I got into the routine. Some weeks I'd get partial benefits, other weeks nothing if I picked up extra shifts. The key is just being completely honest and accurate with your reporting. One last tip - if you ever have issues with CONNECT or need to speak to someone at DEO, don't waste days trying to call. There are callback services that actually work. Just my experience but it saved me a lot of frustration! Good luck with your claim!

Yes, you can definitely deduct business expenses for your dog sitting work! Since you're essentially running a small business, you can deduct things like: - Gas/mileage for traveling to clients (huge one!) - Dog treats, toys, or supplies you buy for the pets - Cleaning supplies if you're doing overnight sits - Phone expenses (portion used for Rover communications) - Any equipment like leashes, waste bags, etc. Keep ALL receipts and track your mileage - the IRS standard mileage rate is 65.5 cents per mile for 2023. Even small expenses add up quickly with gig work. I use a simple app to track my miles automatically. Also consider setting up a separate checking account for your Rover income and expenses - makes bookkeeping much easier come tax time. And if you're doing overnight sits, you might be able to deduct a portion of your phone/internet bills since you're using them for work. Just make sure everything is legitimately business-related and keep good records. The IRS is pretty reasonable about gig work deductions as long as you can justify them!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who does both Rover and TaskRabbit while on unemployment - the key is DOCUMENTATION! I keep screenshots of every booking confirmation, payment notification, and client message. When I had to speak with a DEO agent about a discrepancy in my claim, having all that documentation saved me from a potential overpayment situation. One thing I learned is that if you have a cancellation fee from Rover (like when a client cancels last minute), you still need to report that as income for the week it was earned, even though you didn't actually provide any service. DEO considers any payment from your 1099 work as reportable income. Also, don't forget that Florida has a partial benefit formula - if your weekly Rover earnings plus your reduced unemployment benefit end up being less than your full weekly benefit amount, you might actually come out ahead financially some weeks. It's worth doing the math to see if picking up an extra small gig is worth it or if you should wait for a bigger one. Stay organized and honest with your reporting - the system is definitely confusing but being upfront about everything is always the safest route!

I went through a similar struggle about 8 months ago and here's what worked for me. First, definitely apply for the interstate unemployment claim since you worked in Georgia - that money will help while you figure out training. For the WIOA program, I'd suggest calling multiple CareerSource locations in your area. Each office has different funding availability and some are more helpful than others. When I called, I specifically asked to speak with their "WIOA eligibility specialist" rather than general intake. Also, don't overlook community colleges - they often have their own workforce development grants separate from DEO. Valencia College and other state colleges sometimes have quick certification programs (8-16 weeks) with financial aid options. One more thing - if you're open to it, look into apprenticeship programs through the Florida Department of Education. They're in healthcare, IT, and skilled trades. Some are paid apprenticeships where you earn while learning. Much faster than waiting for DEO funding that might never come. Good luck! The system is frustrating but there are ways through it if you keep pushing.

Hey Ravi, I went through something very similar when I moved here from North Carolina last year. The job market can be brutal, especially when you're coming from out of state. A few things that helped me: 1. **Apply for that interstate unemployment claim ASAP** - you definitely qualify based on your Georgia work history. It takes a few weeks to process but the backpay helps. 2. **Tampa General Hospital and Orlando Health** both have "workforce pipeline" programs where they hire people with customer service backgrounds and train them for healthcare roles. They're specifically looking for people with your admin/customer service experience. 3. **Don't just rely on CareerSource** - also check with your local library. Many have career centers with free resume help and job search resources. Mine had a "Florida Back to Work" program I didn't know about. 4. **Consider temp agencies** while you're waiting on training approval. Companies like Robert Half and Kelly Services often have temp-to-hire positions that can bridge the gap financially. The key is applying for multiple things simultaneously rather than waiting on one program. I know it's overwhelming when you're stressed about money, but casting a wide net really does work. You've got solid experience - it's just about finding the right opportunity or program. Hang in there! The breakthrough usually comes right when you're about to give up.

Update for anyone else finding this thread with the same issue: I checked with my case from last year, and the exact timing was 37 days from my first unemployment payment with child support withheld until it appeared in my ex's account. After that, it was consistently 12-14 days for each subsequent payment. The system is frustratingly slow, but it does eventually work. Also worth noting - when the payments finally started, they came individually (not as one lump sum), but several showed up on the same day since they were all backlogged in the system.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation right now! DEO has been taking $112/week from my benefits for child support for over a month, but my ex hasn't seen a penny yet. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and infuriating - 30-45 days seems to be the norm, which is absolutely ridiculous in 2025. I tried calling both DEO and the child support office multiple times but either get disconnected or told "it's processing" with no real timeline. At least now I know this delay is unfortunately normal and not just my case being lost in the system. Going to try calling that CS number (800-622-KIDS) tomorrow to see if they show anything pending. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know we're not alone in dealing with Florida's broken systems!

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!