Just to clarify, to qualify for the current FSC program you need: 1. Exhausted regular state benefits 2. Have earned at least 40x your weekly benefit amount in your base period 3. Be in an approved high unemployment county (DEO publishes the list monthly) 4. Have completed at least 5 verifiable work searches per week If you don't meet ALL of these requirements, you'll only receive the state benefit amount. And yes, the maximum state benefit was increased to $375 in the last Florida legislative session.

Whatever you do, make ABSOLUTELY SURE you're reporting any part-time income correctly. If you earned less than $375 but still had some income, you need to report it for each week. I missed reporting $120 from a side gig and ended up with an overpayment notice and had to appeal. NIGHTMARE. The DEO is super strict about this now.

i had this exact problem in january!! it showed ineligible because there was an issue with my work search requirements from 2 weeks ago that triggered a review. check if you have any "fact findings" or pending issues in your account. mine got fixed after i submitted the missing work search info.

UPDATE: Just wanted to check if you were able to resolve this? Did you end up getting through to someone at DEO or find the extension application?

My husband had this happen and we ended up emailing our state representative! They have staff that deal with DEO issues and got it fixed in like a week after months of nothing happening. Google your FL state rep and find their constituent services email.

Update: I tried the Claimyr service this morning and actually got through to a DEO agent! She found the problem right away - there was a "wage verification hold" because my employer reported different quarterly wages than what I entered on my application. She released the hold and said I should see my payments in 3-5 business days. Will update again when/if the money arrives. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

This happened to me last month too I claimed without putting work searches and my payment got delayed for 3 weeks!!! When I finally got through to someone they said I had to do the work searches retroactively and send proof. Such a hassle for no reason!!!!

One more thing to note - if you're on Extended Benefits or in a DEO-approved training program, different rules might apply. Also, some claimants may qualify for exemptions from work search requirements under specific circumstances (like if you have a verifiable job return date within 8 weeks). If you think you might qualify for an exemption, you should document your situation thoroughly and be prepared to explain during any potential review of your claim. The safest approach is to complete and record your work searches anyway unless you've received explicit confirmation of a waiver from DEO.

Anyone else notice that CONNECT is doing maintenance AGAIN this weekend? Maybe that's related to all these weird payment splits. I swear that system is held together with duct tape and prayers.

UPDATE: My $300 just hit my account this morning! It's showing in my bank but still doesn't appear processed in CONNECT. So weird, but at least I got it. Seems like they really are processing them separately now.

lol good luck. this is FLORIDA unemployment. they WANT us to fail. I ended up having to take a crappy job for half my normal pay just to survive while waiting. system is broken ON PURPOSE.

Just wanted to update you all. I tried calling this morning using the 7:29am trick AND I tried the Claimyr service since I was desperate. Got through with Claimyr in about 20 mins and asked specifically for someone in adjudication regarding an employer response issue as suggested here. They transferred me to an adjudicator who saw that my employer DID respond on April 22 but it never got matched to my file properly. She fixed it on the spot and said my payments should release within 24-48 hours! THANK YOU all for the help!! Will update if the money actually hits my account.

For anyone else finding this thread with the same problem: CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE!!! They can push your verification through the system! I was stuck for WEEKS before I did this and then magically my account was verified within 48 hours after my rep's office called DEO!!!

One important detail about the ID.me video verification option: make sure you're initiating this process directly through the link in your CONNECT portal. If you just go to ID.me separately, the verification won't automatically link to your DEO account even if you complete it successfully. I made this mistake and had to do the whole process twice.

Just to add some additional information: if you're receiving $600 weekly, that means your WBA (Weekly Benefit Amount) is on the higher end of Florida's scale. The maximum is $615 in 2025. If you're having 10% withheld for federal taxes, that would be $60, leaving you with $540. This is normal and actually might save you from a surprise tax bill later. But if you prefer to manage your tax obligations separately, changing the withholding setting as I mentioned earlier is perfectly fine. Just make sure you're setting aside around 10-15% of your benefits for taxes.

did u figure it out? was it the tax thing?

my nieghbor said theres a new bill for extra $$ but it hasnt passed yet. dont get hopes up tho florida never does anything to help us. $275 is a joke my car payment is more than that lol

Thanks everyone for the responses. I'm really disappointed to learn there's no extra $300. My neighbor must have been talking about something else or remembering from the pandemic. I've been playing around with my CONNECT account and found where to have taxes withheld (thanks for that tip!). I've also been keeping detailed records of my work searches - applying to at least 7 jobs per week even though only 5 are required. I'm going to try to get through to DEO to ask about training opportunities that might extend my benefits. Thanks again for all the helpful info!

has anyone else noticed the connect website is down AGAIN today?????? trying to claim my weeks and can't even login!! this is the 3rd time this month!!!!

I'm following this thread closely because I'm in a similar situation! Been fighting with DEO for WEEKS about my claim, and suddenly got a deposit that seems like it might be backpay but I'm terrified to spend it. The anxiety of dealing with Florida unemployment is honestly worse than being unemployed itself sometimes. 😭 Has anyone who got backpay received any kind of official notice or letter from DEO explaining what the payment was for? I haven't gotten anything in my CONNECT inbox...