CONNECT weekly claim reporting confusion - can't find where to claim my weeks for Florida unemployment

You need to click on the 'View and Maintain Account Information' option on your CONNECT homepage, then look for 'Claim Weekly Benefits' link. DEO only lets you claim weeks during your assigned reporting window, which depends on the last digit of your SSN. If it's not showing up, you might not be in your reporting window yet. Also make sure you're fully registered in the Employ Florida website and have completed your work search activities (5 per week) before claiming.

CONNECT IS THE WORST WEBSITE EVER DESIGNED!! I spent 3 weeks trying to figure out the same thing when I first filed in January. The reporting windows are RIDICULOUS and if you miss yours, you have to wait until the next one!!! My advice: screenshot EVERYTHING and document all your work searches in a separate document because the system loves to crash mid-reporting and make you start over. The DEO clearly designed this system to frustrate people into giving up on their benefits.

The reporting schedule depends on your Social Security Number. For most claimants in 2025, Florida DEO assigns biweekly reporting, not weekly (despite the name "weekly claims"). You can't claim until your specific window opens. Reporting windows are typically: - SSN ending in 0-4: Report on Monday or Tuesday - SSN ending in 5-9: Report on Wednesday or Thursday But this only starts AFTER your waiting week. Florida has a one-week waiting period after monetary determination before you can claim anything. Also, make sure you've completed your work search requirements (5 job contacts per week). You'll need this info ready when you claim.

i had the same problem last month! so frustrating. turned out i had to wait for my "claim effective date" which was different than when i applied. check your determination letter for that date. mine said something like "your benefit year begins on XX/XX/2025" and i couldn't claim until after that date. also the claiming is always biweekly now not weekly. and yeah gotta do those 5 job searches every week or they'll deny payment, even retroactively

Claiming in Floridas CONNECT makes me want to throw my laptop out the window every time! Just FYI the system goes down for "maintenance" every night from like 8pm to 8am so dont try to file during those times or you'll lose everything you entered.

why does everybody make this so complicated lol. u just wait for the link to show up on ur connect homepage and then u click it. its not rocket science. if its not there yet u cant claim yet. simple

Just to be clear about the biweekly claiming: You'll claim TWO weeks at once when your window opens. You'll need to enter work search information for both weeks (5 activities per week, so 10 total when claiming biweekly). Also, remember that your first week is a "waiting week" that you must claim but won't get paid for. So your first payment will actually cover week 2 only. After that, you'll get two weeks of benefits each time you successfully claim. Make sure to answer all questions honestly - especially about whether you worked or earned any income during the weeks you're claiming. Incorrect info can lead to overpayment issues later.

One last tip: When your claiming link does appear, set aside at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete it. Have your work search information ready (company names, addresses, contact methods, positions applied for, application dates). The system times out after 30 minutes of inactivity and doesn't save your progress. Also, when answering the question about being "able and available" for work, always select "yes" unless you were truly unavailable (hospitalized, out of the country, etc.). Selecting "no" will disqualify you for benefits for that week.

Hey Charlie! I went through the exact same confusion when I first started claiming in Florida. One thing that helped me was creating a calendar reminder to check CONNECT every Monday and Wednesday during my potential reporting windows. Also, if you have a smartphone, try accessing CONNECT through your phone's browser instead of desktop - sometimes the mobile version shows different menu options or loads faster. And definitely keep a simple spreadsheet with your work search activities (date, company, position, how you applied) - it makes claiming so much easier when you have everything organized ahead of time. The system really is poorly designed, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes more manageable. Hang in there!

Charlie, I totally feel your frustration! I went through this exact same confusion when I first got approved. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: After you get your monetary determination, there's usually a 1-2 week delay before your claiming window opens. The "Claim Weekly Benefits" link will literally appear on your CONNECT homepage when it's your time - you're not missing anything hidden in the menus. While you're waiting, make sure you're doing your 5 work searches per week and documenting them (company name, position, date applied, how you applied). I use a simple notes app on my phone to track these as I go. Also, double-check that you've completed your Employ Florida registration if you haven't already - that's required before you can claim. The waiting is the worst part, but once that link appears, the actual claiming process is pretty straightforward. You'll be claiming two weeks at a time, and your first week will be unpaid (waiting week). Don't stress - you haven't missed anything yet!