CONNECT won't let me proceed without employment end date for my current part-time job - what to put?
I'm in a weird situation with my CONNECT application that's driving me crazy! I was laid off from my full-time job last month, but I still have my weekend part-time gig at a restaurant that barely gives me 10 hours a week. When reporting my part-time work in CONNECT, it keeps asking for an "employment end date" for this job, but I'm STILL WORKING THERE! The system won't let me proceed without entering something in that field. I've tried leaving it blank, putting today's date, putting a future date... nothing works. Has anyone dealt with this before? What date should I put that won't mess up my claim? I really need to get this application moving since I've already been without my main income for three weeks.
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Nadia Zaldivar
Use the Sunday date of the current claim week you're filing as the "end date" for your part-time job. DEO's system requires an end date, even for ongoing employment. This is actually a common issue with the CONNECT system! As long as you continue reporting your part-time earnings each week when you claim your weeks, DEO understands that you're still employed there. Just make sure you accurately report all hours worked and gross earnings (before taxes) each time you claim weeks.
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Rajan Walker
•Thank you!!! That makes sense, I'll try using the Sunday date. The whole system is so confusing when you're partially employed. Will this affect my eligibility since technically I'm entering an "end date" for a job I still have?
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Lukas Fitzgerald
I had the EXACT same problem last year! Just put the last day of the week you're currently reporting for. It's sooooo annoying that CONNECT doesn't have an option for "still employed" but that's what everyone has to do. The system is designed terribly lol
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Ev Luca
You need to use the last day of your biweekly claim period as your "end date" - this is how DEO handles current employment. When you claim weeks next time, you'll report the same employer again with the new dates worked. Also, make sure you're correctly reporting your gross earnings (not take-home pay) for your restaurant job during each week. Florida uses an 80% income deduction formula - meaning for every $1 you earn at your part-time job, they'll reduce your weekly benefit amount by about 80 cents. If your weekly benefit amount is the state maximum of $375 and you're earning more than $468 per week at your part-time job, you won't receive benefits for that week. Just keep claiming and reporting accurately each time.
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Rajan Walker
•This is really helpful, thank you! My restaurant shifts vary a lot week to week - sometimes I make $150, sometimes $280 depending on how busy we are. My weekly benefit amount should be around $320 based on my previous full-time job, so I should still qualify for partial unemployment most weeks. I'll be super careful about reporting the actual gross earnings.
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Avery Davis
THE CONNECT SYSTEM IS GARBAGE!!!!!!! I got stuck on the EXACT same thing and ended up waiting WEEKS because I thought I did something wrong. Called DEO 78 TIMES and never got through to anyone. Put in any date - literally ANYTHING - and just keep claiming. The system is designed to frustrate people into giving up. Don't let them win!!!
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Nadia Zaldivar
•You're right about how frustrating the system can be! For anyone struggling to reach a DEO agent about issues like this, I've personally had success with Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps get you through to an actual DEO agent instead of being stuck on hold forever. Saved me hours of frustration when I had issues with my claim last month. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj
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Collins Angel
i had this problem too i just put 12/31/2025 lol. nobody from deo has called me about it and ive been getting my benefits for 3 months now
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Ev Luca
•I wouldn't recommend using a random future date like that. It could potentially flag your account for review or cause problems with your claim. The proper way is to use the end date of your current claim week, then report the same employer again when you claim your next weeks.
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Marcelle Drum
Sounds like my situation exactly, except I work at a pet store part-time instead of a restaurant! When I was laid off from my main job, I had the same CONNECT issue. My career counselor at CareerSource told me to use the last day of the bi-weekly claim period (usually a Saturday) as the "employment end date" for reporting purposes. This is actually critical: if you DON'T report your current part-time job and they find out later (which they will through employer tax records), they'll hit you with an overpayment notice and possibly even accuse you of fraud. So you're doing exactly the right thing by reporting it properly!
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Tate Jensen
THIS is why i hate florida unemployment so much... they make everything confusing on purpose hoping u will just give up. use any date and keep filing, but document EVERYTHING in case they try to say u made an error later. screenshot all ur answers and keep records of all ur work hours at the restaurant. the system is designed to make us fail.
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Rajan Walker
•Thanks for the advice - I'm definitely keeping detailed records of everything, including my weekly hours and tips at the restaurant. I've been taking screenshots of every screen in CONNECT too, just in case there are issues later. The system really does seem designed to be as difficult as possible!
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Lukas Fitzgerald
anybody know if work search requirements are different if u have a part time job already? do i still need to do all 5 job contacts if im already working 2 days a week?
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Nadia Zaldivar
•Yes, you still need to complete 5 work search activities per week even if you have part-time work, unless you've been placed on a Return to Work date by your previous employer. Having part-time work doesn't exempt you from the work search requirements in Florida. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your job contacts!
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