Can I answer 'No' to work search question on DEO CONNECT when claiming weeks?
I'm confused about the work search requirements when claiming weeks on DEO CONNECT. A friend told me I can just answer 'No' to the question 'Did you look for work?' and it won't affect my benefits. That doesn't sound right to me but I'm desperate and behind on rent. I've been answering 'Yes' and entering 5 job contacts each week but it takes FOREVER. Would selecting 'No' disqualify me or put my claim on hold? Has anyone tried this and still gotten paid?
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Ravi Patel
NO! Absolutely do NOT answer 'no' to that question unless you want your benefits denied! Florida requires 5 work search activities per week for regular unemployment. If you answer 'no,' your payment will be put on hold and you'll have to go through the whole adjudication process to explain why you didn't look for work. Only very specific circumstances allow you to be exempt from work search requirements.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Omg thank you!! My friend swore it was fine and that DEO doesn't check anyway. I can't afford to have my payments delayed. I'll keep doing the 5 work searches then.
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Freya Andersen
Whoever told you that is giving you terrible advice. I answered 'no' once because I was sick that week and my payment went into adjudication for THREE MONTHS! Had to upload doctor's notes and everything. The only exceptions are if you're in approved training, have a return-to-work date within 6 weeks, or are in a union with a hiring hall. Are any of those your situation?
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Isabella Oliveira
•No I don't qualify for any exceptions. I was just hoping to save time on the claiming process. Definitely not worth risking my benefits over!
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Omar Zaki
I made this mistake last month and my account is STILL locked!!! Been calling DEO for 2 weeks straight and can't get through. Complete nightmare. DO NOT answer NO unless you have a valid exemption!!!!
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CosmicCrusader
•Try Claimyr if you need to reach a DEO agent. I was in the same boat and couldn't get through for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj that shows how it works. It saved me so much frustration with the busy signals and disconnects.
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Omar Zaki
•thx for the tip! gonna check it out right now. at this point i'd do anything to talk to a real person at deo
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Chloe Robinson
Just to clarify what others have said - Florida law requires you to complete 5 work search activities per week to remain eligible for Reemployment Assistance unless you have a specific exemption. Answering 'no' to that question without a valid exemption will trigger a "fact finding" and your payments will stop until that's resolved. Valid exemptions include: 1. You're in an approved training program 2. You're in a union with a hiring hall 3. You have a definite return-to-work date within 6 weeks 4. You're on Department-approved Standby status Your friend is giving you information that could seriously mess up your claim. Not worth the risk!
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Isabella Oliveira
•This is really helpful, thank you! I definitely don't fall into any of those exempt categories. I wasn't sure if maybe the rules had changed recently or something. I'll just keep doing my 5 work searches each week.
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Diego Flores
my cousin answered no once by accident and his account is still messed up 2 months later lol dont do it
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Same. And DEO doesn't exactly make it easy to fix these things. I've been trying for weeks to get my issue resolved after accidentally saying no. The worst part is I HAD actually done the work searches, I just clicked the wrong option. Now I'm stuck in adjudication hell.
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Sean Flanagan
The work search requirements are so frustrating!! I hate having to enter all those job contacts every time. But yeah, definitely don't say no. My neighbor got all her payments delayed for 10 weeks because of that and almost got evicted. Not worth it!
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Ravi Patel
•Pro tip: Keep a spreadsheet with all your job search information. Then you can just copy/paste it into CONNECT when claiming weeks. Makes the process much faster and you have a record if DEO ever audits your work searches (which they do sometimes).
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Sean Flanagan
•That's a great idea! Going to start doing that now. Would've saved me so much time these past few months.
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Freya Andersen
One more thing to keep in mind - DEO sometimes conducts random audits of work search activities. If you say yes but haven't actually done the searches, and you get audited, you could end up with an overpayment notice for all benefits received. That means paying everything back plus possible penalties. So always be truthful and keep records of your job searches for at least a year after your claim ends.
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Isabella Oliveira
•I didn't know they did audits! That's scary. I've been doing legitimate job searches but haven't kept great records. Going to start saving everything now. Thanks for the warning!
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