Can I reopen my DEO claim after briefly returning to work? July layoff after May-June employment

You don't need to file a completely new claim. Your benefit year runs for 12 months from when you first applied in May. Since you're within that period, you just need to REOPEN your existing claim and start claiming weeks again. Log into CONNECT, and look for the option to 'Reopen Claim' under the main menu. The system will ask for information about your work during June and why you stopped working in July. As long as your separation reason is qualifying (like business closure), you should be able to continue receiving benefits from your original monetary determination.

ur in wat they call a benifit year which is 12 months from when u first filed. u dont need a new claim just reopen the old 1. but MAKE SURE u report all the wages u made in june when u reopen or theyll hit u with fraud. happened to my brother in law and it was a nightmare to fix!!!

The reopening process is pretty straightforward but DEO's system has been glitchy lately. I tried reopening mine last week and got stuck in an error loop that wouldn't let me complete the application. Called for DAYS and couldn't get through to anyone at DEO. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. The agent was able to fix the glitch on my account and push my reopening through manually. Saved me weeks of stress.

@profile2 Yes, they connected me with actual DEO agents - the same ones you'd reach if you got through on the regular line. They just handle the waiting and calling part for you. It was totally worth it because I was getting nowhere for days on my own.

What everyone else said about reopening is correct, but I want to add something important - when you reopen, you'll need to verify your identity through ID.me again if you haven't logged in since they updated the system in June. Make sure you have your driver's license and social security card handy because the verification process is more strict now. Also, you'll need to do the 5 work searches per week starting immediately upon reopening - there's no grace period like there was during the initial COVID period. And when you claim your weeks, make SURE you report the exact dates you worked in July before the business closed. Even one day off can trigger an investigation.

@profile4 The ID.me verification usually takes about 15-20 minutes if everything goes smoothly. Have your documents ready and good lighting for the selfie part. If for some reason the automated system can't verify you, you'll need to do a video call with an ID.me representative, which can take longer depending on how many people are in the queue.

IM SO SICK OF THE DEO!!!! Why is everything SO COMPLICATED??? I've been through this exact situation THREE TIMES since 2020 and every single time they mess something up! The last time I reopened my claim they put me in adjudication for 9 WEEKS because they claimed my "return to work date didn't match employer records" even though my employer confirmed everything! By the time they sorted it out I had already found another job and almost got evicted waiting for them!!! THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND NO ONE CARES!!!

Thanks everyone for the info! I reopened my claim yesterday and something weird happened - the system asked me if I wanted to "requalify using alternative base period" whatever that means? I just clicked yes because it sounded better than no. Did I mess up?

Sorry to hijack but this reminded me - does anyone know if Florida still has the work search waiver available? I heard some counties still have it but others don't? I'm in Broward if that matters.

Just wanted to update - I successfully reopened my claim and already claimed my first two weeks! The ID.me verification took about 10 minutes (way easier than I expected). My weekly benefit amount stayed the same as before. Thanks for all the help everyone!

That's awesome that it worked out so smoothly for you! Quick tip - I'd recommend keeping a spreadsheet or notebook to track all your work searches with dates, company names, and method of contact. The DEO can request proof at any time and having everything organized will save you major headaches if they audit you. Also, make sure you're reporting your work searches correctly in CONNECT each week - don't just put "online application" for everything. Be specific about what you did (applied online, called, visited in person, etc.). Good luck with your job search!

Just wanted to add something that might help others in similar situations - if your restaurant/business is permanently closing, make sure you get some kind of written documentation from your employer about the closure date and reason. Even just an email or text from your manager can be helpful if DEO questions your separation later. When I went through a similar situation with a retail store closing, DEO asked me to provide proof that it wasn't a voluntary quit. Having that documentation made the whole process much smoother and helped avoid any delays in my benefits. Also, don't forget that if you have any unused vacation or sick pay that gets paid out, you'll need to report those wages for the weeks they cover - even though the business is closed, those payments still count as wages for unemployment purposes.