Can I still get the extra $600 benefit for weeks in July 2025?

There is no $600 additional benefit currently in Florida's unemployment system. That was a federal pandemic program called FPUC that ended years ago. DEO only pays regular Reemployment Assistance benefits now, which max out at $375 per week (minus taxes if you choose to have them withheld). The system is completely different now compared to when those pandemic benefits existed.

OMG nooo!! that $600 thing was during the covid pandemic YEARS ago!! where did u hear this was still around?? DEO doesn't have any extra money now, it's just regular unemployment which is like nothing compared to back then. i got excited for a sec thinking maybe they brought back something like that lol

To clarify the current situation with Florida's DEO unemployment benefits: 1. The $600 FPUC was a temporary federal program during the pandemic that ended in July 2020 2. There was later a $300 supplement that also ended years ago 3. Current Florida benefits are only the base Reemployment Assistance, maximum $375/week 4. You must file your weeks on time - the CONNECT system will give you your specific claim weeks 5. You must complete 5 work search activities for each week you claim (unless exempt) More importantly, you mentioned filing for weeks from July 2025 - are you claiming weeks that just passed, or are you thinking ahead to next year? If these are recent weeks, you need to file ASAP as there's a limited window to claim past weeks.

The DEO system is so frustrating with all these rule changes! I had trouble claiming my weeks too - kept getting kicked out of CONNECT. I finally got through to a live person by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to a DEO agent in about 20 minutes instead of calling for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. The agent explained that you typically have 14 days to claim your weeks from when they become available, but sometimes they can make exceptions if you explain why you were late.

wait u said july 2025? thats next year lol. did u mean 2024?? u cant claim weeks that havent happened yet obvs. and yea the $600 thing ended like 5 yrs ago

Back to your question about claiming for past weeks - you normally have 14 days from when the weeks become available to claim them in CONNECT. If you miss that window, the weeks become "disqualified" and you'd need to request they be reopened. You'll need to log into your CONNECT account and see if the weeks are still available to claim. If not, you'll need to contact DEO directly to request they reopen those weeks. You'll need to provide a good reason why you didn't claim them on time. Also, don't forget you need to report any income you earned during those weeks, and you must have completed and documented 5 work search contacts for each week (unless you have a work search exemption).

I filed late once and had to call DEO like 50 times before getting through. They can reopen weeks if you have a good reason. Just be prepared to explain why you couldn't file on time. And definitely make sure those work searches are legit - 5 per week, with all the details they ask for. They're doing more audits lately. BTW, my sister-in-law works at DEO and said they're planning some CONNECT maintenance next weekend, so try to get your claim done before then or you might have more delays.

Thank you all for the responses! I clearly had some major misconceptions about the current benefits. I'll log into CONNECT today and see if I can still claim those weeks. If not, I'll try to contact DEO to get them reopened. I do have documentation of my work searches (thankfully), so that shouldn't be an issue. I appreciate everyone clearing this up for me!

Also if ur claiming for the first time make sure u watch out for the fact finding questionairres they sometimes send!! If u don't answer those within like 48 hrs or something ur whole claim can get messed up and go to adjudication which takes FOREVER to resolve!!