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!!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to DEO on the phone, you can also try their live chat feature in CONNECT - it's not always available but sometimes it's faster than calling. Also, when you do file those weeks, double-check that you answer all the weekly questions correctly (especially about availability for work and any job refusals). One wrong answer can trigger an investigation that delays your payments for weeks. And since you mentioned you've been putting this off - make sure your banking info is updated in your account so payments can go through once approved. Good luck!

Just a heads up - I work in benefits administration and wanted to clarify something important about your timeline. You mentioned filing for weeks ending July 24 and July 31, 2025, but we're currently in 2024. Did you mean July 2024? If so, those weeks are likely way past the filing deadline and you'll definitely need to call DEO to request they reopen them. The 14-day window mentioned by others would have expired months ago. If you actually meant recent weeks from this year, just make sure you have the correct dates when you file. DEO is very strict about date accuracy and any confusion could delay your claim processing.

Hey Zainab! I just went through a similar situation last month. You're right that we're in 2025 and those July weeks just passed. The good news is you should still be within the filing window if you get on it today. I had to file late for a couple weeks in June and was able to get them without any issues through CONNECT. Just make sure when you log in that you see those weeks available to claim - they'll show up as "Not Requested" if they're still active. If they show as "Disqualified" then you'll need to call DEO to get them reopened. And yeah, the maximum benefit is only $375/week now (before taxes), nothing like those pandemic days. One thing that helped me was logging into CONNECT early in the morning around 7am when the system is less busy. The site can be really slow during peak hours. Good luck getting it sorted out!

Just wanted to add a quick tip since you mentioned CONNECT has been giving you errors - if you get logged out or the site crashes while you're in the middle of claiming your weeks, don't panic! The system usually saves your progress automatically. When you log back in, you should be able to continue where you left off. Also, make sure you're using a supported browser (Chrome or Edge work best) and clear your cache before starting. I learned this the hard way after getting frustrated with constant timeouts. The early morning login suggestion from others is spot on - I always file my weeks between 7-8am and rarely have issues during that window. Hope you can get those July weeks claimed without any problems!

Just wanted to jump in with some additional context that might help! I work with unemployed folks regularly and see this confusion about the $600 benefits pretty often. That federal FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) was such a significant help during COVID that people still ask about it years later. For Florida specifically, you're looking at a maximum of $275/week for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits (not $375 - that might be another state). Florida has one of the lowest maximum benefit amounts in the country unfortunately. The amount you get depends on your previous earnings, but even high earners max out at that $275. Since you mentioned July 2025 weeks, you should definitely still be within the filing window. Florida typically gives you about 14 days from when the week ends to claim it. Just make sure you have all your work search documentation ready - you'll need employer names, contact info, dates, and method of contact for all 5 searches per week. DEO has been pretty strict about this lately. Good luck getting through CONNECT - the early morning strategy really does work best!

Just wanted to share my recent experience to hopefully help you out! I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago where I delayed filing and was worried about missing the window. I managed to claim weeks that were about 10 days past their end date without any issues through CONNECT. The key things that helped me: 1) Log in super early (around 6:30-7:00am) when the system is most stable, 2) Have all your work search info ready to go (I kept mine in a spreadsheet), and 3) Don't rush through the questions - take your time to avoid any mistakes that could trigger reviews. Also, just to confirm what others have said - Florida's max benefit is definitely on the lower end. I get $267/week which barely covers my basic expenses, but it's better than nothing while job hunting. The $600 federal supplement from the pandemic was a lifesaver back then, but unfortunately those days are long gone. Hope you can get those July weeks claimed! The community here has been super helpful for navigating all the DEO quirks and issues. Good luck!

I see you're getting great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if you do end up needing to call DEO to reopen those weeks, have a pen and paper ready when you finally get through to an agent. They'll often give you reference numbers or specific instructions that you'll need to follow up on later. I made the mistake of not writing down important details during my call and had to call back (which meant waiting in phone queue hell all over again). Also, if the agent tells you they're reopening your weeks, ask them approximately when you should see them become available in CONNECT - sometimes there's a delay of a day or two. The fact that you kept track of your work searches puts you ahead of a lot of people who run into trouble later. Fingers crossed you can get everything sorted out smoothly!

Hey Zainab! I just went through something similar a couple months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. First off, yeah the $600 thing has been gone for years - that was the FPUC during COVID. Florida's current max is around $275/week depending on your wages. For your July weeks, you should still be okay if you file soon! I was able to claim weeks that were about 12 days past their end date without having to call DEO. The system will either show them as "Not Requested" (good) or "Disqualified" (need to call). One thing that really helped me was using the CONNECT mobile app instead of the website when I kept getting errors. Sometimes it's more stable, especially if you're having browser issues. And definitely try that 7am login time everyone's mentioning - made a huge difference for me. Also, since you mentioned keeping track of work searches, make sure you have the employer contact info and dates ready. DEO wants pretty specific details for each of your 5 weekly contacts. I got audited last year and they wanted to see everything! Good luck getting it sorted out - this community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the DEO headaches!