Confused about DEO waiting week and claim dates after first payment

Congrats on getting your first payment! Yes, Florida does have a waiting week, which is usually the first week after you apply. In your case, that would be the week of 6/30-7/4 (it's a partial week since you applied on 6/30). You won't get paid for that waiting week - it's just how the system works. Going forward, you'll claim weeks in two-week increments. So your next claim will be for 7/12-7/25. The CONNECT system will show you what dates you're claiming when you log in during your scheduled claim time. Florida requires you to complete 5 work search activities per week unless you have a work search exemption.

the waiting week is just the first week after u apply and u never get paid for it. its total BS if u ask me!!!! they just keep one week of ur money forever. and make sure u do ur work searches EVERY WEEK even if u dont claim until later. u need 5 per week in florida and they can audit u anytime. i got audited last year and almost lost all my benefits cuz i was missing 2 work searches!!!!

To clarify some facts: The waiting week is the first week you are eligible for benefits, but you don't receive payment for it. Since you applied on June 30th, your waiting week was likely the partial week of 6/30-7/4. For claiming weeks, Florida's DEO uses a biweekly schedule. You'll claim two weeks at a time according to your assigned schedule in CONNECT. The system will tell you which weeks you're claiming each time you log in during your claim window. Important reminder: You MUST complete and document 5 work search contacts for EACH week (unless you have an exemption). Keep detailed records including: - Date of contact - Method of contact (online, in-person, email) - Business name, phone number and address - Result of your application If you're having trouble reaching DEO to get clarification, I used Claimyr.com to get through to a live agent after weeks of busy signals. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj

You can record your work searches directly in CONNECT when you claim your weeks. There's a section where you enter all the details for each work search activity. However, I still recommend keeping your own separate log as backup in case there are any system issues or if you get selected for an audit. And to answer your earlier question - yes, you just move forward now. You don't need to do anything about the waiting week. It's just part of how the system works.

wait im confused about something else - if you applied june 30 wouldn't your waiting week be june 23-29? or does the waiting week start after you apply? i thought it was the week before

what bothers me is how DEO makes this so confusing on purpose!!! i applied last month and was so confused about everything. had to figure out CONNECT, ID.me, waiting week, work searches, claim weeks... it's like they designed it to be complicated so people give up. i spent 3 DAYS trying to get someone on the phone before i found that claimyr service someone mentioned above. finally got through to a person who explained everything. honestly worth it just to get some actual answers instead of the confusing info on their website. OP - definitely keep records of EVERYTHING. take screenshots of your work searches and confirmations. florida DEO loves to do "fact finding" investigations and if you can't prove something they'll make you pay everything back.

If you miss your claim window, you can still claim late, but you need to provide a good reason. Log into CONNECT and there should be an option to claim weeks after the deadline has passed. You'll need to complete a questionnaire explaining why you missed the deadline. Valid reasons include technical issues, medical emergencies, or not receiving proper notification. If your reason is accepted, you'll be able to claim those weeks. If not, you may lose those weeks of benefits. To avoid this issue, I recommend setting multiple calendar reminders for your claim dates. The DEO does send email reminders, but they're not always reliable.

My friend had the same problem last year and what helped was setting up a calendar reminder on her phone for every two weeks. The system doesn't actually tell you what your claiming schedule is until AFTER you've claimed for the first time, which is so backwards. She basically just set it up so every other Wednesday she'd get a reminder to log in and check if it was her claim week. I think different SSNs get different days assigned but once you know your pattern it's the same every time.

Yes, that sounds about right. After you log in to CONNECT, on your homepage there should be a message that tells you exactly when your next claim date is. It'll say something like "Your next date to claim weeks is 07/26/2025" or whatever the exact date is for your schedule. One more tip: make sure you're answering all the questions correctly when claiming weeks. If you worked at all during a claim week (even part-time), report it accurately. If you were unable to work or refused work for any reason, be honest about it. Incorrect reporting can lead to overpayment notices later.

Dylan, glad you're getting the hang of it! Just to add one more important point - make sure you're available for work and actively seeking work during every week you claim. Even if you have job interviews lined up or think you might get hired soon, you still need to continue doing your 5 work searches per week until you actually start working again. Also, if you do get a job offer or start working (even part-time), report it immediately when you claim your weeks. Don't wait until your next claim period. The system will calculate any partial benefits you're entitled to if you're working reduced hours. One last thing - keep all your documentation (work search records, any correspondence with DEO, screenshots of your claims) for at least a year after your claim ends. Florida can audit benefits going back quite a while, and you'll want to have everything organized if they ever request it. Welcome to the unemployment system - it's confusing at first but you'll get used to the routine!

Hey Dylan! Congrats on getting your first payment - that's always a relief! Just wanted to add something that might help you going forward. Since you're new to this, I'd recommend downloading the CONNECT mobile app if you haven't already. It's not perfect, but it's easier to check your claim status and dates on your phone rather than always having to log into the full website. Also, regarding work searches - don't just apply to the same types of jobs over and over. DEO looks for "meaningful" work search activities, so mix it up with different employers, industries (that you're qualified for), and methods. I learned this the hard way when I got audited and they questioned why all my work searches were just online applications to the same 3 companies. One more thing - if you ever have issues with CONNECT (and you probably will at some point), try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser before panicking. That system is notorious for glitches, but sometimes it's just a browser issue. Keep screenshots of any error messages you get - DEO will ask for them if you have to file a complaint about technical problems. You're doing great so far, just stay organized and keep detailed records of everything!

Dylan, congratulations on your first payment! I see everyone has given you great advice already. Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's been through this process recently. The waiting week confusion is totally normal - I think every first-time filer gets confused about this. You're correct that you won't get paid for that first week (6/30-7/4 in your case), and yes, you just move forward from here. Don't stress about it! One thing I wish someone had told me early on: set up a simple system NOW to track everything. I use a basic notebook where I write down: - Each work search with full details (date, company, contact method, result) - Screenshots of my biweekly claims - Any correspondence with DEO - My claim schedule dates It seems like overkill at first, but trust me, if you ever get selected for an audit or have any issues, you'll be SO glad you kept detailed records from day one. The people who run into trouble are usually the ones who tried to recreate their records months later. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions here! This community has been super helpful, and there's no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to navigating Florida's unemployment system. We've all been where you are now. You're off to a great start - just stay organized and you'll be fine!

Dylan, congratulations on getting your first payment! That's always such a relief when you're dealing with Florida's unemployment system for the first time. Everyone has given you excellent advice already, but I wanted to add one small tip that helped me when I was starting out: if you're ever unsure about anything related to your claim, check the "Messages" section in CONNECT regularly. Sometimes DEO sends important notifications through the system that don't always trigger email alerts. Also, regarding your work search activities - since you're just getting started, consider registering with your local CareerSource center if you haven't already. They offer free resources like resume help, job search assistance, and networking events. Plus, attending their workshops counts as valid work search activities, and they can provide documentation if you need it for an audit later. The learning curve is steep at first, but once you get into the routine of claiming every two weeks and keeping track of your work searches, it becomes much more manageable. You're asking all the right questions, which shows you're taking this seriously - that's going to serve you well throughout the process. Keep doing what you're doing, stay organized, and don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up. This community is really helpful for navigating all the quirks of the Florida DEO system!