DEO benefit year ends with $0 balance - do I keep filing weekly claims?
So I'm stressing about my Florida unemployment situation. My benefit year doesn't end until June 2025, but I only have $275 left in my balance which will be gone after my next claim week. I moved here from Michigan last year and the unemployment system seems totally different. Do I just keep filing weekly claims after my balance hits $0? Will they automatically replenish my account or do I need to file a whole new claim? I'm worried about losing benefits since I'm still job hunting and have 3 interviews next week but nothing guaranteed. Any info would be super helpful!
17 comments
Mei Lin
Once your balance reaches $0, you won't receive any more payments even if your benefit year hasn't ended. Florida doesn't automatically replenish your balance - what you're given at the start is all you get for that benefit year. You can continue filing weekly claims (to stay in the system and maintain your work search record), but you won't receive any money until you qualify for a new benefit year with new wages.
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Jamal Wilson
•Thanks for the quick response! So there's no extension or anything? In Michigan they had additional weeks sometimes. This is really stressful since I've got bills due and the job market here is slower than I expected.
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Liam Fitzgerald
same thing happened to me!! keep filing those weeks even with $0 balance. you never know when they might add more $$ or if u qualify for something else. Better safe than sorry!
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Amara Nnamani
•This is actually incorrect advice. Florida DEO doesn't randomly add money to exhausted claims. The total benefit amount is calculated when you're first approved (usually 12-16 weeks worth depending on Florida's unemployment rate). Extensions only existed during COVID and ended years ago. Please don't give people false hope about getting additional benefits that don't exist.
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Giovanni Mancini
JUST SO YOU KNOW!!!! Florida has THE WORST unemployment in the entire country!!! Only like 12 weeks max and they make it IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone when you have problems! I exhausted my benefits last year and had to fight for WEEKS to get someone to even explain my options. The DEO is a JOKE and they don't care AT ALL about people struggling!!!!
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NebulaNinja
•yeah its tough here. my cousin moved from new york and couldn't believe how little florida pays compared to other states. best advice is apply for everything - food stamps, cash assistance, anything while ur looking
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
Let me clarify some important points about Florida's unemployment system (officially called Reemployment Assistance): 1. Florida provides a maximum of 12 weeks of benefits when the state unemployment rate is below 5%. This can increase to up to 23 weeks when unemployment is higher, but currently we're at the 12-week minimum. 2. Your benefit year (June 2025) is simply the eligibility period, but your maximum benefit amount ($275/week until exhausted) is the controlling factor. 3. After exhausting benefits, you should still file your weeks if you remain unemployed. While you won't receive payments, this maintains your claim status and provides documentation of your continued unemployment. 4. To qualify for a new claim, you would need to earn sufficient wages in the base period after your original claim was filed. 5. Focus on your work search requirements (5 per week in Florida) as this documentation is critical if you do become eligible for a new claim later.
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Jamal Wilson
•This is exactly what I needed to know - thank you! I've been making sure to do my 5 work searches every week but didn't realize the benefit amount wouldn't refresh. Going to need to really step up my job search efforts now.
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Dylan Mitchell
Have you tried calling the DEO to ask directly? My experience is you can never trust what people say online about unemployment stuff because the rules change and everyone's situation is different. I was in a similar spot last month.
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Jamal Wilson
•I've tried calling a few times but never get through. Always busy signals or it disconnects me after being on hold.
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Mei Lin
•Getting through to DEO on the phone is nearly impossible these days. I was in the same boat trying to reach them about my adjudication issue. After days of trying, I found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to a DEO agent in about 30 minutes. Worth checking out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. Saved me days of frustration and I got my questions answered right away.
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NebulaNinja
dude when i moved from new jersey the same thing happened. florida only gives u like 3 months of benefits max its crazy! my cousin said other states give way more. what kinda work r u lookin for?
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Jamal Wilson
•I'm in hospitality management - was working at a resort before they did layoffs. Looking for hotel management positions but open to restaurant management too. You're right about the benefits being way shorter here!
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Amara Nnamani
There are some important distinctions to understand about Florida's unemployment system. Your benefit year (June 2025) is simply the period during which you can collect benefits, but your maximum benefit amount is fixed and doesn't replenish. Florida calculates your total benefit amount when you first qualify by multiplying your weekly benefit amount ($275 in your case) by the number of weeks you're eligible for (typically 12 weeks unless the state unemployment rate is high). Once that money is gone, there are no extensions currently available. During COVID there were federal extensions (PEUC, PUA, etc.) but those have all ended. I recommend: 1. Continue filing weekly claims to maintain your claim status 2. Ensure you meet work search requirements (5 activities per week) 3. Look into other assistance programs through DCF (food assistance, etc.) 4. Contact CareerSource Florida for help with job placement services If you find temporary work and then lose it again before June 2025, you may be able to reopen your claim, but you won't get additional funds beyond your original maximum benefit amount.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•this is super helpful info!! wish someone told me all this when i first filed lol
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Jamal Wilson
Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm going to try using that Claimyr service to talk to DEO directly about my options, but it sounds like I need to prepare for my benefits ending. I'll keep filing my weeks and focusing on my job search. Really appreciate all the information and support!
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Good plan. Just remember to keep documenting your work searches even after benefits exhaust. If you do qualify for a new benefit year later, having those records of continuous job searching will be important. Best of luck with your interviews next week!
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