DEO only paying 12 weeks of Regular Assistance - has anyone else maxed out?

Sorry to tell you this, but Florida only offers 12 weeks of Regular Assistance (RA) when the state unemployment rate is below 5%. It increases by one week for each 0.5% the unemployment rate goes above 5%, up to a maximum of 23 weeks. Right now we're at like 3.1% unemployment so we're stuck with just 12 weeks. And no, there aren't any federal extensions active currently - those ended back in 2021 with the pandemic programs.

UGH!! I just went through this last month!!! It's absolutely RIDICULOUS that they cut people off after 12 weeks when finding a decent job takes WAY longer!!! I've been sending out resumes for 4 months now and barely getting interviews. The whole system is BROKEN!!!! 😡😡😡

ya its only 12 weeks in FL... been that way for awhile. my buddy ran out 2 and had to move back w/ his parents lol

Florida's unemployment system is designed to be one of the most restrictive in the country, unfortunately. When your Regular Assistance (RA) ends after 12 weeks, you should check if you qualify for any of these: 1. SNAP benefits (food assistance) 2. Medicaid (if your income is low enough) 3. Temporary cash assistance (if you have dependents) 4. Housing assistance programs Make sure you're working with CareerSource Florida as well - they can help with job placement and sometimes have special training grants. Also, keep claiming your weeks until the very end, even when you know benefits are running out, as this creates a complete record if any emergency extensions ever get approved.

I got cut off after 12 weeks too. Ended up taking a job that pays way less than my old one just to have something. It's really tough out there.

I was in the same boat last year when my benefits ran out. Had been trying for weeks to call DEO to see if there were any extensions available, but could never get through - constant busy signals and disconnections. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to a DEO agent. They got me through to someone in about 30 minutes. The agent confirmed there weren't extensions but did help me identify some other programs I qualified for. They have a video demo if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj - saved me days of frustration.

Has anyone tried applying for a second benefit year? I heard someone say you could do that if you worked at all during your first claim period??

i ran out of my weeks too. ended up driving for doordash while i keep looking for something permanent. not great but it pays some bills

I'm also having a hard time believing this is all FL offers! My sister in Michigan got like 26 weeks! This state really doesn't care about its workers at all!

One thing I recommend doing immediately: make sure you're registered with EVERY staffing agency in your area. Tell them you're available for temp work while you continue your job search. It won't pay as well as your marketing job, but it can help bridge the gap. Also, consider reaching out to your previous employer's HR department - sometimes they can connect you with industry-specific resources or other companies that might be hiring.