DEO payment only $540 instead of full amount - tax withholding or error?
Just checked my account and my DEO benefit payment was only $540 this week. I thought Florida max was $675? Not complaining since money is money right now, but wondering if this is normal or if there's an issue with my claim. Could this be taxes being taken out, or did DEO calculate something wrong? My benefit year started 3 weeks ago and this is my second payment. The first one was the same amount. Anyone else getting less than the max amount?
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Isabella Costa
That's completely normal. The $675 weekly maximum is BEFORE taxes. If you elected to have taxes withheld (which is 10% for federal), your payment will be reduced. Also, your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings during the base period - not everyone qualifies for the maximum benefit amount. You can check your "Monetary Determination" in CONNECT to see your exact weekly benefit amount that was calculated.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Thank you! I did elect for tax withholding, so that makes sense. Didn't realize the max was $675 BEFORE taxes. I'll check my monetary determination letter again.
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Malik Jenkins
Is ur benefit amount actually $600 before taxes? Cuz 10% of 600 = 60, so 600-60 = 540. That would make sense. They calculate ur weekly amount based on ur previous income - not everyone gets the max $675. Login to CONNECT and look at ur monetary determination, it will tell u exactly what ur benefit amount is supposed 2 be.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•You're right - I just checked and my monetary determination says $600/week. So with the 10% tax withholding that's exactly $540. Thanks for helping me understand!
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Freya Andersen
I'm getting $580 after taxes. Feel blessed you're getting anything at all! My neighbor has been waiting 8 weeks with his claim stuck in adjudication hell.
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Eduardo Silva
•YES!!! adjudication hell is exactly where my claim is too!!! 6 weeks now and NOTHING!!! cant get through to anyone at DEO no matter how many times i call!!! system is completely BROKEN!!!
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Leila Haddad
I'm only getting $405 after taxes so consider yourself lucky lol
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Definitely grateful for what I'm getting! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Good luck with your claim!
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Emma Johnson
Your weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings in the base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed). Florida calculates it by taking your highest quarter earnings and dividing by 26. So if your highest quarter was around $15,600, you'd get the $600 weekly benefit amount before taxes. The 10% federal tax withholding brings it to $540, which matches what you're seeing. If you think there's a mistake in how they calculated your benefit amount, you can appeal the monetary determination within 20 days of when it was issued. But from what you're describing, everything sounds correct.
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Ravi Patel
•Wow I didn't know this is how they calculated it! I lost my job in February and my highest quarter was only about $10,400 so I guess that's why I'm only getting $400 a week. This actually makes sense now - I was wondering why my coworker who got laid off at the same time is getting more than me.
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Eduardo Silva
i wish i was getting ANYTHING!! been stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks now and cant get ANYONE to answer the phone at DEO!!! called 23 times today and either busy signal or it hangs up on me!!! how are u supposed to talk to a human being?????
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Ravi Patel
•I was stuck in the same situation last month. I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this system that basically calls DEO for you and then connects you when they get through. Cost money but was worth it to finally get my adjudication issue resolved. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. It's basically impossible to get through any other way right now with how backed up they are.
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Malik Jenkins
ALSO make sure u keep doing ur 5 work searches every week and claiming on time!!! if u miss a claim week they will make u start all over and that's a NIGHTMARE
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Yes, I'm keeping up with all my work searches! I've been saving screenshots of my applications too just in case they want proof later.
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Emma Johnson
One more thing - make sure to check if you're eligible for the Federal Additional Compensation. It can add to your weekly payment if you qualify. You can see this on your determination letter in CONNECT.
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Freya Andersen
•Federal Additional Compensation doesn't exist anymore. That was from the pandemic. Regular FL unemployment is all that's available now - max $675/week before taxes with nothing extra.
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