DEO requiring work search activities now? Confused about current requirements

YES you absolutely have to do work searches now!! The waiver ended ages ago. You need 5 work search activities EVERY WEEK or your claim will be denied. DEO is super strict about this now.

The work search waiver ended back in 2021. The current Florida DEO requirement is that you must complete and document 5 work search activities per week. These can include submitting job applications, attending interviews, registering with employment agencies, or attending CareerSource workshops. Make sure you're keeping detailed records of all activities including dates, company names, contact information, and application methods. The CONNECT system will prompt you to enter this information when you claim your weeks.

OMG the DEO system is sooooo confusing!!! I got denied for 3 weeks because I didnt know about work searches either. They make it IMPOSSIBLE to understand what your supposed to do. And then when you try to call to ask questions nobody answers!! I tried calling like 87 times one day and either got busy signals or it hung up on me automatically. The whole system is designed to deny people benefits IMO.

Let me clarify something important - not everyone needs 5 work searches. If you have a union hiring hall, are in approved training, or on a short-term layoff with a return-to-work date within 8 weeks, you may be exempt. But you'd need documentation of this exemption. Most claimants do need the full 5 activities though. And yes, the DEO is very strict about enforcing this requirement in 2025. They've been auditing claims and issuing overpayments for people who claimed benefits without proper work search documentation.

Ok this is all really helpful but still confusing. So for the week I already claimed without doing work searches, should I just expect to not get paid for that week? And starting now I'll make sure to do 5 activities every week. Does applying on Indeed count as one activity per job application?

When I was on unemployment last year I actually went to my local CareerSource office and they helped me understand all the requirements. They even have workshops that count as work search activities! Plus they helped me with my resume. Might be worth checking out so you don't mess up your benefits.

btw just want to add that DEO is super serious about this in 2025. my friend just got hit with an OVERPAYMENT notice for $4800 because she didn't do her work searches correctly last year and they just audited her claim. she's freaking out because she already spent the money!! so PLEASE be super careful with documenting everything!!!

I had this exact issue in February. Here's what I learned: 1) Yes, 5 work searches per week is mandatory 2) Keep DETAILED records - they can audit you years later 3) Not all activities count the same - actual job applications are best 4) If you forget one week, you might get lucky with just a warning 5) The CONNECT system will sometimes glitch and not save your work searches - take screenshots as proof

Just went through this same situation last month! Here's what worked for me: I called DEO (took about 50 tries over 3 days) and explained I misunderstood the work search requirements for my first week. They gave me a one-time "good faith" exception since I was a new claimant and genuinely didn't know. They said as long as I do my 5 activities going forward and keep good records, that first week wouldn't count against me. Also, pro tip: networking events, job fairs, and even LinkedIn messages to hiring managers can count as work search activities - not just online applications! Document everything with names, dates, and what you did. The DEO audit team is no joke in 2025.

I just went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago! The work search requirement definitely caught me off guard too. Here's what I learned: DEO requires 5 work search activities per week, and they're really strict about it now. I panicked when I realized I hadn't done any for my first week either. I ended up calling DEO (it took forever to get through) and they explained that each job application counts as one activity. I also found out that attending virtual job fairs, updating your resume on job sites, and even reaching out to staffing agencies all count. My advice is to start doing your 5 activities immediately and keep super detailed records - date, company name, position, how you applied, everything. For your missed week, be honest if they ask about it. Some people have gotten warnings instead of denials for their first mistake. Good luck!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just got laid off from my retail job and was totally confused when CONNECT asked for work search activities. I thought the waiver was still in effect too. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful - I had no idea DEO was being so strict about the 5 activities per week requirement in 2025. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything immediately and check out that CareerSource office someone mentioned. It's crazy how confusing they make the system, but at least now I know what I need to do. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread probably saved me from making a huge mistake with my benefits!

I was in the exact same boat when I first applied for unemployment in Florida! The work search requirement definitely trips up a lot of new claimants. Here's what I wish someone had told me from day one: Yes, you need 5 work search activities EVERY week, and DEO has been cracking down hard on this in 2025. Each individual job application counts as one activity, but so do things like attending job fairs, networking events, registering with employment agencies, and even professional networking on LinkedIn. The key is documentation - keep a detailed log with dates, company names, contact info, and exactly what you did. I use a simple Excel sheet and it's been a lifesaver. For your missed first week, definitely call DEO and explain you misunderstood the requirements - some people have gotten "good faith" exceptions for genuinely not knowing. And take screenshots when you enter your activities in CONNECT because the system can be glitchy. Don't let this stress you out too much - once you get into the routine, it's manageable!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this nightmare last year - the work search requirement confusion is SO common and honestly the DEO could do a much better job explaining this to new claimants. Here's my hard-learned advice: Start your 5 activities immediately and document EVERYTHING. I keep a notebook where I write down every single application - date, company, position, method of contact, confirmation numbers if applicable. Also don't sleep on CareerSource - their workshops count as work search activities AND they actually help you improve your job hunting skills. For your missed first week, definitely try calling DEO and explain you genuinely didn't understand. The wait times are brutal but it's worth it. I've heard of people getting one-time exceptions for honest mistakes. And pro tip: set up job alerts on multiple sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, company websites) so you'll have a steady stream of positions to apply for each week. The 5 activities goes by faster than you think once you get in the groove. You got this!

I completely understand your confusion - this exact same thing happened to me when I first applied! The work search requirement definitely catches a lot of new claimants off guard because the messaging isn't always clear. Here's what I learned after going through this process: You absolutely need to do 5 work search activities every single week now - the COVID waiver ended back in 2021. Each individual job application counts as one activity, but you can also do things like attending CareerSource workshops, registering with temp agencies, networking events, or even professional networking on LinkedIn. The most important thing is documentation - I keep a detailed spreadsheet with date, company name, position applied for, contact method, and any follow-up. For your first week that you already claimed without activities, definitely call DEO (yes, the wait times are terrible but it's worth it) and explain that you genuinely misunderstood the requirements. I've seen several people in this thread mention getting "good faith" exceptions for honest mistakes by new claimants. Going forward, set up job alerts on multiple sites so you'll have plenty of opportunities each week. Don't panic - once you get into the routine of doing your 5 activities and documenting everything, it becomes much more manageable!