DEO work search requirements when I have a guaranteed return-to-work date - what to do?

You need to apply for what's called a 'return to work date exemption' (sometimes called standby status). It's specifically for situations like yours where your employer has given you a definite rehire date. Log into CONNECT, go to your dashboard, and look for 'Request Work Search Waiver' under the 'Manage My Benefits' section. You'll need to enter your expected return date and your employer's contact info. DEO will verify this with them. If approved, you'll be exempt from the work search requirements but still need to claim your weeks normally.

im in same boat, construction job paused for 10 weeks but def going back. tried calling deo bout this but never get thru to ask this exact question!!! so frustrating

Be careful with this!!! I was in a similar situation last year and thought I would be returning to my restaurant job in 2 months, but the DEO rejected my waiver request because they said 2 months was too long for a return-to-work exemption. They want OFFICIAL documentation from your employer stating the EXACT return date, not just a verbal promise. I ended up getting hit with a huge overpayment notice because I hadn't been doing my work searches while waiting for the waiver approval!!! The system is DESIGNED to trip people up!

To add to what others have said, you should know that Florida DEO has very specific rules for return-to-work exemptions: 1. Your employer must confirm the return date is within 8 weeks 2. The employer must provide this in writing on company letterhead 3. You must upload this documentation to your CONNECT account 4. You still need to claim your weeks as normal and answer "yes" when asked if you have a return date If your return date is more than 8 weeks away, you will need to complete work searches regardless of having a job to return to. The system will automatically check if your return date falls within the exemption timeframe.

Has anyone tried using Claimyr to get through to DEO about this? I was in the exact same situation with a return-to-work date and needed to speak to someone to make sure my exemption was properly processed. I tried calling for days with no luck until I found Claimyr.com - they got me connected to a live agent in about 30 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj Totally worth it to get a definitive answer about my return-to-work status rather than guessing and potentially messing up my benefits.

Yes, it definitely works! I was super skeptical too but was desperate after trying for weeks. Got connected to an agent who confirmed my return-to-work exemption was properly documented. Huge relief!

ok so nobody is mentioning another option... you can technically still do work searches even if you know you're going back to your old job. just apply to positions you know you won't get or that have schedules that wouldn't work for you. i did this for 3 weeks before going back to my teaching position. applied for jobs requiring skills i don't have lol. DEO doesn't check if you're applying in good faith, just that you did the searches.

Update: I got my employer to write a formal letter stating my exact return date (which is 7 weeks from now) and specific renovation completion timeline. I submitted the work search exemption request through CONNECT yesterday. Has anyone received approval for this type of exemption recently? How long did it take?

My sister went through this exact situation! She worked at a school and had summer break but was contracted to return in fall. She had to do work searches even with a guaranteed return date because her return date was more than 8 weeks away. DEO is really strict about that timeframe.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else in this situation - I was furloughed from my retail management job last year with a guaranteed return date 6 weeks out. I successfully got the work search exemption approved, but here's what I learned: make sure your employer's letter includes not just the return date but also confirms you're expected to return to the SAME position with the SAME hours/salary. DEO rejected my first request because the letter didn't specify I was returning to my exact same role. Once I got that clarification added, it was approved within a week. Also, keep checking your CONNECT dashboard daily - the approval notification is easy to miss and you want to know right away so you can stop doing work searches if you've been doing them as a backup plan.