Florida DEO eligibility with only 1 month employment after relocation - do I qualify?

You need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period to qualify for Florida unemployment. Since you just moved here recently, you likely don't have enough FL work history. However, good news - Florida has something called the Combined Wage Claim where they can use your wages from your previous state to determine eligibility. When you file on CONNECT, make sure you indicate you worked in another state during the base period (which is roughly the last 18 months). The system should prompt you to provide details about your out-of-state employment. Florida DEO will then contact that state to verify your wages. Since your termination was due to restructuring, that's considered a qualifying job separation. Just make sure you have that termination letter ready if they request documentation during the fact-finding process.

I went thru this EXACT situation last yr!!! Moved from NC for a job that lasted 6 wks before they laid everyone off. The Combined Wage Claim thing works but takes FOREVER. Like 2 months to process in my case bc they had to verify everything w/ my old state. Make sure u answer EVERYTHING accurately on connect or you'll end up in adjudication hell like I did and then good luck getting anyone on the phone!!

The previous responses are mostly correct, but let me clarify a few technical points about the Combined Wage Claim (CWC) process: 1. Florida uses an alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard base period. Standard base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing. Alternate is the 4 most recently completed quarters. 2. For a CWC, you must have some wages in Florida, which you do from that one month of work. 3. You need to have earned at least $3,800 total during your base period (combining both states). 4. The processing time for CWCs does take longer because Florida DEO has to request wage information from your previous state. 5. When approved, payments ARE retroactive to your filing date (minus the one-week waiting period). Make sure when you file that you accurately report your out-of-state employer in the employment history section of CONNECT. The system will then prompt you about the CWC process.

has anyone actually successfully gotten through to a DEO agent on phone lately?? i've been trying for 3 weeks for my own claim issue (different from OP but still frustrating). every time it's either busy signal or the automated system hangs up after i wait for like 45 minutes. is there any trick to actually reaching a human???

I DID THE COMBINED WAGE THING!!! yes you qualify!!! but you have to make sure u click yes when it asks if you worked in another state!!! if you say no youll get denied!!!!!!!

Everyone is giving you advice about the Combined Wage Claim, which is correct, but nobody mentioned the "lag quarter" issue that might affect you. Depending on when exactly you file and when you worked at your previous job, there could be a gap quarter where those wages aren't countable. Also, be prepared for the fact-finding interview where they'll ask about your previous employment and your reason for leaving that job as well. Since you voluntarily left your previous job to take the Florida position, they'll need to determine if that voluntary separation was for "good cause." Taking a new job generally qualifies as good cause, but be prepared to explain it clearly. Lastly, make sure you start completing your work search requirements immediately (5 per week in Florida). Don't wait until you're approved to start documenting these.

dont forget u still have to do the 5 work searches every week even while waiting!!! my friend got approved but then they denied her payments cuz she didnt keep track of her work searches during the waiting period!! florida deo is THE WORST

Just to follow up on what others have said - when you do the Combined Wage Claim, you should be prepared for your claim to take 4-6 weeks to process instead of the usual 2-3 weeks. However, once approved, you will receive all back payments from your filing date (minus the one-week waiting period Florida has). Also, make sure you continue to log in to CONNECT and claim your weeks every two weeks even while waiting for the determination. If you don't claim your weeks on time, you could lose those benefits even if your claim is eventually approved. One last tip: keep checking your CONNECT inbox regularly for any requests for additional information. They often set short deadlines to respond to these requests (sometimes as little as 7 days), and missing them can result in denial.

My neighbor just went through this same situation. She moved from Texas for a job that ended after 2 months. She did get approved but it took almost 8 weeks! The good news is she got all the back pay. Hang in there!

I'm in a similar situation - moved to Florida from Illinois for a job that lasted only 3 weeks before the company folded completely. I successfully got approved for unemployment through the Combined Wage Claim process, but it took about 6 weeks total. A few things that helped me: 1. File IMMEDIATELY - don't wait. The sooner you file, the sooner your retroactive payments will start from. 2. When filling out the employment history section, be very detailed about your previous out-of-state job. Include exact dates, wages, and reason for leaving. 3. Upload any documentation you have right away - your Florida termination letter, previous state pay stubs, W-2s, etc. Don't wait for them to ask. 4. Set up a spreadsheet to track your work search activities from day one. I used columns for date, company name, position, method of contact, and contact info. The waiting period is stressful, but if you have sufficient wages from your previous state, you should qualify. Just be patient and keep claiming your weeks religiously. Good luck!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! Moved to Florida from Michigan in January for what was supposed to be my "dream job" in tech, and they eliminated my entire department after just 5 weeks. Talk about a nightmare scenario. I filed for unemployment using the Combined Wage Claim about 3 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for a determination. Based on what I'm seeing here, sounds like I might have another 3-5 weeks to go. The uncertainty is killing me, but it's helpful to know that others have successfully navigated this process. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. I initially didn't save screenshots of my work search activities and had to scramble to recreate them when DEO requested documentation. Now I screenshot every job application, save every email confirmation, and keep a running log with timestamps. Also, if anyone is dealing with the same situation, I found that calling early in the morning (like right when they open at 7:30 AM) gives you a slightly better chance of getting through, though it's still pretty terrible. The automated system seems less overwhelmed first thing in the morning. Fingers crossed we all get through this bureaucratic maze eventually!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Relocated from Ohio to Florida in November for what was supposed to be a permanent marketing position, only to get laid off after 6 weeks due to "budget cuts." The whole experience has been incredibly stressful. I filed my Combined Wage Claim about 2 weeks ago and from everything I'm reading here, it sounds like I have a long wait ahead of me. But it's actually really comforting to see so many people who have successfully navigated this process, even if it takes time. A few things I've learned so far: - The CONNECT system is definitely confusing at first, but take your time with the employment history section - I've been keeping a detailed spreadsheet of all my job applications from day one (wish I'd seen that advice earlier!) - Having all your previous state documentation ready really helps For anyone else in this boat - we're not alone in this! It seems like Florida's job market has been particularly brutal lately for people relocating here. But based on all these success stories, there's definitely hope if we can just get through the waiting period. @Zara Shah - definitely don't wait to file. Even though the process takes a while, getting that filing date locked in is crucial for your back pay calculation.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I moved from Pennsylvania to Florida for a job that lasted exactly 4 weeks before they "restructured" my position away. It's such a gut punch when you've relocated your entire life for something that falls apart so quickly. Here's what worked for me with the Combined Wage Claim process: 1. File immediately - I cannot stress this enough. Your retroactive payments start from your filing date, so don't delay even if you're still gathering documentation. 2. When you get to the out-of-state employment section on CONNECT, be extremely detailed. I included my exact start/end dates, gross wages, employer contact info, and even my supervisor's name. The more detail you provide upfront, the smoother the verification process goes. 3. Upload everything you have right away - termination letter, Georgia pay stubs, W-2s, your Florida employment documentation, even your job offer letter showing you moved here for legitimate work. Don't wait for them to request specific documents. 4. Start your work search log immediately and be meticulous about it. Florida requires 5 activities per week and they will ask for details if they audit your claim. My claim took about 7 weeks total to process, but I did get all the back pay once approved. The waiting period is nerve-wracking, but based on what you've described, you should definitely qualify. You have legitimate work history from Georgia and your Florida separation was involuntary due to restructuring. Good luck - you've got this!