Florida DEO extension application process - different link or same procedure?

Florida doesn't currently have any automatic extensions available beyond the regular 12 weeks of state Reemployment Assistance. The federal extensions ended back in 2021. If you've been getting regular state benefits and those are ending, there's unfortunately no extension program to apply for right now unless there's some new emergency program I haven't heard about (which is possible but unlikely).

THIS IS WHY THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! They give you the bare minimum weeks (Florida has one of the LOWEST benefit periods in the entire country) and then just cut you off!!! No extensions, no help, NOTHING. I went through this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to make ends meet. The DEO doesn't care at all about people actually struggling!!

To directly answer your question - there is no separate "extension application" link in CONNECT because Florida doesn't currently offer benefit extensions beyond the standard 12 weeks of regular state benefits. If your situation changes (like you had a different job after your current claim), you would need to file a new claim after your benefit year ends, but that would be a completely new claim, not an extension. If you're still looking for work after your benefits end, I would recommend connecting with your local CareerSource office. They can sometimes help with job placement and other assistance programs you might qualify for.

wait does this mean we only get 12 weeks total in florida? i thought it was 12 weeks per year or something. ive only used like 8 weeks so far

I went through this same thing last month! So disappointing to find out there's no extensions anymore. I ended up having to take a job that pays way less than my previous one just to have something coming in. The CareerSource office in Tampa actually did help me with my resume though, so that might be worth checking out while you're still looking.

If you're struggling and approaching the end of your benefits, you might want to call DEO directly to confirm there aren't any programs you might qualify for. I've found that using Claimyr (claimyr.com) is the only reliable way to actually reach a live person at DEO without spending hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj I used it when I had questions about my claim that weren't answered on the website, and it saved me so much frustration. The agent I spoke with was able to explain exactly what my options were.

I'm wondering if reemployment assistance extensions might become available if Florida's unemployment rate goes up? I think I read somewhere that the number of weeks depends on the state unemployment rate.

why dont u just open a new claim when ur benefits run out? thats what my cousin did

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been really eye-opening. I had no idea Florida only offered 12 weeks maximum - I moved here from Pennsylvania where I think they had longer benefit periods. It's really frustrating to learn this when you're already stressed about finding work. Has anyone looked into whether there are any state assistance programs beyond unemployment that might help bridge the gap? Like food assistance or emergency rental help? I'm trying to figure out what options exist once the unemployment runs out.

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this stress. Unfortunately, everyone here is correct - Florida currently doesn't have any extension programs beyond the standard 12 weeks of state benefits. Since you mentioned you have about 2 weeks left, I'd suggest using that time to prepare for what comes next. First, make sure you're documenting all your job search activities since you'll need that if you ever become eligible for benefits again. Second, definitely check out the other assistance programs mentioned here - SNAP, emergency rental assistance, and local food banks can help bridge the gap. Third, consider reaching out to temp agencies and gig work platforms for immediate income while you continue your job search. I know it's not the answer you were hoping for, but at least now you can plan accordingly instead of waiting for an extension that isn't available. Good luck with your job search!

I'm also approaching the end of my benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful, though disappointing. I had been searching through CONNECT looking for some kind of extension option and getting frustrated when I couldn't find anything - now I understand why. It's really tough that Florida has such limited benefits compared to other states. For anyone else in this situation, I found that setting up email alerts on job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn helped me catch new postings faster. Also, don't overlook smaller local companies - they sometimes don't post on the big job boards but you can find opportunities by checking their websites directly or even stopping by in person. The job market feels brutal right now but we have to keep pushing through. Thanks to everyone who shared resources about other assistance programs - I'm going to start applying for those this week.

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - I went through something similar last year and the stress of approaching that 12-week cutoff is real. Unfortunately, everyone here is right that Florida doesn't have extensions right now. What I wish someone had told me earlier is to start preparing for the transition before your benefits actually end. I'd recommend calling DEO (try that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it really does work) to get confirmation about your exact end date and make sure there aren't any remaining weeks you might have missed claiming. Also, if you haven't already, document everything about your job search activities because if you do find temporary work and then need to file a new claim later, you'll need that history. One thing that helped me was reaching out to my previous employer's HR department to see if they had any contractor or part-time opportunities available while I job searched. Sometimes they have short-term projects that aren't posted publicly. Hang in there - I know it feels overwhelming but you'll get through this.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the uncertainty is probably the worst part. Everyone here has given you accurate information about Florida's lack of extension programs, which is unfortunately true. Since you have 2 weeks left, I'd suggest making the most of that time to set up other safety nets. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to check if your county has any workforce development programs beyond CareerSource. Some counties have their own job training or placement programs that might offer small stipends while you're in training. Also, if you have any professional certifications or licenses, see if there are renewal or continuing education courses available - sometimes these programs have job placement assistance built in. Don't forget to apply for any benefits you might be eligible for now rather than waiting. The processing times for things like SNAP can take a few weeks, so getting applications in while you still have some income coming in is smart. You've got this - it's a tough situation but there are people and resources out there to help bridge the gap.

I'm really sorry you're facing this situation. I went through the exact same confusion when my benefits were running out a few months ago - I spent hours clicking around CONNECT looking for an extension application that simply doesn't exist. Like others have confirmed, Florida unfortunately only provides 12 weeks of regular state benefits with no extensions currently available. Since you have 2 weeks left, I'd strongly recommend starting to apply for other assistance programs now rather than waiting. The SNAP application through ACCESS Florida is straightforward and can provide food assistance. Also check with 211 (just dial 2-1-1) for local emergency assistance programs in your area - many have funds for utilities and rent that can help bridge the gap. One additional resource worth mentioning is your local faith-based organizations, even if you're not religious. Many churches, mosques, and temples have emergency assistance funds for community members facing hardship, and they typically don't require membership or attendance. The United Way in your area may also have emergency financial assistance. I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but at least now you can focus your energy on these concrete next steps instead of searching for extensions that don't exist. Hang in there!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress - I know exactly how confusing CONNECT can be when you're trying to find information that just isn't there. Unfortunately, everyone here is correct that Florida doesn't currently have any benefit extensions beyond the standard 12 weeks. I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and spent way too much time searching through every menu in CONNECT thinking I was missing something. Since you have 2 weeks left, I'd recommend using this time to get organized for what comes next. Start documenting all your job search activities if you haven't already - keep a spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, and dates. This will be helpful if you ever need to file a new claim in the future. Also, don't wait to apply for other assistance programs. The SNAP application through ACCESS Florida can take a few weeks to process, so getting that started now while you still have some income is smart. Your local 211 can also connect you with emergency assistance programs for utilities, rent, and other necessities. One thing that helped me was signing up with multiple temp agencies - even short-term work can help bridge the gap while you continue looking for permanent employment. Some of these assignments can even turn into full-time opportunities. The job market is tough right now, but there are resources available to help you through this transition. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - I can hear how stressful and confusing this whole situation is for you. Everyone here has given you the hard truth that Florida unfortunately doesn't offer benefit extensions right now, which I know isn't what you were hoping to hear. Since you have about 2 weeks left, I'd suggest taking immediate action on a few fronts. First, call DEO using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get absolute confirmation of your exact end date and make sure you haven't missed claiming any remaining weeks. Second, start applying for SNAP benefits through ACCESS Florida right away - the processing can take several weeks, so don't wait until your unemployment stops. Also, consider reaching out to local temp agencies and staffing companies. Even if it's not your ideal work, having some income coming in can reduce the stress while you continue your job search for something permanent. Many temp positions can lead to full-time opportunities too. I know this whole situation feels overwhelming, but you're not alone in dealing with Florida's limited unemployment system. Focus on the concrete steps you can take now rather than what's out of your control. You'll get through this!

I'm so sorry you're facing this situation - I know how stressful it must be to realize Florida's system is so limited compared to other states. I went through something very similar about a year ago and felt that same panic when I discovered there were no extensions available. Since you have 2 weeks left, here's what I wish I had done earlier: First, definitely use that Claimyr service others mentioned to call DEO and confirm your exact end date - sometimes there can be confusion about remaining weeks. Second, start your SNAP application through ACCESS Florida immediately since it can take 2-3 weeks to process. Third, reach out to local temp agencies now rather than waiting - even short-term assignments can help bridge the income gap while you job search. One thing that really helped me was contacting my previous employer to see if they had any contract or part-time opportunities available while I looked for permanent work. Sometimes companies have projects that aren't posted publicly but they'd be happy to bring back former employees on a temporary basis. Also don't overlook smaller local businesses - they often don't post on major job sites but might have openings if you check their websites directly or stop by in person. The job market is tough, but there are people who've successfully navigated this transition. You're going to get through this too!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress - it's such a difficult position to be in when you're still actively looking for work but running out of benefits. Everyone here has given you accurate information that Florida unfortunately doesn't have any extensions beyond the standard 12 weeks right now. Since you mentioned you have about 2 weeks left, I'd recommend taking action on several fronts immediately. First, use that Claimyr service others mentioned to call DEO and get absolute confirmation of your exact end date - sometimes the CONNECT dashboard isn't completely clear about remaining weeks. Second, start your SNAP application through ACCESS Florida right away since processing can take several weeks. Also consider signing up with temp agencies and exploring gig work platforms like Uber, DoorDash, or TaskRabbit for immediate income while you continue your permanent job search. Many people have found that temp assignments actually led to full-time opportunities, so it's worth considering even if it's not your ideal situation. Don't forget to check with your county's social services department about emergency assistance programs - many still have federal pandemic relief funds available for rent, utilities, and other necessities. Calling 211 can connect you with these local resources quickly. I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but at least now you can focus your energy on these concrete next steps instead of searching CONNECT for extensions that don't exist. You've got this!