Has DEO lifted the work search requirement for Florida unemployment in 2025?

Your friend is 100% wrong. The work search requirements are definitely still in place and being enforced. Florida DEO requires 5 work search activities per week, and they DO check these. The temporary waiver ended years ago after the pandemic. I just completed my benefit year in January, and I had to submit all my work searches every two weeks when claiming weeks. Don't risk your benefits by skipping this - they can and will deny payment if you don't meet the requirements.

my cousin just got his benefits denied cuz he didnt do the work searches so yeah they DO check lol

To be very clear about the current work search requirements in Florida: 1. You must complete 5 work search activities for each week you claim benefits 2. Online job applications definitely count 3. You should keep detailed records of ALL work searches including: - Date of contact - Method of contact (online, in person, etc) - Company name, address, phone number - Position applied for - Result of the application The DEO can request proof of your work searches up to one year after you apply, so keep good records. You can also use career services at CareerSource centers as part of your work search activities - that counts too and they provide documentation. The only way to get a work search waiver now is if you're on approved training, have a union hiring hall agreement, or are on temporary layoff with a return date within 8 weeks of separation.

There's no specific required form, but you can download a work search log from the DEO website that has all the fields they want to see. I personally created a spreadsheet that I update daily - much easier than trying to remember everything when it's time to claim weeks. One more thing - visiting a CareerSource office in person counts as a work search activity, and they'll give you documentation of your visit. That's an easy one to add to your list if you're struggling to find 5 jobs to apply for every week.

I spent THREE HOURS last week trying to call DEO to ask this EXACT question because the website is so confusing!!!!! The automated system kept saying 'due to high call volume' and disconnecting me. I couldn't get through to ANYONE and almost missed my claiming deadline because I wasn't sure about the work search rules!!! DEO is THE WORST at communicating policy changes!!! Why can't they send an email or something when requirements change??!! So frustrating!!!

My friend works at the DEO call center (I know, lucky me when I have questions lol) and she says they're actually increasing work search enforcement this year. They've got some new system that flags suspicious patterns in work search entries and triggers automatic reviews. So definitely don't make up fake searches!

Thank you everyone for the information! I'm definitely going to do all 5 work searches each week and keep detailed records. Better safe than sorry!

one more thing nobody mentioned - if ur employer gave u a return to work date thats less than 8 weeks from when u got laid off u can get the work search waived. u have to call n ask for it tho they dont do it automatic

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I filed for unemployment in Florida about 6 weeks ago. The work search requirement is definitely still active and they ARE checking! I got selected for a random audit after my 4th week of claims and had to provide detailed documentation for every single work search activity I reported. Fortunately I kept good records, but it was stressful. A few tips that have worked for me: - I use the Indeed "Easy Apply" feature which makes it quick to apply to multiple jobs - Attending virtual job fairs counts as a work search activity - Creating/updating profiles on job sites like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter counts too - I keep screenshots of my applications and save confirmation emails The DEO rep who called me for the audit said they're doing more random checks this year, so definitely don't skip the work searches or try to fake them. It's not worth losing your benefits over!

I can confirm from personal experience that work search requirements are absolutely still enforced in Florida as of 2025. I was unemployed for 4 months last year and had to complete all 5 work searches every single week. What really helped me stay organized was using a simple Excel spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Company Name, Position, Application Method, Contact Info, and Status. I also created a folder in my email to save all application confirmations and responses. Pro tip: Don't sleep on CareerSource workshops and services - they count toward your work search requirements AND they actually provide useful job hunting resources. I attended their resume writing workshop and interview prep sessions which not only counted as work searches but genuinely helped me land my current job. Your friend giving you wrong info could have cost you thousands in benefits. Always verify with official DEO sources when you're unsure about requirements!

I'm also new to unemployment benefits in Florida and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off from my retail job two weeks ago and have been stressed about navigating all the requirements. Reading everyone's experiences here really drives home that the work search requirements are serious business. I've already started keeping a detailed log of my job applications after seeing what happened to people who didn't have proper documentation during audits. One question I have - does networking count as a work search activity? Like if I reach out to former colleagues or attend networking events (virtual or in-person), can I count those toward my 5 weekly requirements? I have several industry contacts I was planning to reach out to anyway, so it would be great if that could help me meet the work search requirements while also potentially leading to job opportunities. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here. It's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the confusing DEO website!

Wow, I'm so glad I found this thread! I was also recently laid off (from a tech startup last month) and was getting conflicting information about work search requirements. My unemployment counselor friend from another state told me that most states had permanently relaxed these requirements, but clearly that's not the case for Florida. This conversation has been a real eye-opener. I've been casually looking for jobs but definitely wasn't keeping the detailed records everyone is talking about. Starting tomorrow I'm going to: 1. Set up a proper tracking spreadsheet like Keisha suggested 2. Make sure I'm doing exactly 5 documented work searches per week 3. Look into those CareerSource workshops - sounds like a great way to meet requirements while getting actual help Question for anyone who might know: If I apply to the same company for different positions in the same week, do those count as separate work search activities? I'm in software development and some companies have multiple openings that match my skills. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more helpful than the DEO website!

I'm really grateful this thread exists - just filed my first unemployment claim in Florida after getting laid off from my manufacturing job and was completely confused about the work search requirements. My brother told me they weren't enforced anymore but clearly he was wrong! After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely taking this seriously. Already started a spreadsheet to track my job applications and plan to hit those CareerSource workshops too. Better to be over-prepared than lose benefits over something preventable. One thing I'm wondering - when you report your work searches during the bi-weekly claim, do you have to enter all the detailed information right then, or just confirm that you completed 5 activities? I want to make sure I'm ready for whatever format they use when I file my first claim next week. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here. This is exactly the kind of practical advice I needed!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also recently laid off (from my office job about 10 days ago) and had heard mixed information about work search requirements. My coworker told me the same thing as Paolo's friend - that they weren't being enforced anymore - but thankfully I stumbled across this discussion before making that costly mistake! I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice here: - Setting up a detailed spreadsheet to track all my work searches - Keeping screenshots and confirmation emails from applications - Looking into CareerSource workshops since they count AND provide actual job hunting help - Making sure I do exactly 5 documented activities every week The stories about people getting audited and having to repay benefits really drove home how serious this is. It's frustrating that there's so much misinformation floating around, but I'm grateful this community exists to share real experiences and accurate information. For anyone else reading this who might be in the same boat - definitely don't risk your benefits by skipping work searches. It sounds like Florida DEO is actually increasing enforcement, not decreasing it!