Will my Florida unemployment benefits continue after Sept 4th if I still have balance left?
I just checked my DEO CONNECT account and noticed I have enough remaining balance for 5 more payments at my current weekly benefit amount. My question is whether those payments will continue after September 4th, 2025, or does everything just end on that date regardless of my remaining balance? I've been hearing mixed things from people - some saying all benefits stop completely on the cutoff date and others saying you can collect until your balance runs out. Can anyone who knows for sure clarify this for me? I need to plan my finances and job search accordingly.
16 comments
Anastasia Kozlov
your balance doesnt matter, everything ends on sept 4 no matter wat. thats just how florida does it. had the same thing happen to me last year, had like $2700 left in my account and it all just disappeared
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Diego Flores
•That really sucks! Did DEO give you any explanation or warning before it happened?
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Sean Flanagan
Unfortunately, the previous commenter is correct. The remaining balance in your account becomes irrelevant when the benefit year ends. According to Florida DEO regulations, your benefit year expires exactly 12 months from when you first filed your claim, or on the specified end date (September 4th in your case). Any unused balance will not be paid out after this date. This is standard procedure for Regular Unemployment Assistance (RA) in Florida. You would need to qualify for a new benefit year if you're still unemployed after September 4th, which means filing a new claim and going through the monetary determination process again.
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Diego Flores
•Thank you for the detailed explanation. I was hoping it would work differently. Do you know if I need to wait until exactly September 4th passes before filing a new claim, or can I start the process a few days earlier?
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Zara Mirza
SAME EXACT THING happened to me in 2023!!!! Had over $3000 left and they just CUT ME OFF! No warning, nothing! DEO doesn't care if you still have balance - once your benefit year ends, you're DONE. The whole system is designed to pay out as little as possible.
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NebulaNinja
•While I understand your frustration, that's how unemployment insurance works in most states. The benefit year and maximum benefit amount are two separate limitations - whichever comes first ends your claim. It's not just a Florida thing.
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Luca Russo
I faced this exact situation last year. My benefit year was ending with about 6 weeks of payments left in my balance. I tried calling DEO multiple times to see if there was any way to access those remaining funds, but kept hitting busy signals and automated disconnects. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live agent. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj The agent confirmed what others are saying - once your benefit year ends, any remaining balance is forfeited. But they were able to help me understand if I qualified for a new benefit year and what documentation I'd need ready.
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Diego Flores
•Thanks for the tip about Claimyr. I've been trying to call DEO all week with no luck. I'll check out that service - at least I can get clear answers about what happens next.
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Nia Wilson
Let me clarify something important: The September 4th date you're referring to is likely your Benefit Year End (BYE) date, which is shown on your CONNECT dashboard. This is exactly 12 months after you initially filed your claim. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your claim is valid until September 4th, 2025 2. Any remaining balance after that date cannot be collected 3. You must file a new claim after your BYE date if you remain unemployed 4. For the new claim, you'll need to have earned qualifying wages during your base period (typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters) 5. You'll go through the same approval process, including work search requirements and waiting week Start preparing documentation of any work you've done during your benefit year, as this will determine eligibility for a new claim.
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Mateo Sanchez
•so wat ur saying is they basically steal ur money at the end?? the system is such a scam man
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NebulaNinja
To add to what others have said, this isn't DEO "stealing" your money as one commenter suggested. Unemployment benefits aren't like a savings account where you're entitled to a specific dollar amount. The maximum benefit amount is just that - a maximum you could potentially receive if your benefit year lasts long enough. The September 4th date is your Benefit Year End date. Think of it as an expiration date on your claim. If you're still eligible for benefits on September 3rd, you'll get paid for that week. But once September 4th hits, that claim is closed permanently regardless of remaining balance. I recommend claiming every week you're eligible until September 4th to maximize what you receive from this current claim.
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Diego Flores
•That makes sense, thank you. I'll definitely keep claiming every week I can. Do you know how quickly I can apply for a new benefit year once the current one ends?
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Anastasia Kozlov
btw if u havent been working at all during ur benefit year ur probably not gonna qualify for a new claim... u need to have enough work history in the last 18 months to get approved again
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Diego Flores
•I've had some part-time gigs but nothing steady. Guess I'll find out if it's enough when I apply. This whole process is so stressful.
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Nia Wilson
I noticed some confusion in the comments. Just to be 100% clear: - The "balance" shown in your account is the maximum potential payout remaining on your current claim - This balance expires completely on your Benefit Year End date (September 4th, 2025) - You can file a new claim immediately after your benefit year ends - For the new claim, you need qualifying wages in your new base period - Part-time work may qualify you for a new claim, but at a potentially lower weekly benefit amount - If you haven't earned any wages during your benefit year, you likely won't qualify for a new claim I recommend scheduling a meeting with a CareerSource Florida office before your benefits end. They can review your specific situation and help with both job searching and understanding your benefit options.
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Diego Flores
•Thank you for the detailed breakdown. I'll reach out to CareerSource Florida this week to get some personalized guidance. Really appreciate everyone's help explaining this!
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