Work search requirements waived but CONNECT still asks for job contacts - how to skip this section?

I'm about to claim my first two weeks tomorrow on the DEO CONNECT system and I'm a bit confused about the work search part. I received a notification that my work search requirements are waived for my claim, but I'm not sure how to handle this on the actual website. Does anyone know if I need to skip the work search section completely, or should I still fill it in even though it's waived? I don't want to mess anything up or get flagged for doing it wrong. The CONNECT system can be so finicky and I really need these benefits to come through without delays. Thanks for any help!

0 coins

18 comments

Carmen Ortiz

•5d

If your work search requirements are officially waived, you'll still go through that section on CONNECT but you'll select the option that says something like 'I was not required to search for work' or similar wording when it asks about your work search activities. Don't just skip it completely - you need to actively indicate that you were exempt. The system will then let you proceed without entering any job contacts. Make sure you have documentation of your waiver in case they ever question it later.

0 coins

Jamal Carter

•4d

When you log into CONNECT to claim your weeks, you'll navigate through several screens. When you reach the work search screen, there will be a dropdown menu with options. Since your work search is waived, select the appropriate exemption reason (usually there's a specific option for "work search waived"). If you're not seeing that option, double-check your determination letter to confirm the exact nature of your waiver. Some waivers are claim-specific while others are temporary system-wide waivers. The key is NOT to leave it blank, as the previous poster mentioned. Always indicate your exemption status through the proper selection. This ensures your claim processes smoothly without triggering unnecessary adjudication.

0 coins

Mei Liu

•4d

I've been dealing with Florida unemployment for years (unfortunately lol) and let me add one important thing about work search waivers - SAVE SCREENSHOTS of every page as you go through the claim process. The DEO system is notorious for glitches that can cause problems later. If it asks why you're exempt, type in exactly what your waiver letter says. Even with a waiver, I recommend keeping a simple log of your job search activities anyway. I've seen cases where DEO retroactively asked for work search proof even from people who thought they were waived.

0 coins

Mei Liu

•4d

You actually have a window of time, usually about a week, to claim your weeks. If you miss your scheduled date, you can still claim, but don't wait too long. If you go beyond that window, you'd need to contact DEO directly to get those weeks reopened for claiming. Try Claimyr (claimyr.com) if you need to reach a live agent quickly - they have a service that gets you through to DEO without the endless busy signals and disconnects. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to get weeks reopened after missing my claim window.

0 coins

Carmen Ortiz

•4d

One last point about work search requirements being waived - make sure you're monitoring your DEO inbox in CONNECT regularly. They sometimes send updates about work search requirements changing with very little notice. I've seen people who had waivers suddenly get them revoked and not realize it until they had issues with their claims. The safest approach is to do at least some token job searching even with a waiver, just to be covered in case of any DEO system issues.

0 coins