Florida Reemployment Assistance requires biweekly certification through the CONNECT portal at floridajobs.org. Every two weeks, you confirm that you were available for work, that you completed 5 work search contacts per week (10 per biweekly period), and that you reported all earnings. Because Florida's CONNECT system has very limited phone support, the portal is both the only practical certification method and your only documentation trail if something goes wrong.
- Certify through CONNECT every two weeks. Missing the certification window stops your payments with no automatic recovery.
- Florida requires 5 documented work search contacts per week — 10 per biweekly certification period. Certify honestly; CONNECT audits work search records.
- Report all earnings during certification. Florida deducts 80% of earnings above $0, not 100% — part-time work still pays.
Always verify exact numbers, deadlines, and forms on the Florida Department of Commerce's official website – this page provides general guidance, not state-specific legal advice.
How the Biweekly Certification Works
After filing, CONNECT schedules your first certification window — typically beginning the Monday after your first two-week benefit period ends. Log in to CONNECT and select "Claim Weeks Requesting Payment." CONNECT walks you through a set of questions covering each week separately: Did you work? How many hours and how much did you earn (gross, not net)? Did you refuse any job offers? Did you complete your 5 required work search contacts for that week? Were you available for work?
Florida requires 5 work search contacts per week, beginning in your second week of claiming benefits (after the waiting week). During each biweekly certification, you certify that you made 10 contacts total across the two weeks. CONNECT does not require you to enter the contacts during certification itself — but the Florida Department of Commerce may audit your records at any time, and you must be able to produce documentation.
Reporting Earnings Accurately
Report all gross earnings — before any taxes or deductions — in the week the work was performed, not when you receive the paycheck. If you worked Tuesday through Friday in week one of your benefit period, report those earnings in week one even if you are paid the following week. Misreporting the timing of earnings is a common source of overpayment findings in Florida.
Florida's partial benefit formula deducts 80% of your gross earnings from your weekly benefit amount. The remaining 20% of your earnings is a work incentive that does not reduce your payment. You always receive more total income by working part-time than by not working — the math works in your favor, so report accurately without fear of losing more than you earn.
What Can Stop Your Payment
- Missed certification — CONNECT does not carry forward missed periods. Contact the Florida Department of Commerce through CONNECT messaging if you miss a window.
- Identity verification hold — If CONNECT flags your claim for re-verification, payments freeze until completed. Check CONNECT for any outstanding action items.
- Employer protest — If your former employer challenges your claim after you are receiving benefits, CONNECT may show a hold pending investigation.
- Work search deficiency — Certifying fewer than 5 contacts per week can trigger a disqualification for that week.
If Payment Hasn't Arrived
Florida pays by direct deposit (2 to 3 business days after certification) or to the Florida CONNECT debit card (1 to 2 business days). If payment has not arrived after 5 business days, check CONNECT for any holds, notices, or requests for additional information. If CONNECT shows no issues and payment is still missing, use CONNECT's secure messaging system to contact the Florida Department of Commerce. Phone hold times in Florida are routinely 1 to 3 hours — messaging through CONNECT creates a documented record and is typically more effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often do I need to certify for Florida Reemployment Assistance?
- Every two weeks, on a schedule set when you filed your claim. CONNECT sends an email notification when your certification window opens. The window typically stays open for several days — log in as soon as it opens rather than waiting until the last day, because CONNECT occasionally experiences technical issues during high-traffic periods. Missing the window stops payment for that period, so treat the certification reminder as a time-sensitive task, not a suggestion.
- Florida requires 5 work search contacts per week. What counts as a contact?
- A valid Florida Reemployment Assistance work search contact is direct outreach to a specific employer about a specific position: submitting a job application online or in person, emailing a resume to a hiring manager, calling an employer's HR department about an open role, or visiting an employer in person. Registering with a staffing agency counts as one contact. Activities that do not count as contacts: updating your resume, creating a job board profile, or browsing job listings without applying. Each contact must be with a different employer or for a different position than other contacts in the same week.
- I missed my CONNECT certification window in Florida. What happens now?
- Log in to CONNECT immediately and check whether the claim weeks are still accessible. Some late certifications can be completed through CONNECT within a few days of the window closing. If the weeks are marked as closed in CONNECT, use the secure messaging feature to contact the Florida Department of Commerce, explain why you missed the window, and ask whether a late certification can be processed. Florida does not automatically reopen missed certification periods, but documented first-time misses with a reasonable explanation are sometimes accommodated. Act within 24 hours — delays reduce the chance of retroactive payment.
- I worked part time in Florida this week. How do I report it in CONNECT?
- During your biweekly certification, CONNECT asks for gross earnings (before taxes) and hours worked separately for each week of the certification period. For the week you worked part-time, enter your total gross earnings for that week (not what you were paid — what you earned during those days). CONNECT calculates the benefit reduction automatically using Florida's 80% deduction formula. You do not need to calculate the reduced amount yourself. Double-check that you entered the earnings in the correct week — misassigning earnings between weeks is a common audit trigger.
- CONNECT is showing a hold on my Florida payment. What should I do?
- Log in to CONNECT and look for any notices, messages, or pending actions on your account dashboard. Holds most commonly appear for: identity verification requests (complete immediately), document submission requests, employer protest notices (read the details and respond within any deadline shown), or overpayment determination notices (appeal within 20 days if you disagree). After taking the action CONNECT requests, allow 2 to 5 business days for the hold to be reviewed and lifted. If the hold has no explanation or you have already completed the required action, contact the Florida Department of Commerce through CONNECT's secure messaging feature rather than the phone line — messages through CONNECT are documented and handled by the same staff as phone calls, with shorter effective wait times.