How to file for unemployment in Florida
The fastest way to file for unemployment in Florida is online through FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program at www.floridajobs.org. Florida pays up to $275 per week, has one unpaid waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 12 weeks (more in a severe downturn). File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $275 / week
Your highest-earning recent quarter divided by 26, up to the cap.
Minimum: $32/week. Effective July 2026. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program calculates it when you file.
OFFICIAL STATE PORTAL
FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program
File your claim in Florida
Official site: www.floridajobs.org
Just laid off? Unemployment is one of five clocks
Severance review, COBRA, health coverage, and the rest: every first-week deadline in one place. Free, no account needed.
Florida unemployment at a glance
Agency
FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program
Official portal
www.floridajobs.org
Ways to file
Online · Phone
Max weekly benefit
$275/week
Waiting week
One unpaid waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 12 weeks (more in a severe downturn)
Florida calls unemployment “Reemployment Assistance,” filed through the Reconnect online portal (connect.myflorida.com); the hotline is 1-800-204-2418.
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: www.floridajobs.org.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
Florida unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in Florida?
File online through FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program at www.floridajobs.org. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by phone.
How much is unemployment in Florida?
Florida pays up to $275 per week. Your highest-earning recent quarter divided by 26, up to the cap. Figure effective July 2026; confirm your exact amount with FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in Florida?
Under Fla. Stat. 443.101, a claimant is disqualified for weeks in which severance pay is received, with the number of disqualified weeks equal to the severance amount divided by the claimant's average weekly wage from the paying employer (rounded down), starting the week of separation. File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program.)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Florida?
Florida: one unpaid waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Florida?
Florida pays regular state benefits for up to 12 weeks (more in a severe downturn). Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with FloridaCommerce – Reemployment Assistance Program.
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking Florida to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official Florida portal (www.floridajobs.org) before you rely on them.