DEO denied your claim? Here’s what to do if the Florida DEO says you are not eligible for unemployment benefits:
- If the DEO’s notice of denial does not provide the reason, find it out. It could be wage base period issues, lack of wage history, multiple claims in one year, separation circumstances, incomplete applications, etcetera.
- If you disagree with the denial, appeal the decision through Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity Reemployment Assistance program. All requests for an appeal hearing must be filed within 20 calendar days after the distributed date of the determination. If the 20th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday the appeal may be filed on the next business day.
- If the denial is correct or you don’t dispute it, apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA is a federally-funded program for people who are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits from their states. (PUA is separate from and not to be confused with the additional $600 federal stimulus unemployment benefits for unemployment related to COVID-19). To apply for PUA, your state must first determine that you are ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits through the state system. For PUA, CONNECT will prompt you to fill out a PUA application.
- If you filed for unemployment compensation before April 5, 2020, you will need to submit your claim again if you are seeking PUA benefits. In addition, if you are denied unemployment benefits and you appeal, we also recommend that you apply for unemployment compensation again to make sure that you are in line for PUA.
Still have questions? Check out the updated resources from the DEO available on our blog — Coronavirus: Your Unemployment Questions Answered. You can also click here for more information from one of Florida’s House of Representatives.