How To File A Florida Unemployment Claim
1. How do I file a Florida claim for unemployment compensation benefits?
A claim for unemployment compensation benefits can be filed using the Internet at www.fluidnow.com. The Internet is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. A claim may also be filed by telephone by calling toll free 1-800-204-2418. Choose the language and then option 2. The telephone center is open to process claims Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. Florida law requires that the effective date of your claim will be the Sunday prior to the day you file the claim. You may also file by mail. Claim booklets are available at the One Stop Career Centers throughout Florida. The booklet contains the form required to file your claim. You must complete the form and mail it to the address as listed in the booklet or fax it to the number listed in the booklet. The effective date of your claim will be the Sunday prior to the postmark date or the Sunday prior to the date the form is faxed to our agency. A list of the One Stop Career Centers may be found on the Internet website at http://www.floridajobs.org/onestop/onestopdir/index.htm. Computers are also available at the One Stop Career Centers so that you can file your claim using the Internet.
1. How do I file a claim against Florida if I am currently residing in another state?
If you are currently residing in another state but had employment in Florida during the base period, you may file your claim using the Internet or telephone as described in #1.
2. Can my claim be backdated to when I became unemployed?
The Florida Unemployment Compensation Law, as stated in Florida Statutes Chapter 443, requires that the effective date of your claim must be the Sunday prior to the date you file your claim. By law, your claim cannot be retroactively backdated to the date of job separation which began the period of your unemployment.
3. If I have filed a claim for Florida benefits within the past year, how do I reopen that claim after I have had intervening employment?
You should use the same procedures as described in item #1.