State Unemployment Benefits in Florida

State Unemployment Benefits in Florida: key facts

Administering agency

Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce), formerly the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Claimant portal

Reconnect — Florida's Reemployment Assistance claims system, reached through floridajobs.org.

Phone

1-833-352-7759 (1-833-FL-APPLY), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

Who receives a deceased claimant's final payment

The Department of Commerce may pay Reemployment Assistance payments due at the time of death to the surviving spouse; if there is no spouse, to the children, provided they are over 18; and if there are no children, to the father or mother.

Not an estate asset

Reemployment Assistance payments paid under Fla. Stat. 222.15 are not considered assets of the estate and are not subject to administration.

Governing law: Fla. Stat. 222.15 (payments due deceased employee); Fla. Stat. 222.16 (payments so paid not subject to administration)

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Report the claimant's death to FloridaCommerce Reemployment Assistance at 1-833-352-7759 so payments stop.
2. Identify who may receive payments that were due at the time of death under Fla. Stat. 222.15 — the spouse; if none, children over 18; if none, a parent.
3. Ask FloridaCommerce what documentation it requires to release any payment due for eligible weeks before the death.

Frequently asked questions