Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce), Reemployment Assistance

Florida · Unemployment

floridajobs.org/workforce-resources/reemployment-assistance/claimants

State Unemployment Benefits in Florida

Florida's unemployment program is called Reemployment Assistance and is administered by the Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce) through the Reconnect online portal. Reemployment Assistance payments that were due to a claimant at the time of death may be paid to the surviving spouse, and those payments are not treated as estate assets subject to administration.

Steps to takeKey facts

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.

State Unemployment Benefits in Florida: key facts

What Florida says3

Benefits at and after the death

Section 222.15(2) lets the Department of Commerce pay any Reemployment Assistance payments that may be due to an unemployed individual at the time of his or her death.1

Section 222.16 provides that Reemployment Assistance payments paid under section 222.15 are not considered assets of the estate and are not subject to administration.2

Who may claim a final payment

Under section 222.15, the payments go 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.1

Claimant portal

Claims are handled through Reconnect, Florida's Reemployment Assistance claims system, reached through floridajobs.org.3

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

Sources3

  1. 1.Fla. Stat. 222.15 (payments due deceased employee)
  2. 2.Fla. Stat. 222.16 (payments so paid not subject to administration)
  3. 3.Reemployment Assistance, Claimants (FloridaCommerce)

Florida unemployment benefits

Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce), Reemployment Assistance

Hours

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern
Verified Aug 2026

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