Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Florida

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit, you are disqualified unless you had good cause. In Florida, good cause means a reason caused by your employer that would make a reasonable employee stop working, or your own illness or disability that required you to leave. FloridaCommerce decides after you apply.

Examples the state names:

• A reason caused by your employer that would make a reasonable employee stop working
• Your own illness or disability that required you to leave
• Leaving temporary work to go right back to your permanent employer, when it calls you back within 6 months
• Moving because of your military spouse's permanent change of station, activation or deployment orders
• Leaving because of domestic violence, if you show proof (such as an injunction or protective order), made reasonable efforts to keep your job, and reasonably believe you may be harmed at or near work

If you were fired

If you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you are disqualified. Being fired for other reasons does not by itself stop benefits. FloridaCommerce decides after reviewing the facts from you and your employer.

If benefits are denied for the separation

After a quit without good cause, you cannot get benefits until you work again and earn at least 17 times your weekly benefit amount. After a firing for misconduct, the disqualification lasts until you earn 17 times your weekly benefit amount, and FloridaCommerce can set it for up to 52 weeks, depending on how serious the misconduct was.

Refusing work

If you fail without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work, you are disqualified until you work again and earn at least 17 times your weekly benefit amount.

Law: Fla. Stat. secs. 443.036(29), 443.101(1)-(2)

Official source: Source page

You usually must be unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states this means you lost your job because there was not enough work.

Able, available and looking for work

Job contacts per week: 5

You must contact at least 5 possible employers each week (3 if you live in a county of 75,000 people or fewer). Instead of contacts, you can visit your local CareerSource Florida center in person that week and meet with a representative. You cannot list the same employer at the same location 3 weeks in a row unless that employer told you it is hiring. You do not need to search if you were temporarily laid off and will go back to the same employer within 8 weeks, or if you are in approved training. Union members can meet the rule by keeping regular contact with their union hall.

Records to keep

For each contact, report the date, the employer or contact name, how you contacted them, their phone number, website, address or email, the type of work you looked for, and the result. FloridaCommerce does random reviews and may ask for proof.

Law: Fla. Stat. sec. 443.091(1)(d)

Official source: Source page

To be paid for a week, you must be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work.

Law: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)

Noncitizens

What the state says

If you are not a U.S. citizen, have your Alien Registration Number or Employment Authorization Document ready when you apply.

Free help

Call 1-833-352-7759. Legal aid and other free help in Florida → Official sources →