Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through benefit exhaustion recently. I exhausted my regular Florida benefits in December 2024 and have been navigating this exact situation. A few things I learned that might help: 1. Even after your benefits end, keep your CONNECT account active and check it regularly. I got a survey from DEO about potential new programs through my CONNECT inbox that I almost missed. 2. If you're worried about the income gap, look into temporary/gig work while waiting. I started doing some part-time warehouse temp work through staffing agencies - it's not ideal but it helps cover basic expenses and shows continued work search activity. 3. Contact your local American Job Center (part of CareerSource). They have resources beyond just job searching - some locations offer emergency assistance referrals and skills training programs that can help bridge the gap. The uncertainty is really stressful, but don't give up. Keep all your documentation organized and stay engaged with the process even after benefits end. Wishing you the best of luck with your job search!

I'm in a similar boat - laid off from my retail management job in January and getting close to exhausting my benefits. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful, especially about keeping the CONNECT account active and documenting everything. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I called my local 211 service (just dial 2-1-1) and they connected me with several local organizations that help with utilities, rent assistance, and food while you're between jobs. Some of them don't even require you to be completely out of benefits yet - they help people who are about to lose income. Also, if anyone is in the Tampa Bay area, the Pinellas County Urban League has a program specifically for people transitioning off unemployment. They help with resume building, interview prep, and even have connections with employers who are willing to hire people coming off unemployment benefits. The whole system is definitely frustrating, but there are more resources out there than I initially realized. Hang in there everyone!

This entire thread should be turned into a DEO troubleshooting guide! Maya, I'm so happy you finally got through - what an absolute ordeal. The fact that you had to use multiple browsers, try at 3am, pay for a third-party service, AND still needed manual intervention from an agent just to submit a basic application is completely unacceptable. The CONNECT system is clearly designed to discourage people from applying rather than help them access benefits they're entitled to. I'm new to this community but seeing everyone jump in with real solutions that actually work gives me hope. Between Isaac's browser tip, Connor's technical steps, KhalilStar's Claimyr recommendation, Amelia's SSN formatting insight, Katherine's 3am strategy, and everyone else's support, you all created a comprehensive survival guide for navigating DEO's broken system. I'm definitely saving all these tips because unfortunately it seems like technical nightmares are the norm with Florida unemployment applications. Thank you Maya for following up with your success story - it proves that persistence pays off even when the system is working against you!

This thread is incredible - Maya, I'm so relieved you finally got your application through! As a newcomer to this community, I'm both impressed by everyone's willingness to help and absolutely appalled by what you had to go through just to file for unemployment. The fact that it required multiple browsers, a 3am attempt, a paid service, AND manual intervention from an agent to submit ONE application shows how deliberately obstructive the CONNECT system is. I've been putting off filing my own claim because I've heard horror stories, but seeing all the specific troubleshooting steps everyone shared here (especially the browser switching, SSN formatting, and Claimyr service) gives me a roadmap to follow. This community is amazing - you all turned what should be a simple government process into a collaborative survival guide. Maya, thank you for updating us with your success story. It proves that persistence pays off even when the system seems designed to defeat you. I'm definitely saving this entire thread as my DEO battle plan!

I've been working in HR for a Florida-based company for several years and wanted to add some clarity on a few points. First, regarding partial unemployment - you're absolutely right to pursue this option given your hour reduction from full-time to 18-20 hours. Florida allows you to earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $58 before it affects your benefits, so even with reduced hours you might still qualify for some assistance. Second, about the tip underreporting - this is a serious issue that goes beyond just unemployment benefits. Your employer is violating both federal and state wage laws, and this documentation could be valuable not just for DEO but potentially for a Department of Labor complaint. Make sure you're keeping detailed records of actual tips earned vs. what you're being instructed to report. Finally, when you file (whether partial now or full benefits later), be very specific about the hostile work environment in your application. Use phrases like "constructive discharge" and "unsafe working conditions" as these are terms DEO recognizes in their determinations. The fact that you attempted to resolve issues directly with management twice shows good faith effort on your part.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I want to emphasize how important it is to start your documentation RIGHT NOW, not later. I made the mistake of waiting too long to keep detailed records and it hurt my case. Take photos of your schedule with timestamps, save any texts or voicemails from your manager, and if possible, get a coworker to witness some of the hostile behavior. Also, regarding the tip underreporting - this is actually a bigger deal than just unemployment benefits. You might want to contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division about this separately, as they take tip theft very seriously and it could result in back wages owed to you. The combination of constructive discharge (through hour cuts and hostile environment) plus wage theft gives you a really strong foundation for any unemployment claim. Don't let them push you into quitting outright - file for partial benefits now with your reduced hours and let them know you're documenting everything. Sometimes just knowing an employee is aware of their rights is enough to make bad managers back off a bit.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! My status changed to "paid" this morning and I've been refreshing my bank app every hour like that's going to make it appear faster 😅 Reading through all these comments has been such a huge relief - I had no idea that waiting 2-3 business days after the "paid" status was completely normal. I was starting to panic thinking I'd entered my routing number wrong or something. The tip about checking for pending ACH transactions in online banking is brilliant, I'm definitely going to look for that tonight. It's so stressful not knowing what to expect, but hearing from everyone who's been through this before makes me feel so much better. Thanks Dylan for asking this question - it's exactly what I needed to see today!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My claim status just changed to "paid" yesterday and I've been anxiously checking my bank account every few hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I had no idea that waiting 2-3 business days after the "paid" status was completely normal. I was starting to worry that I'd made a mistake with my banking information or that there was some kind of system error. The tip about checking for pending ACH transactions in online banking is absolutely brilliant - I never would have thought to look for that! It's so stressful being new to this whole process and not knowing what to expect, but hearing from people who've actually been through it makes me feel so much better. Thanks Dylan for posting this question and thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and advice. This community is amazing for helping newcomers navigate the DEO system!

One thing I want to add that's been super helpful for me - create a dedicated folder on your computer (and phone if possible) for EVERYTHING unemployment related. I have subfolders for: - Work search records/screenshots - DEO correspondence - Job applications and confirmations - Resume versions - Reference contact info This saved me SO much time when I had to provide documentation later. Also, if you're tech-savvy, you can set up automatic forwarding rules in your email so anything from job sites or with keywords like "application received" automatically goes to a specific folder. Makes it way easier to find confirmation emails when you're claiming weeks. The restaurant management experience you have is honestly really valuable right now - so many places are desperate for experienced managers who know how to handle staffing challenges and operations. Don't sell yourself short while you're searching. You've got skills that are in high demand!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact same situation last year! I was completely overwhelmed when I first filed, but this community helped me so much. One thing that really helped me was creating a weekly schedule for my work search activities. I'd do online applications on Mondays and Tuesdays, in-person visits on Wednesdays, networking calls on Thursdays, and use Fridays to catch up on documentation and follow-ups. Having that structure made it feel less chaotic and helped ensure I was hitting my 5 weekly requirements consistently. Also, since you mentioned coming from restaurant management - definitely check out OpenTable's job board and platforms like Culinary Agents. A lot of restaurant groups post exclusively there and they're specifically looking for hospitality management experience. I actually found my current position through Culinary Agents after months of searching on general job sites. The stress is totally normal, but you're already ahead of the game by asking these questions and taking documentation seriously. The fact that everyone here is giving you the same advice about record-keeping shows how important it really is. You've got this!