I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's been absolutely devastating! My claim has been stuck for 3 weeks because CONNECT shows I'm "not registered" with Workforce Florida, even though I completed my registration in January and have done everything required - workshops, resume upload, job searches, the works. What's really frustrating is that I went to CareerSource and they confirmed I'm 100% registered and active in their system. The counselor even said this is a "widespread problem" they see constantly, but DEO keeps treating each case like it's some unique mystery instead of fixing the underlying system integration issue. I've uploaded every piece of documentation possible - screenshots from Employ Florida showing my active status, printed verification from CareerSource, service history reports. Nothing changes the status in CONNECT. It's like their systems exist in parallel universes. Reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm going to try the comprehensive approach: using Claimyr to actually reach a human, contacting my state representative's office for constituent services, filing a complaint with the state ombudsman, and posting on social media for public pressure. It's insane that we have to become full-time advocates just to access benefits we're legally entitled to. This isn't just a "technical glitch" - it's a systematic failure that's causing real harm to real people. How many folks are losing housing, going hungry, or falling behind on critical bills because of this broken system? DEO needs to prioritize fixing this permanently instead of making us jump through hoops individually.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - been fully registered with Workforce Florida since February, but CONNECT keeps showing I'm "not registered" and my claim has been on hold for 3 weeks now. Like everyone else, CareerSource confirmed I'm 100% active in their system. Based on all the great advice here, I'm going to try a combination approach: using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent, uploading the Service History printout from CareerSource (thanks @Dylan Baskin for that tip!), and contacting my state representative's office. I'm also going to specifically ask for a "Work Registration Override" form and request an agent with "EF integration permissions" like @Hunter Brighton suggested. It's really encouraging to see @Lucas Turner's success with social media pressure and @Jamal Harris mentioning that Channel 7 is already tracking this story. Maybe if enough of us document our cases through official channels (ombudsman, state reps, media), we can force DEO to actually fix this systemic problem instead of just dealing with individual cases one by one. Will definitely update this thread if any of these approaches work for me. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed strategies - it's given me hope that there are actual paths forward through this bureaucratic nightmare!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation! I went through the exact same thing about 8 months ago when my benefits ran out. Everyone here is correct that there are no federal extensions available anymore. A few things that helped me during that transition: - Applied for SNAP benefits immediately (took about 2 weeks to get approved) - Contacted 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local assistance programs - they connected me to a food bank and utility assistance program in my county - Set up job alerts on Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter so I wouldn't miss new postings - Used the local library for free internet and printing for job applications The job market is actually pretty good right now in most areas of Florida, so don't lose hope! I ended up finding something after about 6 weeks of intensive searching. Hang in there and definitely take advantage of all the resources people have mentioned here.

I feel for you - this is such a tough situation and the uncertainty makes it so much worse. Just wanted to add that if you haven't already, make sure to file your final weeks even if you think you might not qualify. Sometimes there can be processing delays or corrections that might give you an extra week or two. Also, don't forget about temporary staffing agencies! Places like Kelly Services, Manpower, and Robert Half often have immediate openings, even if they're just short-term assignments. It's not ideal, but it can help bridge the gap while you're looking for something permanent. Some of these temp jobs even turn into full-time offers. One more thing - if you have any professional certifications or licenses, check if they need renewal soon. Some workforce development programs will pay for certification renewals or training if you're unemployed. Your local CareerSource office should have info on what's available in your area. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead and asking the right questions shows you're being smart about this transition.

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO!!! The Claimyr service actually worked - took about 35 minutes but I finally spoke to a real person. Turns out my employer had contested my claim saying I was fired for misconduct (absolutely not true - I was laid off with 15 other people). The agent was able to see that no one had contacted me for my side of the story, which is why it was stuck. She's sending it to an adjudicator today and said they should contact me within 48 hours for a fact-finding interview. She also noted the hardship with my utilities about to be shut off. Finally some progress! Will update again when I hear more.

Wow, what great news about finally getting through! I'm so glad the Claimyr service worked for you. Your situation with the employer falsely claiming misconduct is unfortunately super common - they do it to try to avoid paying into the unemployment system. Since you were part of a mass layoff with 15 others, you should have a really strong case. Make sure to document everything for your fact-finding interview - any layoff notices, emails about the downsizing, maybe even contact info for your former coworkers who were also laid off as potential witnesses. The adjudicator will want to hear the full story. Fingers crossed they expedite this given your utility situation! Keep us posted on how the interview goes.

Just wanted to follow up and see if you had any luck with any of the suggestions? The ID.me verification is frustrating but usually does get resolved eventually. Let us know what worked for you so others can benefit!

I went through this exact same nightmare last month! The ID.me verification took me 16 days and I was losing my mind. Here's what I learned that might help: 1) Try calling DEO at exactly 7:30 AM when they open - I finally got through on my 4th try doing this. 2) Make sure ALL your documents have the exact same name format - even periods after middle initials matter. 3) Clear your browser cache completely before trying ID.me again. 4) If you have a local career center, sometimes they can help escalate cases. The whole system is absolutely broken but don't give up! You WILL get through this eventually. Hang in there!

I had this same experience about a month ago! The video call requirement caught me completely off guard too - I was sitting there in my pajamas thinking it would just be a quick upload process. Had to scramble to make myself presentable and find good lighting. My wait was around 90 minutes which felt like forever, but the referee was super professional and patient. They walked me through showing my ID from multiple angles and asked standard verification questions like confirming my address and DOB. The whole video portion was maybe 7-8 minutes once connected. My account showed verified within about 36 hours after that. It's definitely their standard process when the facial recognition can't get a high enough confidence match - nothing you did wrong! Just wish they'd give people a heads up that this might be required so we can be better prepared.

I went through this exact same process about 6 weeks ago and had the same reaction! I was totally unprepared for the video call requirement - thought I had somehow messed up the automated verification. My wait time was around 2 hours which was pretty frustrating, but I used that time to find better lighting and make sure my internet connection was stable. The referee was really professional and made the whole thing feel very routine. They had me show my driver's license from different angles, verify my address and last 4 digits of my SSN, and asked me to state my full name and date of birth. The actual video call only took about 6-7 minutes once I got connected. My DEO account updated to verified status about 28 hours later and I've had no issues since then. It's definitely a normal part of their security process - seems like roughly 30-40% of people get routed to the video verification step even when everything looks fine on their end. Don't stress about it too much, just make sure you have good lighting and your physical ID ready when you do the call!