Florida Unemployment
CommunityGovernment Services
Can't reach Florida Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the DEO
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the DEO drops your call
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
DEO claim stuck in fraud department limbo for 8 weeks - need direct contact!
I'm at my wit's end with this whole DEO situation! Filed my new claim on February 22, 2025 and everything was going smoothly until the system crashed during my fraud verification process on February 24th. Since then, my claim is basically trapped in some digital black hole! I've called the DEO almost EVERY SINGLE DAY for the past 8 weeks, and the only response I get is that my claim 'needs to be rerun and released from fraud verification.' Every agent tells me something different, but they all confirm that everything else in my application is complete - this is 100% a technical issue on THEIR end, not mine! Does ANYONE have a direct email or phone number for the Fraud Investigation department? I'm now owed for 8 weeks of benefits (about $2,750 total) and I'm about to lose my apartment. How is it legal for them to hold my valid claim for this long because their system glitched??
Join the conversation
Missing DEO payments since March - husband only received 7 checks out of 4 months
I'm beyond frustrated with Florida DEO at this point! My husband has been on unemployment since March 2025 (about 16 weeks now), but he's only received 7 checks of $825 each. That's over a MONTH of missing payments! His CONNECT account shows all weeks as 'processed' but the money just isn't showing up on his Way2Go card. We've tried calling the DEO literally 50+ times but always get disconnected or the dreaded 'all agents are busy' message. We're falling behind on bills fast and I'm starting to panic. Has anyone experienced missing payments like this? Is there a special department or email we should contact? His claim status shows 'active' and there are no pending issues listed in the account. Help please!
Join the conversation
my cousin works for deo and says theres a huge backlog still. might just be stuck in the system?
A backlog shouldn't affect payments that are already showing as 'processed' though... those should be completed transactions.
UPDATE: You guys are amazing! We finally figured it out. Following the advice here, we checked his payment information and somehow his account HAD been changed to direct deposit to an old closed bank account from 2 years ago! We never changed this - must have been a system glitch or error on DEO's side. We're still trying to reach someone to fix it and recover the missing payments, but at least we know what's happening now. Going to try that Claimyr service mentioned above since we've had zero luck getting through to DEO directly. Will update when we get it resolved. Thank you all!
Great detective work! When you get through to DEO, make sure to ask specifically about the 'payment return process.' Since those payments went to a closed account, they should have been returned to DEO already. They have a specific procedure for reissuing returned payments, but you have to explicitly request it. Don't let them make you reapply for those weeks - the money is rightfully yours and should be reissued.
DEO benefit amounts confusion - state vs. federal and can't reach anyone to change effective date
I just got determined eligible for unemployment benefits but I'm totally confused about what I'm seeing in CONNECT! My account shows a weekly benefit amount of $387 and maximum benefit amount of $10,062. Is this just for the state RA benefits? Does anyone know if the additional federal benefits ($900/week now I think?) show up separately or do they just appear in my account after payment? Also I've been trying desperately to get my effective date changed because I couldn't apply when I first lost my job due to the website issues. I've called the 1-800-204-2418 number literally 30+ times. Every single time it says "wait time approximately one hour" then disconnects me after about 20 minutes! Is this happening to anyone else or is something wrong with my phone? Is there a better number to try? One more thing - my CONNECT portal says I can't request benefit payments until 02/18/2025. That seems like forever away! Is this normal or did something get messed up with my claim? I'm already behind on bills and really need this money ASAP. Thanks for any help you can give!
Join the conversation
Update: I emailed the backdating address AND contacted my state rep this morning. I also bit the bullet and tried that Claimyr service to get through by phone. IT WORKED!!! Finally got a DEO agent on the line after weeks of trying. The agent confirmed both issues - my effective date was wrong AND there was a system error causing that 2025 date. She fixed both while I was on the phone. My CONNECT now shows I can claim weeks starting next Monday (which is normal) and she said my effective date was adjusted back to January when I first lost my job. She also explained that the weekly/maximum benefit amounts are just the state portion, and the federal supplement ($875) will be added automatically to each payment. Thanks everyone for your help! This forum saved me so much stress and potentially thousands in benefits I might have missed out on.
That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you got it resolved quickly. Make sure you keep detailed records of your work search activities for each week you claim (5 per week required now). The DEO is doing random audits and you don't want to have to pay anything back.
Found DEO extensions for bills while waiting for adjudication - share your tips!
Just hit 9 weeks waiting for my DEO adjudication to clear (ugh!) and thought I'd share what's keeping me afloat. Called FPL yesterday about my overdue electric bill and discovered they have a temporary hardship program specifically for unemployment claimants! They waived $45 in late fees and gave me a 3-month extension without disconnection. Same with my water company (Clearwater)—no shutoffs if you show them your DEO claim confirmation. Even my internet provider (Spectrum) knocked $20 off my monthly bill for 6 months after I explained I'm waiting on DEO payments. Has anyone else found financial relief programs while stuck in CONNECT limbo? My claim's been 'pending-adjudication' since March 3rd, and the anxiety is killing me, but these small wins help!
Join the conversation
my sisters friend works at deo and says they deliberately slow down claims hoping people will give up or find work. they get bonuses for denied claims!!!! the whole system is corrupt
I've worked with the unemployment system extensively as an advocate, and while there are certainly problems with DEO's efficiency, the claim about bonuses for denials is not accurate. The delays are more often due to understaffing, outdated technology, and complex federal requirements. DEO staff are actually evaluated on claim processing speed, not denial rates. Spreading misinformation just adds unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation.
Last year I forgot to do my work searches for like 2 weeks and my claim went into adjudication for 3 months!! I called Amazon, Verizon, my apartment complex and literally everyone I owed money to and most gave me extensions or payment plans when I explained I was waiting on unemployment. The only ones who wouldn't work with me were my credit card companies - they didn't care at all. It's definitely worth calling EVERYONE you pay bills to!
That's so frustrating about the credit cards! I'm in the same boat - Capital One wouldn't budge at all. Did you eventually get your benefits for those weeks? I'm worried because I missed one week of work searches when I was sick.
I eventually got approved but they denied the specific weeks where I missed work searches. They're super strict about the 5 work search activities per week now. If you have any kind of documentation that you were sick (like a doctor's note or even prescription receipts), upload that to CONNECT and explain. Sometimes they'll make exceptions for documented illness.
DEO denied benefits after quitting 2-day job - now disqualified for 17 weeks despite 3 years at previous employer
I'm absolutely devastated and need advice from anyone who's been through something similar. I worked at a marketing firm for just over 3 years with a $72K salary. Got laid off last month and immediately started job hunting (did everything right!). Found what seemed like a decent position and started right away, but it was NOTHING like what they described in the interview. Terrible working conditions, completely different responsibilities, and a toxic manager. I quit after just 2 days. Just got off the phone with DEO and was told I'm DISQUALIFIED from benefits for 17 WEEKS because I "voluntarily left employment without good cause" - even though I had 3 YEARS at my previous job! The DEO agent literally said "I hate to put it like this, but you're right - you're being penalized for trying to find work quickly." I'm 58 years old, have worked and paid taxes my entire life, and now I'm screwed because I tried to do the right thing. I started an appeal but honestly don't know if fighting DEO is worth the stress. Has anyone successfully appealed something like this? Is there any way around the 17-week penalty period? I'm worried about making rent next month.
Join the conversation
So sick of these govt agencies treating hardworking people like CRIMINALS!!! You should contact your state representative too - sometimes they can help push appeals through faster. My sister did this when her benefits were denied and suddenly DEO was CALLING HER back instead of ignoring her!! The state reps have special contacts at DEO that regular people don't have access to.
UPDATE: I've decided to appeal after all the helpful advice here. I found my original offer letter, job posting, and texts from my brief time there. I'm drafting my appeal letter using the specific phrases suggested ("materially different working conditions" and "good cause attributable to employer"). I'll continue claiming weeks while I wait for the appeal hearing. Thanks everyone for giving me hope that this might be fixable!
Excellent decision. Make sure your appeal is concise and fact-based. Focus on the specific differences between what was promised/advertised and what you actually experienced. Avoid emotional language or complaints about personalities - stick to the material differences in job duties, conditions, and expectations. Good luck, and please update us when you hear back!
Rhett Bowman
Just checking back - any updates? Did that email to the fraud department work or did you end up trying Claimyr? I'm dealing with a similar issue (though mine is stuck in monetary determination, not fraud) and trying to figure out the best approach.
0 coins
Kaitlyn Jenkins
AuthorUPDATE: Success! I tried both approaches. I sent the email, then used Claimyr the next morning. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes, asked specifically for a tier 2 specialist who could do a manual override for the fraud verification issue. They transferred me after a brief hold, and the tier 2 agent was able to see that my claim was affected by the 2/24 system crash. She processed the manual override while I was on the phone! My account updated overnight and all 8 weeks of payments are now showing as "processed" - should be in my account in 2-3 business days! Total relief after nearly 9 weeks of stress.
0 coins
Abigail Patel
congrats!! im still waiting on mine... been 6 weeks now. gonna try that claimyr thing tomorrow.
0 coins
Caleb Bell
Just make sure to specifically ask for a tier 2 agent or supervisor who can process a manual override for the fraud verification system. Regular agents will just tell you they can't help and to keep waiting. You have to be really clear about what you need.
0 coins