One clarification to my earlier advice: For the appeal process, log into CONNECT, go to the \

Thank you for this additional information! The weird thing is I don't actually see any formal determination - my weeks just say \

One important thing no one has mentioned: If you work less than full-time, you must still complete the five work search activities each week to maintain eligibility. The temp work doesn't count toward your work search requirements. Many people miss this and end up having issues with their claims. Also, keep a separate log of all your work search activities AND your temp work hours/pay in case DEO audits your claim later (which they often do).

I understand your anxiety about this. DEO's partial unemployment rules can be confusing. Let me clarify: You MUST report all earnings when you claim weeks, even small amounts. If you don't, it's considered fraud and they can make you repay all benefits plus penalties. However, taking temporary work shouldn't disqualify you completely. Regarding the work search requirements - technically if you work less than full-time in a week, you still need to complete work searches. But if you're "job attached" (meaning you have a return-to-work date within 8 weeks), you might be exempt. This is something you should confirm with a DEO representative to be absolutely certain for your specific situation.

hey has neone tried using turbotax to check if they did it rite? my friend said u can go back in and look at ur old return 2 see if u missed anything

One final update that might help others: The IRS announced they're specifically taking longer with returns that include unemployment benefits because of potential tax credit implications. It doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong. For anyone receiving DEO benefits this year (2025), I strongly recommend having at least 10% withheld for federal taxes (you can set this in your CONNECT account under tax withholding preferences). This won't prevent the IRS scrutiny, but it will reduce the chance of owing taxes next year. Also, many people don't realize that unemployment benefits can affect other tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Sometimes the IRS delay is because they're recalculating these credits based on your unemployment income.

I used that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier and finally got through to DEO this afternoon. Wanted to update you on what they told me. The agent said: 1. The email about September was a mass communication that doesn't apply to everyone 2. Your CONNECT account showing the July date is the accurate one 3. You need to submit a new application for the extension 4. If you qualify, it's usually processed within 5-7 business days The most important thing is that you need to call them to verify YOUR specific situation since everyone's claim is different. Hope this helps!

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO this morning! For anyone else dealing with this issue, here's what I learned: 1. The email WAS confusing - the September date only applies if you qualify for the extension 2. I did need to complete a special fact-finding questionnaire that wasn't showing up in my CONNECT inbox 3. The agent manually added it to my account while I was on the phone 4. I have to submit it within 7 days 5. If approved, there shouldn't be any gap in payments The agent said they're getting flooded with calls about this same issue. Apparently the system was supposed to automatically add the questionnaire to eligible accounts, but there's been a technical glitch affecting some users. So glad I kept trying to reach them!

Pro tip: if you can't get through on the main line, try calling your local career center. Sometimes they can help or at least transfer you to someone who can.

have u tried sending a carrier pigeon? might be faster than getting thru to unemployment lmao 🐦