This thread has been an absolute lifesaver for me as someone who just started navigating Florida's unemployment system! @Malik Robinson, I can't believe you had to endure an 8-week nightmare over a single day date discrepancy - but I'm so relieved you finally got your money and all the back pay. Your detailed documentation of the entire process from start to resolution is incredibly valuable. As a complete newcomer to this community, I'm honestly shocked at how systematically broken DEO appears to be. Reading about everyone's experiences with 5-13 week delays AFTER fact finding completion, all for issues that get resolved in minutes once a human actually reviews them, really shows this isn't about complexity - it's about artificial bottlenecks that seem designed to exhaust people into giving up. The collective strategies shared here are pure gold: documenting everything from day one, using urgent subject lines in CONNECT messages, contacting state representatives, trying services like Claimyr, and pursuing multiple approaches simultaneously. It's outrageous that we need these workarounds just to access benefits we've paid into, but I'm incredibly grateful this community exists to share real solutions that actually work. This entire thread should be required reading for anyone filing in Florida - it's more practical and helpful than anything DEO has ever provided! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and timelines. This kind of peer knowledge sharing is literally preventing people from falling through the cracks of a broken system.

This thread is absolutely incredible and should be stickied as essential reading for anyone dealing with Florida unemployment! @Malik Robinson, your persistence through that 8-week nightmare and detailed documentation of every step is going to save so many people from similar ordeals. The fact that it all came down to a ONE DAY date discrepancy that was resolved in literal minutes once someone actually looked at it perfectly captures the absurdity of DEO's system. As someone completely new to this community, I'm both grateful and horrified to learn how systematically broken this process is. The collective experiences shared here - 5-13 week delays AFTER fact finding, simple issues sitting in digital purgatory indefinitely, needing paid services or political intervention just to access benefits we've earned - paint a clear picture of deliberate dysfunction designed to exhaust people into giving up. The strategies outlined in this thread are pure gold: document everything from day one, use urgent subject lines in CONNECT messages, contact state representatives, consider services like Claimyr, and pursue multiple approaches simultaneously. It's outrageous that we need these workarounds, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share real solutions that actually work. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines, strategies, and what finally worked - this kind of peer knowledge sharing is literally the difference between getting benefits and falling through the cracks. This thread is more helpful than anything DEO has ever published!

I'm in the exact same situation! Haven't received anything since March 8th and like everyone else, my account shows "processed" but zero money in my bank account. I've called probably 30+ times and either get hung up on or told they'll "look into it" with no follow-up. Reading through all these comments gives me some hope though - going to try that payment trace option and look for the resolution form in my CONNECT inbox. It's insane that so many of us are dealing with this exact same issue and DEO just expects us to figure it out ourselves. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I've been dealing with the exact same nightmare since March 15th! Like so many others here, my CONNECT shows "processed" but my bank account is still empty after months. Reading through all these comments has been both frustrating and reassuring - at least I know I'm not alone or going crazy. I tried the payment trace option that @Amina Sy mentioned but keep getting that "temporarily unavailable" error. Haven't received the resolution form in my inbox yet either, but I'm checking multiple times daily now. Has anyone who got their payments through the resolution initiative had any issues with the lump sum affecting their taxes or anything? Just want to be prepared when (hopefully when, not if) mine finally comes through. This whole situation has been absolutely devastating financially and emotionally. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and keeping hope alive!

I'm dealing with this exact situation too - been "under review" for almost 4 weeks now and it's incredibly stressful! This thread has been a godsend though. Like so many others here, I had NO idea I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during the review process. I thought doing that might somehow interfere with their review or mark me as impatient. What a critical piece of information that DEO completely fails to communicate clearly! My situation is almost identical - worked for multiple contractors in electrical work throughout last year, so the multiple employer trigger makes perfect sense now. It's maddening that industries like construction that naturally involve project-based work with different companies get automatically flagged for these lengthy manual reviews. I'm going to start claiming weeks immediately and try that Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that several people have mentioned. Also planning to check all those hidden CONNECT sections and start documenting everything with screenshots. The detailed advice from people who've actually been through this process is worth its weight in gold compared to the generic "please be patient" responses we get everywhere else. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and actionable advice. At least now I know I'm not alone in this broken system and have concrete steps to follow instead of just sitting here helplessly watching my savings disappear!

I'm in a very similar situation - been "under review" for 5 weeks after being laid off from a plumbing job, and like everyone else here, I had absolutely no idea I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during the review! I've been sitting here thinking the system would automatically handle everything once approved. What a huge mistake that could have cost me weeks of benefits. My case also involves multiple employers from last year (worked for 3 different plumbing contractors as jobs wrapped up), so reading all these comments about construction/trades work triggering automatic manual reviews makes perfect sense now. It's infuriating that DEO doesn't explain this anywhere clearly - we shouldn't have to piece together critical information from community forums! Going to start claiming weeks immediately this week and try the Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that multiple people have recommended. Also planning to thoroughly check all those hidden CONNECT account sections that people mentioned, since it sounds like issues sometimes show up in random places without notifications. This thread has been incredibly helpful and gives me hope that persistence eventually pays off, even though the waiting is brutal when you're already stressed about finances. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and actionable advice - this community support means everything when dealing with such a broken and frustrating system!

Hey Victoria! I just went through this exact same confusion when I started getting benefits a couple months ago. The Florida DEO system is really not intuitive at all about explaining the payment schedule! Everyone here has given you great explanations, but I wanted to add one more practical tip that really helped me. Since you're getting $340 weekly but paid every two weeks, I set up two separate budget categories in my banking app - one for "Week 1 expenses" ($340) and one for "Week 2 expenses" ($340). When that $680 biweekly payment hits, I mentally allocate it immediately so I don't accidentally blow through it all in the first few days. Also, since you mentioned coming from a warehouse job, make sure you're familiar with the "suitable work" requirements for your work search activities. Initially, DEO expects you to look for jobs similar to what you were doing before (warehouse, logistics, etc.) but after several weeks they may expect you to broaden your search. Keep good records of every application - company name, position, date applied, and how you applied. I use a simple spreadsheet and it's saved me so much stress. The CONNECT system gets easier to navigate once you do it a few times, but don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community has been incredibly helpful for figuring out all the quirks of Florida's unemployment system!

Hey Victoria! I just started collecting unemployment benefits in Florida last month and had the exact same confusion about the payment schedule. I was so worried when I got my first payment of $290 because I thought that might be all I was getting for two whole weeks! Just to add to what everyone else has explained so well - the $340 you received is definitely your weekly benefit amount, and you'll get paid for both weeks ($680 total) after you complete your biweekly claim on 3/15. One thing that really helped me understand the timing better was realizing that when you claim on 3/15, you're actually claiming for the two weeks that just ended, not the upcoming two weeks. So you're always claiming for weeks you've already completed, which is why there's that gap between when you claim and when you get paid. Also, since you mentioned budgeting concerns - I totally get it coming from weekly pay! What I started doing is treating each $680 payment like two separate $340 weekly deposits in my budget tracker, even though the money hits my account all at once. It's helped me avoid overspending early in the cycle. The CONNECT system really is confusing at first, but you're asking all the right questions. This community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the DEO quirks!

As someone who's been through the DEO system multiple times over the past few years, I can confirm that the 2-4 business day window is pretty accurate when everything is working properly. What really matters is making sure your account is clean from the start - no pending issues, correct bank information, and all required documentation submitted. I've noticed that people who have problems usually have some underlying issue that wasn't obvious initially. One tip I'd add: if you're ever concerned about a delay, check the "Payment History" section in CONNECT rather than just the main dashboard - sometimes payment status updates show up there first. Also, keep in mind that DEO processes payments in batches, so even if your claim shows as "processed" it might take another day for the actual payment to be released to your bank. The system has definitely improved over the past year compared to the chaos of 2020-2021, but staying proactive and monitoring your account regularly is still the best approach.

Just wanted to add my recent experience for anyone still following this thread! I submitted my first claim last Monday and received my payment this Thursday - so exactly 3 business days with direct deposit. I was really nervous after reading mixed reviews about DEO timing, but I made sure to double-check all my banking information before submitting and claimed early in the week like several people suggested. The automated phone line (1-800-204-2418) was super helpful for checking status - it confirmed my claim was processed within 48 hours. One small tip: I set up text alerts with my bank so I got notified the moment the deposit hit, which saved me from constantly checking my account balance. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it really helped me know what to expect and how to set myself up for success!