That's awesome that you got it working! For anyone else reading this thread, I'd also recommend having your PIN written down somewhere safe before calling. I learned the hard way that if you enter it wrong too many times, they'll lock your account and then you have to wait to speak with an agent to unlock it. The phone system is definitely a lifesaver when the website is acting up though!

Glad you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add that if you're still having internet issues in rural Florida, you might want to look into getting a mobile hotspot device from your cell carrier as a backup. I live in a similar area and found that even when my home internet is terrible, the hotspot usually gives me enough bandwidth to get through the CONNECT website. It's been a lifesaver during outages. Also, pro tip: try claiming your weeks early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when fewer people are using the system - both the website and phone lines tend to be less congested then.

I just completed my ID.me verification this morning and had the exact same experience! I was totally unprepared for the video call requirement - thought it would be a simple upload and done process. My wait time was about 2 hours which was pretty brutal, but I used that time to find better lighting and make sure my setup was ready. The referee was super professional and patient once I got connected. They had me show my driver's license from multiple angles, verify my address and last 4 digits of my SSN, and confirm my full name and DOB. The actual video portion only took about 5-6 minutes. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is completely normal when the automated facial recognition can't get a high enough confidence match. Really wish ID.me would give people a heads up that this might be required instead of springing it on you unexpectedly! My verification is still showing as pending, but hopefully it'll update within the next day or two like everyone else's has.

I had this exact same thing happen when I did my verification about 3 weeks ago! I was sitting there in my pajamas expecting it to be a quick 5-minute process, then suddenly it's telling me I need to do a video call. I literally panicked for a second thinking I had messed something up. My wait was around 1 hour 45 minutes which felt endless, but the referee was actually really nice and professional. They just had me show my ID from different angles and asked standard questions like verifying my address and DOB. The whole call took maybe 6-7 minutes once connected. My DEO account updated about 28 hours later. It's definitely normal - seems like a pretty significant percentage of people get routed to this step even when nothing's wrong. I just wish they'd warn you upfront that you might need to do a video interview instead of catching everyone off guard!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for so many people! I'm about 3 months into my claim and had absolutely no clue about the base period earnings requirements until stumbling across this discussion. It's mind-blowing that DEO doesn't make this information more accessible - you literally have to find community forums like this to understand how the system actually works. The consensus here about needing $3,800 across at least two quarters is such critical information. I've been reluctant to take on any work while claiming benefits, thinking it would just complicate things, but now I realize I need to start building up those quarterly earnings ASAP while I still have the security of my current benefits. I'm bookmarking the temp agency recommendations (Randstad, Adecco) and definitely keeping the Claimyr service in mind for when I need to actually speak with a DEO agent. The fact that so many people had success reaching agents through that service versus the nightmare phone system says everything about how broken the regular process is. Special thanks to everyone who shared specific dollar amounts, timing strategies, and record-keeping tips. This is exactly the kind of practical, actionable advice that people actually need when navigating Florida's unemployment maze. You've all potentially saved me from the panic and confusion that comes with exhausted benefits and no clear path forward!

This entire discussion has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently about 9 months into my claim and starting to get anxious about what happens when my benefits run out. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity about the reapplication requirements that I had absolutely no idea existed. The $3,800 minimum across two quarters rule is something that should be front and center on every DEO communication, not buried in fine print somewhere. I've been doing some occasional delivery driving (maybe $1,400 so far) but now I realize I need to be way more strategic about building up those quarterly earnings before my benefits exhaust. The Claimyr service recommendation that keeps coming up sounds like it could save so much frustration compared to trying to navigate DEO's phone system. I'm definitely bookmarking that along with the temp agency suggestions (Randstad, Adecco) that multiple people have had success with. What really strikes me is how this community provides clearer, more actionable guidance than anything available through official channels. The specific advice about record keeping, timing work across different quarters, and understanding how base periods actually work is invaluable. Thanks to Justin for starting this thread and to everyone who shared such detailed, practical experiences. You've potentially saved dozens of people from the panic and confusion of hitting exhausted benefits without understanding their options!

I'm currently going through this exact same issue and this thread has been an absolute godsend! Got my determination letter yesterday saying I was denied for "voluntary quit" (which is completely wrong - I was laid off due to budget cuts) and I've been frantically searching for this 12-digit Issue ID number all morning. I've tried several of the suggestions mentioned here but wanted to share what FINALLY worked for me: I found it in the CONNECT mobile app! I know someone mentioned the mobile version isn't great, but I downloaded the actual DEO mobile app (not just using a mobile browser) and when I went to "Claim Status" then tapped on my determination, there was a "View Issue Details" button that showed the 12-digit Issue ID clearly labeled. It's crazy that it showed up in the mobile app when I couldn't find it anywhere on the desktop version. Just goes to show how inconsistent their system is! I immediately took screenshots and wrote it down in three different places. For anyone still searching - don't give up! Between all the locations everyone has shared in this thread (determination letter, CONNECT details, Document Repository, email notifications, mobile app, etc.), that number HAS to be somewhere. The appeal deadline stress is real, but we can't let DEO's deliberately confusing system prevent us from fighting for our benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support is more helpful than DEO customer service!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and this thread has been absolutely incredible! Just got my determination letter this morning and have been searching everywhere for this 12-digit Issue ID with my appeal deadline approaching fast. The stress is so real when you can't find something this critical! I've been systematically working through all the amazing suggestions everyone has shared here - checked the determination letter carefully, tried CONNECT on desktop, cleared my browser cache, looked in the Document Repository section, and even downloaded the DEO mobile app. It's honestly shocking how many different places this one number can be hiding! What really strikes me is how this thread has become more helpful than DEO's actual customer service. The fact that we need a community-generated master list of 10+ potential locations just to find basic information required for appeals shows how deliberately broken their system is. It feels like they're banking on people giving up before they can even file their appeals. But reading everyone's success stories gives me hope and determination to keep searching. Having all the backup options like the Appeals Office number (850-245-7105 and the paper form DEO-RA0310 is reassuring too. We shouldn't have to become digital detectives just to exercise our right to appeal, but I'm grateful we can help each other navigate this nightmare system. Don't let DEO's confusing design discourage you from fighting for your benefits - they're counting on that! This community has proven that persistence pays off and the Issue ID IS somewhere in their system. Keep searching and don't miss that deadline!

@helpful_guidance Yes! The agent said once they have the employment verification documents, it typically takes 5-7 business days to update in the system. She also added a note to my file about the verification issues I was having. Feeling much more hopeful now!

For anyone still having trouble, I just discovered another workaround that worked for me today. If you log into CONNECT and go to "Inbox" then look for any messages about "Outstanding Issues" - click on that message and there should be a "Respond" button. When you click respond, it opens a form where you can attach documents directly. This upload method seems to work even when the main document upload feature is broken. I was able to submit my W-2s and paystubs this way after weeks of trying other methods. Worth a shot for anyone who's still stuck!