Just to add to what others have said - make sure you click on the current claim (the new Regular Unemployment one) when you're navigating through CONNECT. The system sometimes defaults to showing your old claim info which can be really confusing. There should be a dropdown menu somewhere that lets you select which claim you're viewing. Always verify you're looking at and making changes to your new claim.

Check if you have any pending fact-finding or identity verification requirements. Sometimes when you file a new claim while an old one is still in the system, it triggers additional verification steps. Look in the "Determination, Pending Issues and Decision Summary" section of CONNECT. That might explain why it's still pending and showing both claims.

i heard from my cousin that if you get a part time job you can still claim partial benefits and that makes your total benefit amount last longer cuz they dont take the full amount each week. maybe thats a strategy?

Thanks everyone for the information! I'll focus on these steps: 1. Continue my job search efforts in hospitality while exploring other industries 2. Look into CareerSource Florida programs for possible retraining opportunities 3. Consider part-time work to stretch my benefits longer 4. Apply for SNAP and other assistance before my benefits run out 5. Call DEO directly (using that Claimyr service if needed) to confirm my specific options It's definitely not the answer I was hoping for regarding extensions, but at least now I can plan accordingly. I appreciate all the advice!

I want to make sure you're aware of something important: in Florida, you only have ONE YEAR from your initial claim date to collect benefits owed to you. If your claim has been pending since February and it's now October, you're getting close to that deadline. After the one-year mark, any unpaid benefits from the beginning of your claim may be forfeited permanently. This is called the "benefit year expiration" rule and DEO strictly enforces it. I've seen people wait 13-14 months only to find out they lost months of payments they were entitled to because they waited too long. ESCALATE THIS IMMEDIATELY through multiple channels. The Inspector General complaint that someone else mentioned is crucial. Also, be very specific when you finally reach an agent - ask them to check for "determination holds" and request an "immediate escalation to a claims supervisor due to pending duration."

update us when u fix it ok?? im in similar situation (4 months pending) and wanna know what finally works!

I'm curious - when did you report this income? Was it on your regular bi-weekly certification, or did you have to go back and report it later? Sometimes how/when income is reported can affect how it's processed. Also, for anyone dealing with unemployment now, the current CONNECT system is slightly improved compared to the 2020-2021 version, but knowing the rules is still critical. The DEO website actually has a calculator that helps you determine how income affects your benefits, but it's buried deep in their resources section.

this is y ppl dont report income tbh. system is rigged againt honest people

my brother got his claim fixed by going to the governors website and filling out the contact form thing. said his payments started like 5 days later. might be worth trying

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at DEO this morning! Called right at 7:30am as suggested and only waited about 45 minutes. The agent confirmed my separation issue was still pending because my former employer hadn't responded to their inquiry. She escalated it to a supervisor and said they would make a determination within 48-72 hours based on my statement alone if my employer doesn't respond. Fingers crossed this gets resolved! Thanks everyone for the advice and support. This system is truly broken, but I'm hopeful I'll see some movement now.

UPDATE: I finally got through! I used that Claimyr service that someone suggested above and got to talk to a real DEO person after about 30 minutes. The agent said my account had been flagged for ID verification even though I'd already done ID.me months ago. She removed the flag and I was able to log in immediately afterward. The frustrating thing is there was apparently no way to know this without talking to someone! No email notification or anything. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm having EXACTLY the same problem now! It's so frustrating! How much did that Claimyr thing cost? Is it worth it?

my wife had the same thing happen got locked out for like 2 months. she kept calling that stupid number everyday and nothing. then she found out about the ID.me thing and did that and got an email saying she was verified but her account was still locked. she kept calling and finally got through to someone who told her she had to wait for a "determination letter" or something. took another 3 weeks but they finally unlocked it. whole system is a mess tbh

To provide an update for everyone in this thread: After following the advice here, I was able to get my account unlocked yesterday! What ultimately worked: 1. Called the 833-FL-APPLY number at exactly 8:30am with options 5-2-2 2. Got through after only 2 attempts (shocking!) 3. Spoke with a very helpful agent named Maria who verified all my documents were already in the system 4. She escalated my case to a supervisor for immediate review 5. Received an email about 4 hours later that my account was unlocked The agent confirmed they're dealing with a huge backlog of identity theft cases, and that cases often get stuck if you don't specifically ask for an escalation. She also mentioned they're prioritizing cases that are over 45 days old (mine was at 52 days). Thank you everyone for your help! Hope this works for others in the same situation.

When my CONNECT kept freezing, I went to my local CareerSource office and they let me use their computers to claim my weeks. Something about their network having priority access. Might be worth checking if there's one near you?

UPDATE: Used the tech support number (1-833-352-7759) this morning and actually got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The tech helped me clear some browser issue and I was finally able to claim my weeks! For anyone else with this problem, definitely try the tech support line instead of the main DEO number. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Here's the exact process for out-of-state 1099-G requests (I used to work for FL workforce development): 1. Go to FloridaJobs.org/1099G (not through CONNECT) 2. Click on "Request 1099-G" 3. Enter your SSN, FL zip code (the one on file while you received benefits), and year 4. When prompted, select "Update mailing address" and enter your Nevada address 5. Choose delivery method (mail or email if available) If the online system gives you trouble, call 1-833-FL-APPLY and press 2 for 1099-G issues. Current wait times are 45-60 minutes, so call first thing in the morning (8:30 AM Eastern). Ask specifically for your 1099-G to be sent to your new address and confirm the total benefits and withholding amounts while on the call so you have the info for tax filing.

UPDATE: Wanted to share what worked for me in case anyone else has this problem! I couldn't get through on the regular phone line after multiple attempts, so I ended up using Claimyr (thanks for that tip). Got connected to a DEO agent who helped me request my 1099-G and confirmed my withholding amount. They're mailing it to my Nevada address and also emailed me a copy that I can use for filing right away. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help with this nightmare situation.

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above! The agent explained that in my case, "ineligible-not denied" means they're maintaining I wasn't eligible for benefits during certain weeks, BUT they're classifying it as a non-fault overpayment! That means I DON'T have to pay it back! 😭 She said the official letter should arrive within the next week with all the details. Such a huge relief! I was so worried about having to come up with nearly $5k.

They said it was because I had reported all my work and earnings correctly at the time, and the issue was actually that DEO had misinterpreted my employment status. Since I had been honest and provided all required information, they classified it as their error rather than mine. Make sure you have all your paystubs and timesheets showing exactly what hours you worked and when you reported them. That was apparently key in my case!