thanks for the update!! gonna try claimyr tomorrow cuz im still locked out. this is ridiculous we have to go through all this just to access our own accounts 🙄

Glad to hear you got it resolved @Zainab! This is exactly the kind of info we all need. I've been dealing with similar access issues for the past few days and was about to lose my mind. Going to try the Claimyr route since direct calling hasn't worked for me either. It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own unemployment benefits, but at least there's a solution that actually works. Thanks for following up with what fixed it!

Another avenue to try - contact your state representative or senator's office! I had an impossible DEO situation last year (different issue but similar runaround) and my rep's constituent services office got results in 2 weeks that I couldn't get in 6 months of calling myself. They have direct contacts at DEO who actually respond. You can find your reps at myfloridahouse.gov and flsenate.gov - just explain the situation and that you need help getting historical payment records. It's literally their job to help with state agency issues like this. Don't feel bad about using this option - you already tried everything else and DEO is clearly not being responsive through normal channels!

One more thing to add - if you're getting nowhere with phone calls, try contacting DEO through their formal grievance process. You can file a grievance online at floridajobs.org under "File a Complaint" - this creates an official case number and forces them to respond within specific timeframes. In your grievance, explain that you're being asked to pay an overpayment that was already satisfied in 2017 and that DEO has failed to provide adequate payment history records despite multiple requests. This approach often gets routed to supervisors who have better system access than frontline agents. Also document every attempt you've made to resolve this (dates, times, who you spoke with) - this shows good faith effort on your part and strengthens your case if you need to escalate further.

Based on my experience working with unemployment claims, here's what you should expect: 1. Continue claiming weeks exactly as you have been 2. The system takes 7-14 days to process extension eligibility after regular benefits exhaust 3. You will receive a determination notice in your CONNECT inbox once a decision is made 4. If approved, payments typically begin 1-2 weeks after approval 5. The first payment will include any eligible weeks that occurred during the processing period If you don't see any updates in your CONNECT account after 10 days, I strongly recommend contacting DEO directly. The mainline (1-800-204-2418) is often overwhelmed, but calling right when they open at 7:30am gives you the best chance of getting through. And as others have mentioned, absolutely continue completing and reporting your 5 work search activities each week during this transition period.

Just wanted to add that if you're really struggling financially while waiting for the extension to process, you might want to look into emergency assistance programs in your county. Many local organizations offer rental assistance and food help for people in unemployment transitions. Your local 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with resources in your area. Also, some utility companies have hardship programs that can prevent disconnections while you're waiting for benefits to resume. It's not ideal, but these can help bridge the gap during those stressful waiting weeks.

Congratulations Harper! So glad you finally got your payments sorted out. Your experience is a perfect example of how broken the DEO system can be, but also shows that persistence pays off. For anyone else reading this thread dealing with similar identity verification issues - Harper's story proves that getting through to an actual agent is usually the only way to resolve these problems. The automated system just can't handle the complexity of these verification mismatches. Thanks for sharing your updates throughout the process - it's really helpful for others going through the same nightmare!

Harper's story is exactly why I always recommend people document everything with DEO claims! Screenshot your CONNECT account regularly, save confirmation emails, and keep a log of every call attempt. The identity verification glitch she experienced is becoming way too common - I've seen at least a dozen similar cases just this month where ID.me completed successfully but didn't sync with CONNECT. It's infuriating that people have to jump through hoops and pay third-party services just to get basic help from a state agency. Glad you persisted Harper and got your money! Your detailed updates will definitely help others recognize the signs of this specific issue.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just had to do my second ID.me verification this month and I'm so confused about whether this is normal or not. The whole system feels so unreliable - one minute everything's working fine and the next you're locked out for no apparent reason. It's especially stressful when you're already dealing with the anxiety of being unemployed and then the system makes you question if you did something wrong. Really hoping this doesn't become a regular thing every time I need to claim weeks. Has anyone found a way to prevent this from happening repeatedly?

This exact thing just happened to me two days ago! I was so worried when I got locked out right after claiming my weeks - thought maybe I had entered something wrong or that my account got flagged. The second ID.me verification was annoying but went through smoothly. What really helped ease my mind was checking back later and seeing that my claim weeks still showed as "processed" in the system. My payment actually came through faster than I expected (2 days instead of the 3-5 they usually quote). It seems like this double verification thing is just their new security protocol, even though it's super confusing when you're new to the system. Keep checking your claim status and you should be fine!