I just tried calling after reading this and got hung up on AGAIN!!!!! this is my 7th week of trying to reach someone. my kids are going to be homeless because of this stupid system. everyone says "just keep calling" but it DOESNT WORK!!!!

When I had issues last month I actually had better luck with the email than phone. Try DEOUICustomerCareReps@deo.myflorida.com and put your claimant ID and "URGENT" in the subject line. They got back to me in 3 days. Better than never getting through on phone!

hey did u check if ur SSN is entered the same in both systems? my friend had like a digit wrong in one system and thats why they wouldnt connect right

I actually used to work for DEO (left last year thank goodness). This registration sync issue is one of the most common technical problems, and unfortunately most call center agents aren't trained to fix it. You need to get to a Tier 2 agent with proper system access. When you do get someone on the phone, immediately ask if they have "EF integration permissions" - if they say no, politely ask to be transferred to someone who does. Also, there's a specific form called the "Work Registration Override" that they can process, but many agents don't know it exists because it's buried in their system.

wait did you file your claim in 2025? because i think the rules changed this year. my career source advisor told me that starting in january they're being more strict about the work search requirements. they're actually checking now and will deny benefits if you don't have proof

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO this morning! The agent was actually really understanding and helped add my work search activities to my claim. She said my payment might be delayed by 2-3 days but should still process this week. She also advised me to keep much better records of my job searches going forward and make sure I'm doing the full 5 required activities each week. Thanks everyone for your help!

my start date got pushed back twice when i was in your situation! keep claiming until you ACTUALLY start. you never know what might happen.

When your first day of work arrives, here's how to handle it correctly: 1. Keep track of your hours worked that week 2. Calculate your gross earnings (before taxes/deductions) 3. Report those earnings on your next bi-weekly claim 4. If you earned less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive partial benefits 5. If you earned more than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive no benefits for that week 6. After two consecutive weeks of reporting earnings that exceed your benefit amount, your claim will automatically close This is the proper procedure according to DEO guidelines. Until then, continue claiming as normal and completing all required work searches.

I went through this EXACT situation last year!!! What worked for me was reporting my self-employment accurately on the DEO application under employment history. I uploaded a signed affidavit explaining my cash business, along with a reconstructed income log showing what I earned each month (even though I didn't have perfect records). DEO sent me to adjudication for about 3 weeks, then approved my claim. They calculated my benefit amount mainly from my W2 job but at least recognized my full work history. Tell your nephew NOT to hide the self-employment - just be honest about the record-keeping limitations.

To answer your latest question - yes, consulting with a tax professional before filing for unemployment would be the best approach. Here's what I recommend: 1. Your nephew should meet with a tax professional to discuss filing amended returns for any years where self-employment income wasn't properly reported 2. After addressing the tax situation, then proceed with the unemployment application 3. Be completely transparent on the application about all employment history 4. Upload documentation including: any available tax records, client receipts, bank statements, and a written explanation This approach addresses both the tax compliance issue and sets up the unemployment claim correctly. Though it might delay benefits slightly, it prevents much bigger problems down the road.

One more thing to note - keep an eye on your CONNECT inbox. DEO often sends important notices there rather than to your email, and missing them can cause problems with your claim. Check it at least once a week even after you've started receiving payments. They might request additional information or verification at any time during your benefit period.

To summarize for you and anyone else who finds this thread: 1. Florida DEO pays biweekly (claim two weeks at once) 2. The payment amount you see ($340) is your weekly benefit amount 3. When you claim two weeks, you'll receive $680 (before taxes) 4. You must complete 5 work search activities per week (10 total for biweekly claim) 5. Your claim date (3/15/2025 in your case) is important - missing it can cause issues 6. Regular check your CONNECT inbox for important notices Hope this helps clarify everything!

awesome!! glad it worked out for u so quick. thats actually pretty fast compared to most ppl

I know, I feel really lucky! Now I just need to remember to do my work searches and claim on time.

anyone else notice how its always right after u claim weeks that u need to talk to someone? its like they know ur desperate an thats when they make sure no one answers lol

100% THIS!!!! They do it deliberately I'm convinced. Same thing happened to me three times in a row. The whole system is rigged against us.

Update: Finally got through to someone helpful today! For anyone with similar issues, here's what worked: called at exactly 7:30am, selected option 5 then 2 like someone suggested above, and specifically asked for the \

Great news! This is exactly why persistence matters with DEO. So many claims get stuck on simple issues that could be fixed in minutes if you can just reach the right person. Make sure you check your CONNECT inbox daily for the next week in case they need any additional info.

One more tip - if you're looking at your CONNECT account and see weeks change from 'Pending' to 'Payable,' that's a very good sign. Once they show as 'Payable,' the money has been approved and is in the processing queue for direct deposit or Way2Go card loading. At that point, you can typically expect funds within 1-2 business days. Also, when I went through this last year, the weeks didn't all change status at the same time - they processed in batches of 2-3 weeks at a time.

Update us when you get your payment! It helps others to know current processing times. DEO timeframes can vary significantly depending on their current workload and staffing levels.