Congratulations on landing the retail management position! Just went through this exact process last month when I started my new job. The advice from @Giovanni Moretti is spot on - report your return to work during your final week claim, provide all employer details, and you're done. One small tip: screenshot or save confirmation of when you reported the job just in case you ever need proof later. DEO's system can be glitchy sometimes and it's good to have documentation. Best of luck with the new role!

Congrats on the new job! I just went through this same process a few weeks ago. One thing I'll add to all the great advice here - make sure you're 100% clear on your actual start date vs. orientation/training days. I almost made a mistake because my "orientation" was on a Friday but my actual first paid work day wasn't until the following Monday. DEO cares about when you start getting paid, not when you show up for paperwork. Also, if your new job offers any kind of signing bonus or immediate payment, that counts as earnings for the week you receive it. Just wanted to mention these details since they can trip people up! Good luck with the retail management position - hope it goes great!

This is an incredibly helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - won my appeal in September but still haven't received any payments. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me hope and a clear action plan. For anyone else who might find this thread, here's what I'm taking away as the key steps: 1. Call and specifically ask for "Special Projects" or "Appeal Payment Processing" 2. Mention the "technical flag" that needs manual removal 3. Request an "expedited payment release" due to financial hardship 4. Use services like Claimyr if you can't get through on your own 5. Contact your state representative's office if all else fails @Zachary Hughes thank you for keeping us updated throughout your process - it's so rare to see someone follow through with updates after getting their issue resolved. This thread should be pinned as a resource for others! Going to try calling the Benefits Payment Control Unit number tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

This thread is incredibly valuable - thank you @Zachary Hughes for documenting your entire journey and providing updates! As someone who works with unemployment cases, I want to add a few additional tips that might help others in similar situations: 1. **Document everything**: Keep a log of every call attempt with date/time, any confirmation numbers, and names of representatives you speak with 2. **Email backup**: Send yourself an email summary after each successful call - this creates a timestamp record of what was promised 3. **Check for system glitches**: Sometimes after appeals, your claim can get "stuck" between different processing queues. Ask the agent to verify which queue your claim is currently in 4. **Payment method verification**: Double-check that your direct deposit info wasn't somehow corrupted during the appeal process - this is more common than people realize The "technical flag" issue @Zachary Hughes mentioned is actually a known problem in the CONNECT system where appeals reversals don't always trigger the automatic payment release. It's frustrating that claimants have to know to ask specifically about this. For anyone still struggling: if you've tried all the suggested phone numbers and services, you can also file a complaint with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's ombudsman office. Sometimes having an official complaint on file can expedite resolution. Great job staying persistent - your story will definitely help others navigate this broken system!

Just wanted to add one more resource that might help with your situation - check if your county has a 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1). They can connect you with local resources for emergency rent assistance, utility help, and food assistance during your transition period. I used this when I was between jobs last year and they helped me find programs I never knew existed. Some counties even have specific "return to work" assistance programs that can help with things like work clothes, gas money for the first few weeks, or emergency childcare vouchers. The gap between unemployment ending and first paycheck is real and stressful - you're definitely not alone in dealing with this. Having multiple backup plans in place will give you peace of mind during the transition!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! The key thing is being super precise with your reporting dates. You can absolutely continue claiming until July 10th (your start date), but make sure you report accepting the job offer on your very next certification. One thing that really helped me during that gap period was asking my new employer if they could do a payroll advance or if they had any employee assistance programs. Some companies will help bridge that gap, especially if you explain the childcare situation. It never hurts to ask! Also, regarding the childcare costs - have you looked into whether your new employer offers childcare benefits or partnerships with local daycares? Some companies have deals that can reduce costs significantly. And definitely apply for that School Readiness Program that Chloe mentioned - it was a lifesaver for my family. Hang in there, the transition is tough but you're asking all the right questions and planning ahead. That first "real" paycheck will feel amazing after everything you've been through!

Welcome to the community @NeonNomad! Your 3-month wait is unfortunately very common right now. I'd definitely recommend trying both strategies that worked for Leo - the Claimyr service seems to be the fastest way to actually reach someone who can help, and your state rep can provide additional pressure from a different angle. When you do get through, make sure to ask specifically what's flagging your claim in their system. Sometimes it's something ridiculously minor like Leo's 2-day date discrepancy that could be fixed in minutes once someone actually looks at it. The key is getting past the automated system to a real person who can see your account details. Document everything and don't give up - your persistence will pay off eventually!

Welcome to everyone who's new to this thread! It's great to see people sharing their experiences and helping each other navigate this frustrating system. For anyone just joining - I want to emphasize that while these delays are unfortunately common, they ARE fixable once you get the right person to look at your case. The combination approach seems most effective: 1) Use services like Claimyr to actually reach a DEO agent who can transfer you to adjudication, 2) Contact your state representative for additional advocacy, and 3) Document absolutely everything. Leo's success story shows that even after months of delays, resolution can happen quickly once someone reviews your file. Don't lose hope - the system is broken but your benefits are still there waiting for you. Keep fighting and supporting each other!

I'm dealing with this same exact situation right now and honestly, it's such a relief to find this thread! I filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and have been staring at "Waiting Week: 10/15/2025 - 10/21/2025" on my CONNECT account, completely baffled about what it meant. Like so many others here, I kept thinking it was some kind of processing delay or technical issue. The fact that DEO just throws this term out there with zero explanation is honestly infuriating - especially when you're already stressed about finances and counting on every dollar. I wish someone had warned me about this policy before I applied. I had to dip into my emergency savings to cover the gap, which defeats the whole purpose of having unemployment benefits as a safety net. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. It's clear this is a widespread communication problem with DEO, not just individual confusion. They really need to overhaul how they present this information to new claimants!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's so frustrating! I just filed my claim last week and have been staring at "Waiting Week: 11/18/2025 - 11/24/2025" on my account, completely confused about what it meant. I kept thinking there was some kind of processing error or that DEO was still reviewing my application. Reading through all these comments has been such a huge help - at least now I know I'm not alone in being blindsided by this policy! It's honestly ridiculous that DEO doesn't clearly explain this anywhere during the application process. I spent so much time worrying that I had done something wrong or that my claim was stuck in some kind of limbo. The term "waiting week" is so misleading - it really should be called "unpaid eligibility week" like others have suggested. I'm definitely going to have to adjust my budget now that I know that first week's payment isn't coming. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's made this whole confusing process feel way less overwhelming knowing so many others have dealt with the same shock and frustration!