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.

I've been dealing with DEO payments for about a year now and can definitely relate to that first payment anxiety! With Chase specifically, I've found their timing to be very reliable - deposits almost always hit between 2:45-3:15 AM the business day after CONNECT shows "processed." Since yours switched to processed yesterday, you should see it in your account tomorrow morning. Just remember that first payments often have an extra 24-48 hour verification delay that DEO doesn't advertise, so don't panic if it takes until Thursday. A few quick tips: Make sure to set up mobile alerts in your Chase app so you get notified immediately when it hits (usually around 3 AM). Also, double-check in CONNECT that your payment method still shows "Direct Deposit" and not "Way2Go Card" - sometimes they switch first payments to the card without telling you. If you haven't already, consider calling Chase to let them know you're expecting unemployment deposits. This prevents any potential holds on the funds when they come through. The waiting is definitely stressful when bills are due, but your timeline sounds completely normal. You're almost through the hardest part!

I just went through this exact situation about 3 weeks ago with Chase! Your timeline sounds totally normal - payment switched to processed yesterday, expecting deposit tomorrow. In my experience, Chase is very consistent with DEO deposits hitting between 2:45-3:30 AM the business day after CONNECT shows "processed." Since this is your first payment, don't stress if it takes until Thursday morning. There really is an extra verification delay on first payments that DEO doesn't tell you about upfront. I was freaking out when mine didn't show up immediately, but it came through exactly 36 hours after showing processed. Make sure you have mobile alerts set up in your Chase app - you'll get notified the moment it hits (usually around 3 AM). Also double-check that your payment method in CONNECT still shows "Direct Deposit" and not "Way2Go Card" - they sometimes switch first payments to the card without warning. If you called Chase to give them a heads up about expecting unemployment deposits, that's perfect. If not, might be worth a quick call to prevent any holds on the funds. The waiting is brutal when you have bills due, but based on everything you've described, you should wake up tomorrow to good news! Once you get through this first payment, the timing becomes much more predictable.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of dealing with unemployment denial while already struggling financially is just overwhelming. I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago (also claimed I "voluntarily quit" when I was clearly let go due to "budget cuts"). Everyone here has given amazing advice, but I want to stress one thing: FILE YOUR APPEAL TODAY if you haven't already! Don't wait even one more day. The 20-day deadline is FIRM and they will not make exceptions. A few additional tips from my experience: - When you write your appeal statement, use their exact words against them. If they said "restructuring" in any communications, quote that directly - Print out EVERYTHING related to your termination before it potentially gets deleted from company systems - Keep a simple timeline of events with dates - it really helps during the hearing when the referee asks specific questions The hearing itself was way less scary than I imagined. The referee was professional and fair, and I actually felt like they really listened to my side of the story. I won my case and got full backpay for all the weeks during the appeal process. You can absolutely do this! The fact that you have documentation about "restructuring" puts you in a strong position. Stay organized, tell the truth, and don't give up. Rooting for you! 💪

I just wanted to jump in and add something that saved me during my appeal process - make sure you understand the difference between "voluntary quit" and "discharge" in Florida law. When employers do "restructuring" or "layoffs," that's legally considered a discharge, not a voluntary quit, even if they don't use the word "fired." I'd also recommend looking up Florida Statute 443.101 which defines "misconduct" and "voluntary leaving" - understanding these definitions helped me frame my arguments better during the hearing. The law is actually pretty clear that being let go due to restructuring, downsizing, or elimination of your position does NOT count as voluntarily quitting. One more thing - if you have any performance reviews, commendations, or emails showing you were a good employee, bring those too. It helps establish that you weren't terminated for performance issues. During my hearing, the referee specifically asked about my work history and performance, so having that documentation really helped my credibility. The system can feel overwhelming but remember - you have rights as a worker, and the appeals process exists specifically for situations like yours where the initial determination was wrong. Don't let them intimidate you into not fighting this!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea about so many of these resources! As someone who's been dreading this exact situation (I'm down to my last 3 weeks of benefits), this thread is like a goldmine of practical advice. The 211 service sounds amazing - I'm definitely calling them this week to see what's available in my county. And @Luca Ferrari, your point about Trade Adjustment Assistance is particularly interesting since my company also cited foreign competition as a factor in their layoffs. I'm going to research that immediately. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you have any professional associations or unions from your industry, don't forget to reach out to them. My cousin was laid off from aerospace manufacturing last year and his union had an emergency hardship fund that helped with groceries for a few weeks. Even if you're not currently a member, some organizations have assistance programs for people in the industry. Also, don't neglect your network from previous jobs. I've been hesitant to reach out to old colleagues because I feel embarrassed about being unemployed, but a friend reminded me that most people understand how tough the job market is right now and genuinely want to help if they can. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice. It's scary out there, but knowing there are resources and that others have made it through similar situations really helps with the anxiety.

This thread has been a lifesaver for me too! I'm currently on week 10 of my benefits and starting to panic about what comes next. The manufacturing industry really has been hit hard - I've applied to over 80 jobs in the past two months with only a handful of interviews. I wanted to add one more resource that helped me when I was between jobs a few years ago: many local community colleges have "continuing education" programs that are much cheaper than regular courses, and some are specifically designed for unemployed workers. I took a forklift certification course for like $150 that made me much more competitive for warehouse and manufacturing positions. Also, don't forget about your local library - most have free computer access, printer access, and many offer resume writing workshops or job search assistance. The librarians are usually really helpful about pointing you toward local resources you might not know about. @Luca Ferrari's point about TAA is something I'm definitely going to look into since my plant closure was also related to overseas competition. And @NebulaKnight, thank you for mentioning that Claimyr service - I've been trying to get through to DEO for weeks about a payment issue with no luck. The mental health aspect that several people mentioned is so important too. This whole process is incredibly demoralizing, but reading everyone's experiences here reminds me that it's not personal - the system is just broken and the job market is genuinely tough right now.

This thread has been absolutely life-changing for me! I've been stuck in "Adjudication in Progress" status for 14 weeks and was starting to lose hope completely. Reading through all these detailed experiences and success stories has given me a real action plan for the first time. I had no idea about the Spanish line transfer trick or any of these crucial phrases like "payment release request," "overpayment flags," "benefit eligibility interview status," and "pending determinations." It's honestly shocking that we have to become amateur DEO investigators just to get benefits we're legally entitled to, but this community sharing knowledge is making all the difference. @Jayden Reed - your recent success with getting the "potential duplicate claim" flag cleared is so encouraging! Getting that confirmation number and 5-7 day timeline must feel incredible after being stuck for so long. Planning to call first thing Monday morning using the Spanish line strategy and all the terminology everyone has discovered. Also going to ask specifically about fact-finding questionnaires and identity verification requirements since those seem to be common hidden blockers. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with Florida unemployment. The mutual support and crowdsourced wisdom here is more valuable than anything on any official website. Will definitely update everyone on my progress - thank you all for creating such an amazing resource!

I'm new to this community but have been following this thread closely as I navigate my own DEO nightmare. The amount of detailed, actionable advice here is incredible - this has become like the unofficial DEO survival guide we all desperately needed! I'm currently stuck with "Pending Eligibility" status for 7 weeks, but reading all these success stories gives me real hope. The Spanish line transfer trick that @Seraphina Delan shared sounds like a total game-changer - I've been getting busy signals and 3+ hour waits on the regular customer service line for weeks. All the key terminology everyone has discovered through trial and error is pure gold: "payment release request," "overpayment flags," "benefit eligibility interview status," "pending determinations," and "potential duplicate claim" flags. It's honestly mind-blowing that we have to become DEO terminology experts just to access benefits we're entitled to, but this community sharing knowledge is making such a difference. @Jayden Reed - your recent success story with getting that duplicate claim flag cleared and receiving confirmation number DEO-2025-PR-445891 is exactly what I needed to read today! The fact that you got real results in one call by using the right phrases proves that persistence with the correct approach really works. Planning to call tomorrow morning using the Spanish line strategy and all these phrases. Also going to specifically ask about fact-finding questionnaires and identity verification requirements since those seem to be common hidden blockers that nobody tells you about. Will definitely report back on my experience. Thank you all for creating such an invaluable resource through sharing your hard-won knowledge!