This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation - was on regular unemployment benefits that ended in January, called DEO for guidance, and was told by a rep to file a completely new application. Now I'm stuck with the same "double dipping" flag and have been waiting 5 weeks with no payments. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that getting to an adjudicator (not just any rep) is crucial. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned, and I'll make sure to reference Florida Administrative Code 73B-11.013 when I finally get through. It's incredibly frustrating that DEO reps are giving advice that creates these problems, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions that actually work. Thanks everyone for the detailed advice and for Aisha coming back with the successful resolution - gives me hope I can get this mess sorted out soon!

This entire thread perfectly illustrates the nightmare that is Florida's unemployment system! I'm a new member here but have been lurking and reading stories like this for weeks while dealing with my own DEO issues. What strikes me most is how many people were given the EXACT same bad advice - to file a new claim instead of requesting an extension - and then got penalized for following that advice. It's like they're setting people up to fail. The fact that Aisha got this resolved in 30 minutes once she reached the right person really shows that these aren't complex issues - they're just stuck in a broken system with undertrained staff. I'm bookmarking this thread because the specific advice about asking for an adjudicator, having that Florida Administrative Code reference ready, and the Claimyr service could be game-changers for so many people. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who came back with updates and solutions. This is exactly the kind of real-world help people need when dealing with DEO's chaos!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! My account got locked yesterday with the "too many attempts" message even though I haven't logged in for over a week. It's absolutely ridiculous that DEO's system punishes us for NOT constantly checking our accounts - like we're supposed to be refreshing the page 24/7 or something? I've been reading through everyone's experiences here and it sounds like this is happening to tons of people because of some "security update" they did. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy at 7:30 AM tomorrow since that seems to be when people have the most success getting through. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions - at least now I know there's hope of getting this resolved! Will definitely update once I (hopefully) get through to someone. This whole system is such a mess but glad we have this community to help each other navigate it.

This is such a widespread issue! I'm going through the exact same thing right now - got locked out two days ago after not logging in for about 10 days, and like everyone else here, I got that ridiculous "too many attempts" message when I literally haven't attempted to log in at all! It's beyond frustrating that DEO's system treats normal users like potential hackers just for not obsessively checking our accounts daily. I've been trying to call since yesterday with zero success - just endless busy signals and disconnects. Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'm definitely going to try the 7:30 AM strategy tomorrow morning and keep redialing until I get through. It's insane that we have to go through all this just to access our own benefits, but I'm grateful for this community sharing their experiences and solutions. Will update if I manage to get my account unlocked! Thanks everyone for making me feel less crazy about this whole mess.

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell people to check CONNECT at least twice a week even when they don't get emails. The system will sometimes add new requirements or questionnaires without sending any notification at all. I've seen people miss important deadlines because they were only logging in when they got emails. Also, pro tip: if you ever get another one of these vague "missing information" emails, take a screenshot of your entire CONNECT dashboard before you start clicking around - sometimes fixing one issue reveals another one, and it helps to have a record of what you saw initially. Hope your payment comes through on Wednesday!

This is such a perfect example of why we need this community! Victoria, I'm so glad you found the missing info and got it submitted - your experience is going to help so many other people who face the same confusing situation. For anyone else reading this thread, I want to emphasize what Jacob said about checking CONNECT regularly even without emails. I learned this the hard way when I missed a work search requirement update that was posted to my account with zero notification. Now I log in every Monday and Thursday just to scan for anything new. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, Victoria - when your payment does come through, it would be helpful to know how long the whole process took from when you submitted the missing info to when you actually received payment. That timeline info is really valuable for others going through the same thing!

Just wanted to follow up and see if you were able to complete your quarterly reapplication in CONNECT? Did everything go smoothly?

Great to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with the same confusion - the key takeaway is that quarterly reapplications still go through CONNECT, not the new DEO website. The new site is only for brand new applications. I went through this same confusion a few months ago and ended up calling the DEO hotline (took forever to get through) just to confirm. Would have saved me a lot of stress if I'd found a thread like this first!

Wow, what a nightmare! I went through something similar last year and it's absolutely maddening how broken their system is. I'm so glad you finally got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread, I want to add that sometimes the verification codes get delayed by hours or even show up the next day, so if you request one, don't immediately request another one - you might end up with multiple codes arriving at weird times which just adds to the confusion. Also, if you're still having issues, try using an incognito/private browser window - sometimes the site gets confused with stored login data. The fact that it was just a phone number typo in your case shows how these "technical issues" are often just basic data problems that could be avoided with better quality control on their end.

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar verification code issue right now and have been stuck for about 2 weeks. @Mei Lin so glad you got yours resolved! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service since the regular phone lines have been completely useless. It's ridiculous that we have to use third-party services just to reach our own state agency, but at this point I'll try anything. Has anyone else had success with Claimyr recently, or are there any other reliable ways to actually speak to a human at DEO? The email route seems hit or miss based on what I'm reading here.