Quick question - when you submitted your backdating request, did you get an email confirmation or just the confirmation number on the screen? I'm wondering if there's a way to check if the request was actually received properly in their system.

Update from my experience: After talking with a DEO specialist yesterday about my backdating situation (similar to yours), I learned that sometimes your backdated weeks can be approved but still not show up if you have any open "fact-finding" investigations or "pending issues" on your account. The specialist I spoke with suggested checking the "Determination, Pending Issues and Decision Summary" section of CONNECT to see if there are any open items that might be holding up your backdated weeks. If there are, resolving those first can sometimes trigger the release of your backdated weeks. Hope this helps someone!

I work at a career center and help people with these issues daily. Here's what you need to know: 1. For 2025 documentation requirements, they're specifically asking for proof related to your NEW claim date. 2. The documents need to cover your "base period" - which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before your NEW claim. 3. Acceptable documents include: tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, pay stubs showing YTD earnings, and employer-issued earnings statements. 4. Bank statements alone are NOT sufficient unless they clearly show the source of deposits as wages. 5. If you're missing documentation, a signed affidavit from your employer on company letterhead can sometimes work. Hope this helps clarify things!

Been through this nightmare TWICE now. Even when you submit the right docs they sometimes claim they never received them! ALWAYS take screenshots of your confirmation screens and note down confirmation numbers. The DEO "loses" documentation all the time and then blames claimants!!

Just wanted to add that if you've already completed the ID.me verification, make sure to mention that in any emails or calls. Sometimes the DEO representatives will try to have you redo the verification because they don't see it properly linked to your account in their system. The ID.me verification is supposed to automatically sync with your CONNECT account, but after the March system update, many of these verifications got stuck in a pending status. If they try to make you redo the ID.me, push back and explain you've already completed it. Ask them to check the "External Verification" tab in your account rather than the main verification section. Often the verification is there but not properly linked.

UPDATE: Success! After trying everything you all suggested, I finally got through using the Claimyr service that @unemploymenthelper recommended. Got connected to an actual DEO agent after about 15 minutes. She found that my ID.me verification was completed but stuck in their system as "pending review" even though their automated email said it was approved! She manually approved it and unlocked my account while I was on the phone. I can now access my CONNECT account and my final payment is being processed! Should hit my account in 2-3 business days according to the agent. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! This community is amazing.

If you need to get in contact with DEO to verify if they were trying to reach you, I highly recommend trying again with Claimyr. I was in the same boat - worried I was missing important calls but also concerned about scams. Once I got through to an actual DEO rep using their service, I was able to confirm my claim status and they noted on my account that I preferred communication through CONNECT only. Haven't had any suspicious calls since then.

ive been on unemployment 3 times in florida and deo has never called me once for anything ever. everything was always through connect or mail

To answer your second question - you don't need to mail in the actual 1099-G form with your tax return. The IRS already gets a copy directly. You just need to report the amount on Schedule 1. But definitely keep your 1099-G with your tax records for at least 3 years in case of an audit.

My brother got audited cuz he forgot to put his unemployment on his taxes last year so definitely don't skip it

wrong forum for tax questions try r/tax

People on unemployment often have tax issues too - especially with how DEO messes up our 1099-G forms half the time! This seems like a perfectly reasonable place to ask when both systems are failing us.

UPDATE: Just claimed my weeks and confirmed the waiver is definitely showing in my account. When I got to the work search section, there was a message saying "Work search requirements temporarily waived through 05/29/2025 - no documentation required." So it seems legit! What a relief honestly, job hunting has been brutal lately.

Wait I'm confused... so if we're on regular unemployment (not pandemic or disaster) we don't have to do the 5 job applications? What about the appointments at CareerSource? I have one scheduled next week that took forever to set up

btw if ur wondering why ur weeks r 2 weeks behind its bcuz florida makes u claim every 2 weeks but pays for the previous 2 weeks. so ur always claiming for weeks that already passed. thats just how the system works

Update for everyone following this thread: I just checked the DEO website and they've added a FAQ about the $1200 supplement. Official cutoff date was July 15th, and all qualifying payments should be issued by August 10th. If you claimed weeks that included days before July 15th and don't see the supplement by August 10th, you need to contact them directly.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above and it actually worked! I was super skeptical about paying to reach a government agency I should be able to call for free, but after wasting 6+ hours on hold over 3 days, I decided to try it. The video demo shows exactly how it works. I got connected to a DEO agent in about 15 minutes. The agent unlocked my account on the spot, and I didn't have to fill out that confusing form after all. The agent said account locks are happening a lot due to their system updates and security changes. For anyone dealing with this same nightmare - save yourself the time and frustration. Either use the phone service or follow the email advice from earlier comments. Life's too short to spend it on hold with DEO!

To answer your question - the agent didn't give a specific timeframe for when the system updates would be complete. She just said they're "ongoing" and recommended changing your password immediately after getting back in, and also setting up 2-factor authentication if you haven't already. That supposedly reduces the chance of random security locks. Oh, and one more tip - when you do get back in, take screenshots of your claim information, payment history, and especially your next claiming date. That way if this happens again, you at least have the critical info saved somewhere.

One more thing to try - email DEO directly at DEO.Feedback@deo.myflorida.com with your claimant ID, last 4 of SSN, and a brief explanation of your situation. Put "URGENT - 10 WEEK HOLD WITHOUT RESOLUTION" in the subject line. This inbox is monitored by supervisors. Keep it short and factual - just the dates and that you've received no explanation for the hold despite being deemed eligible. Sometimes this works when calling fails.

Were you ever able to get this resolved? I'm facing something similar now, and wondering what eventually worked for you.