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!

Great advice from everyone here! I just wanted to add something that helped me during my own unemployment-to-work transition - see if your local library has any "back to work" resources or workshops. Many libraries in Florida partner with CareerSource and offer free services like resume printing, interview clothes closets, or even small emergency grants for work expenses. Also, since you mentioned the financial stress, don't forget that you might be eligible for SNAP benefits during this transition period, especially with the gap between your last unemployment payment and first paycheck. The income limits are more generous than many people realize, and having that food assistance can free up cash for other necessities like gas and childcare deposits. You're handling this transition really well by planning ahead and asking the right questions. That shows you're going to do great in your new job! Congratulations again on landing the position.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else in this situation - I was furloughed from my retail management job last year with a guaranteed return date 6 weeks out. I successfully got the work search exemption approved, but here's what I learned: make sure your employer's letter includes not just the return date but also confirms you're expected to return to the SAME position with the SAME hours/salary. DEO rejected my first request because the letter didn't specify I was returning to my exact same role. Once I got that clarification added, it was approved within a week. Also, keep checking your CONNECT dashboard daily - the approval notification is easy to miss and you want to know right away so you can stop doing work searches if you've been doing them as a backup plan.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my company had a temporary shutdown for equipment upgrades. Here's what worked for me: definitely go for the return-to-work exemption as others mentioned, but also have a backup plan. While waiting for approval, I started doing the work searches anyway just in case - better to be safe than get hit with an overpayment later. The key thing that helped me was getting my HR department to include very specific language in the letter about the temporary nature of the layoff and that I was "expected to return to active employment status" on the exact date. Also, screenshot everything when you submit the exemption request - I had to reference my submission details when I called to check on the status. The whole process took about 10 days for me, but having that documentation trail saved me from any issues. Good luck with your hotel management position!

Please help me understand why the middle class workers would vote for only 12 weeks of unemployment when we have worked all our lives. This change when Bush was in office in Florida however it was our governor. These are some of the things you do not realize you are voting for.......sad thing when you are voting against yourself

@Sabrina 3030 You're absolutely right about this being a policy choice that hurts working people. The reduction to 12 weeks happened in 2011 under Rick Scott, not Bush, but your broader point stands - these are exactly the kinds of policies that get buried in larger political conversations while having huge impacts on regular workers. What's particularly frustrating is that Florida also has one of the lowest maximum benefit amounts in the country (currently $275/week) AND the shortest duration. So we get hit with a double whammy - less money for fewer weeks than almost every other state. The justification is usually about "encouraging people to find work faster" and keeping business costs low, but as everyone in this thread can attest, 12 weeks isn't nearly enough time in a tough job market, especially for specialized fields like healthcare administration. You can be actively searching, doing everything right, and still run out of time simply because the market conditions aren't in your favor. It's one of those issues where people don't realize how inadequate the system is until they actually need it. Then you discover that this safety net you've been paying into for years barely catches you at all. The middle class gets squeezed the most because we make "too much" for most assistance programs but not enough to weather months without income. Thanks for pointing out the political reality behind these policies - it's important to connect the dots between voting choices and real-world consequences for working families.

congratulations!! the payments should show up in a few days. make sure you keep claiming weeks

Congratulations on getting approved! Your experience really shows how unpredictable the CONNECT system can be. The fact that the adjudication message disappeared and then the determination letter appeared the next day is actually pretty typical timing from what I've seen. For others still waiting - this is a great example of why it's worth checking your CONNECT inbox daily even if you don't get email notifications. The payments should start processing within the next few business days now that you have that approval letter. Keep us posted on when the money hits your account!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with my own DEO nightmare right now. Your situation sounds absolutely devastating - facing utility shutoffs and potential eviction while DEO agents keep giving you false promises is completely unacceptable. Reading through all the incredible advice in this thread has been a real eye-opener. I had no idea about checking for hidden adjudication issues in CONNECT or that there were specific terms like "Level 2 adjudicator" that could help get you transferred to someone who can actually resolve problems. The fact that you found a pending employment separation issue that none of the agents mentioned despite multiple calls is just inexcusable. What really stands out to me is how many different successful strategies people have shared: contacting your state representative, using specific terminology when calling, following up directly with your former employer, and that 10-day employer response rule. Roger's suggestion about bypassing DEO entirely and calling your former employer's HR department directly is particularly brilliant - sometimes the simplest solutions are the ones we don't think of. The combination approach everyone's outlined gives you a really comprehensive action plan instead of just hoping DEO gets their act together. I'm taking notes on all of this for my own situation too. It's ridiculous that we have to become DEO policy experts just to get basic unemployment benefits, but this community seems to be the only place to get strategies that actually work. Really hoping the multi-pronged approach breaks through for you soon and you get all your back pay. Please keep us posted on what finally works - your experience could be the key that helps so many others stuck in this same bureaucratic nightmare!

I'm brand new to this community and unfortunately joining because I'm facing my own DEO nightmare. Your story is absolutely heartbreaking - 2+ months of waiting with repeated false promises while you're facing utility shutoffs and potential eviction is completely unacceptable. The fact that agents keep telling you they've "fixed" your issue when clearly nothing has been resolved is just inexcusable. Reading through all the amazing advice in this thread has been incredibly educational. I had no idea about hidden adjudication issues that can be buried in the CONNECT system or that there are specific terms like "Level 2 adjudicator" that can help get you connected to someone who can actually resolve problems rather than just submit requests that disappear into the void. What gives me the most hope for your situation is how many different successful strategies people have shared here - contacting your state representative, using specific DEO terminology when calling, following up directly with your former employer's HR department, and leveraging that 10-day employer response rule. Roger's suggestion about bypassing DEO entirely and calling your employer directly is particularly smart since the delay might be on their end rather than DEO's. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become experts in DEO's own policies and procedures just to get the unemployment benefits we're legally entitled to, but this community seems to be the only place to get real, actionable strategies that actually work. The comprehensive multi-pronged approach everyone has outlined gives you the best chance of breaking through this bureaucratic nightmare. Really hoping these strategies work quickly for you and you get all your back pay soon. Please keep us updated on what finally breaks through - your experience and the solutions that work for you could be exactly what helps so many others who are stuck in similar situations!