Just checking back - have you had any success with any of these suggestions? The constituent services email usually responds within 5-7 business days, so you should hear something soon if you emailed them.

Wow, what a journey! This thread is incredibly helpful and shows just how broken the system really is. It's absolutely ridiculous that people have to jump through so many hoops and use third-party services just to access their own benefits. The fact that Joshua had over $4,000 sitting there for a YEAR while being locked out is infuriating. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this is exactly the kind of community support that helps people navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. Saving this thread for sure in case I or anyone I know runs into similar issues!

This is absolutely maddening and unfortunately way too common with DEO! I went through almost the exact same thing - 6 months stuck in "application being processed" despite multiple ID.me verifications and consistent weekly claims. What finally broke me out of the loop was filing a complaint with Florida's Department of Management Services (DMS) in addition to all the other suggestions here. DMS oversees state agency operations and they can put pressure on DEO to actually review your case. You can file online at dms.myflorida.com under "File a Complaint." Also, try emailing your local news stations' consumer advocacy reporters. I know it sounds dramatic, but DEO is terrified of bad press and sometimes media inquiries get faster responses than months of phone calls. Channel 6 and Channel 13 both have "On Your Side" type segments that cover these exact situations. The fact that you've done everything right (ID verification, weekly claims, work searches) and they're still ignoring you for 7 MONTHS is beyond unacceptable. This is literally your lifeline they're playing games with. Don't let up the pressure - you're not asking for charity, you're demanding what you're legally entitled to receive!

This entire thread is both heartbreaking and infuriating - 7 months is absolutely criminal! What strikes me most is how many people are dealing with the exact same "application being processed" nightmare, which proves this is a systemic failure, not isolated cases. I'm taking notes on all the strategies mentioned here because I have a feeling I might need them soon (my claim is only 2 months old but already showing warning signs). The multi-pronged approach seems to be the consensus - state rep, Inspector General, DMS complaint, media contacts, AND the callback services all at once. One thing I wanted to add: document your financial hardship too. Keep records of late notices, eviction threats, medical bills you can't pay, etc. When you contact your representatives and media, lead with the human impact. "I'm about to lose my apartment" hits different than just "my claim is delayed." These aren't just processing delays - they're putting people on the street while sitting on money that's rightfully theirs. @Evelyn - I really hope you try all these approaches simultaneously this week. You've been way too patient already. The system is literally designed to exhaust people into giving up, but you've got a whole community here rooting for you. Keep us updated on what works! The fact that people are getting resolution in days/weeks once the right person finally looks at their case just proves how deliberately broken this process is. It's not complicated - they just don't want to pay out benefits.

my brother got backdated but he had to prove he couldnt access connect cuz of his internet being down for 3 weeks after that hurricane in march... he had letters from the internet company and everything

I'm in a similar situation - lost my job in February but waited until April to file because I was confident I'd land something quickly. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like my chances aren't great since "thinking I'd find work" isn't considered good cause by DEO standards. For those who got approved - did you have to provide specific documentation of your job search activities during the gap period? I have some email chains with recruiters and a few rejection letters, but I'm wondering if that's enough evidence to show I was actively looking rather than just sitting around. Also seeing mixed results on calling vs using services like Claimyr. Has anyone had success with the regular DEO phone line recently, or is it still basically impossible to get through? I'd rather not pay extra if I can avoid it, but if it's the only realistic way to reach someone...

Hey Freya! Congrats on getting approved - that's honestly the biggest hurdle! I've been claiming on Tuesdays for about 6 months now and I'm also on the Way2Go card. From my experience, you should expect your deposit to hit Friday or Saturday this week. The card is definitely a day or two slower than direct deposit, but it's pretty reliable once you get into the routine. Since this is your very first payment ever, don't stress if it takes until Monday - the initial payment sometimes needs an extra business day while the DEO system gets everything properly set up. But you should definitely have it by early next week for your bills. Make sure you download the Way2Go mobile app if you haven't already and turn on notifications - you'll get pinged the moment your deposit hits instead of constantly checking your balance. Also keep an eye on your payment status in CONNECT - when it switches to "processed" you know the money is coming within 24 hours. The first payment is always nerve-wracking when you're trying to budget around it, but after this it becomes very predictable. You've got this! Welcome to the community!

Hey Freya! Welcome to the Florida unemployment community! I've been claiming on Tuesdays for about 4 months now and also use the Way2Go card. Based on my experience, you should expect your deposit to hit Friday or Saturday this week - the card is typically 1-2 days slower than direct deposit. Since this is your very first payment, don't worry if it takes until Monday. The DEO system often needs extra time to process that initial deposit while everything gets properly established. You should definitely have it by early next week for your bills though. A couple of quick tips that saved me a lot of stress: - Download the Way2Go app and enable notifications so you'll know immediately when it hits - Check your payment status in CONNECT - when it changes to "processed" you know the money is coming within 24 hours The first payment is always the most nerve-wracking when you're budgeting around it, but once you get through this initial one the timing becomes very predictable. You've already gotten through the hardest part by getting approved! This community is super helpful if you have any other questions about navigating the DEO system.

you might wanna check ur way2go card balance if thats how u get paid sometimes they dont notify you when backdated payments go thru and the money just shows up

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread is incredibly helpful! Filed in late February but need to backdate to early January when I was actually laid off. Been waiting about 4 weeks now with just "pending" status. One thing I learned from my research is that Florida has a specific statute (Section 443.101) that allows backdating for up to 4 weeks if you can show good cause. Since you mentioned your employer told you to wait until severance ended, that should definitely qualify as "misinformation from employer" which is one of their accepted reasons. I'm planning to try the state representative route if I don't hear anything by week 6. Also going to start checking my CONNECT inbox daily for any fact-finding requests. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know others have gotten through this process successfully!