I'm so relieved to see your update that you got your payment! I just filed my first claim last week and have been absolutely panicking about the timing. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the 6 AM claiming strategy and setting up those push notifications. It's amazing how much variation there seems to be in payment timing even though most people get theirs within that 2-3 business day window. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences with DEO - it makes navigating this confusing system so much less scary when you know what to actually expect!

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so eye-opening! I'm dealing with DEO for the first time myself and had no idea about things like the 6 AM claiming window or how much your bank's processing time can affect when you actually see the money. It's crazy how the official DEO website gives you basically no useful timeline info, but this community thread has all the real details you actually need. I'm saving all these tips about text notifications, confirmation numbers, and watching for fact-finding requests. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - it makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate this mess of a system!

Quick update for everyone - I just got my first payment today! Took exactly 2 business days after adjudication completed for the money to hit my account. If you're stuck waiting, PLEASE try contacting your rep. I wasted so much time trying to go through DEO directly when this solved it in 48 hours.

This is incredibly helpful information! I'm currently on week 6 of adjudication with no updates despite calling daily. I had no idea contacting state representatives was even an option. For anyone else who might be hesitant to try this - I found my rep's info on the Florida House website by entering my address. Going to send that email first thing tomorrow morning. Paolo, did you mention anything specific about the timeline in your email or just focus on the hardship aspect?

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at DEO! Used Claimyr this morning and was connected to an agent within 20 minutes. The agent confirmed they received my identity documents but said they were "pending review" in the verification queue. She submitted an escalation request due to the length of time and my hardship situation. She said I should see movement on my account within 3-5 business days. Will update again once I know more. Thank you all for the helpful advice!

That's fantastic news! So glad Claimyr worked for you - I've been hesitant to try it but hearing your success story gives me hope. The fact that they could actually confirm your documents were received and submit an escalation is huge progress. Fingers crossed you get your account unlocked soon! Keep us posted on how it goes over the next few days.

This is an incredibly helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - won my appeal in September but still haven't received any payments. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me hope and a clear action plan. For anyone else who might find this thread, here's what I'm taking away as the key steps: 1. Call and specifically ask for "Special Projects" or "Appeal Payment Processing" 2. Mention the "technical flag" that needs manual removal 3. Request an "expedited payment release" due to financial hardship 4. Use services like Claimyr if you can't get through on your own 5. Contact your state representative's office if all else fails @Zachary Hughes thank you for keeping us updated throughout your process - it's so rare to see someone follow through with updates after getting their issue resolved. This thread should be pinned as a resource for others! Going to try calling the Benefits Payment Control Unit number tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

This thread is incredibly valuable - thank you @Zachary Hughes for documenting your entire journey and providing updates! As someone who works with unemployment cases, I want to add a few additional tips that might help others in similar situations: 1. **Document everything**: Keep a log of every call attempt with date/time, any confirmation numbers, and names of representatives you speak with 2. **Email backup**: Send yourself an email summary after each successful call - this creates a timestamp record of what was promised 3. **Check for system glitches**: Sometimes after appeals, your claim can get "stuck" between different processing queues. Ask the agent to verify which queue your claim is currently in 4. **Payment method verification**: Double-check that your direct deposit info wasn't somehow corrupted during the appeal process - this is more common than people realize The "technical flag" issue @Zachary Hughes mentioned is actually a known problem in the CONNECT system where appeals reversals don't always trigger the automatic payment release. It's frustrating that claimants have to know to ask specifically about this. For anyone still struggling: if you've tried all the suggested phone numbers and services, you can also file a complaint with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's ombudsman office. Sometimes having an official complaint on file can expedite resolution. Great job staying persistent - your story will definitely help others navigate this broken system!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - 5 months is absolutely ridiculous! I went through something similar last year where my claim was stuck for 3 months. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: 1. I called the DEO executive escalation line at (850) 245-7105 - this bypasses the regular customer service queue 2. Filed a complaint with my local state representative AND senator (not just one) 3. Submitted a written complaint to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Director's office via certified mail The key thing that seemed to get attention was when I mentioned in all my communications that I was documenting everything for potential legal action due to the unreasonable delay. Within 2 weeks of doing all three things, my claim suddenly moved forward. Also, don't just rely on the chat feature - it's basically useless. The responses are supposed to show up in your CONNECT inbox under "Correspondence" but most people report never getting replies anyway. Keep claiming your weeks no matter what! When this gets resolved (and it will), you'll get all the back pay you're owed. Hang in there!

I feel for you - this system is absolutely broken and 5 months is unacceptable. I've been helping people navigate DEO issues for years and here's what I'd recommend trying immediately: 1. Call the DEO Reemployment Assistance Program at (833) 352-7759 at exactly 7:30 AM when they open - don't wait until 8 AM 2. If you can't get through by phone, try the online virtual queue system at floridajobs.org - sometimes this works better than calling 3. Contact your state legislature representatives - both House and Senate. Their constituent services can often get DEO to respond within days 4. File a complaint with the Florida Department of Management Services Ombudsman Program For the chat responses - they're supposed to appear in your CONNECT inbox under "Correspondence" but honestly, most people never get replies. The chat feature is basically abandoned. One thing that's helped others: when you do reach someone, ask them to check for "system flags" or "automation holds" on your account. Sometimes claims get stuck in automated loops that only a specialist can clear manually. Document everything - dates, times, confirmation numbers, who you spoke with. If this drags on much longer, you may want to consider consulting with an unemployment attorney. Some work on contingency for cases involving unreasonable delays. Keep claiming your weeks and don't give up! You will eventually get your back pay.