I feel your pain so much! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed in October 2024 and still stuck in "application being processed" hell. The worst part is how helpless you feel when the system just ignores you for months on end. One thing that helped me make some progress was documenting EVERYTHING with timestamps. I created a spreadsheet with every call attempt, every message sent through CONNECT, every ID.me verification, etc. When I finally got through to someone (took 6 weeks of daily calling), having all those details helped them understand how long I'd been stuck. Also, if you haven't already, try reaching out to your local Legal Aid office. Some of them have unemployment advocacy programs and can sometimes get faster responses than individual claimants. The fact that you've been claiming weeks consistently is actually really good - it shows you're meeting all the requirements on your end. Don't let them gaslight you into thinking this is somehow your fault. 7 months is absolutely unacceptable and probably violates federal processing guidelines. Keep fighting! Your persistence will pay off eventually, even though it shouldn't have to come to this.

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!

OP, what state are you in? The process can vary a lot depending on location.

I'm dealing with something similar in FL and it's absolutely maddening. One thing that helped me get some movement on my claim was filing a complaint with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's ombudsman office. You can do it online and they're supposed to follow up within 10 business days. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're checking your CONNECT account daily - sometimes they'll request additional documents with zero notification. The whole system is designed to wear you down, but don't let them win. Keep fighting for what you're entitled to!

The DEO system is such a JOKE!! First they can't handle regular volume of claims, now they're asking about jobs we might have IN THE FUTURE?? My tax dollars hard at work 🙄 I'm dealing with an "overpayment" issue right now which is a whole other nightmare.

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! For anyone else stuck on this July 2025 question, here's what worked: I ended up using Claimyr to reach a DEO agent after trying everything else. Got connected to someone in about 30 minutes. The agent confirmed it's a known system error and manually overrode that section. My claim is now processing! She said they're working on a fix but it might not be deployed for weeks, so getting an agent to manually fix it is currently the fastest solution.

Wait really? That's good to know! Are there any other CareerSource offices that have direct DEO connections like that? I'm in Tampa area.

This is super helpful, thank you for sharing! I'm dealing with the exact same "missing information" notice right now and was starting to panic. I've been trying to call DEO for the past two days with no luck - just endless busy signals. I had no idea CareerSource could actually access the CONNECT system and help with this stuff! There's one about 20 minutes from me, so I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow instead of wasting more time on hold. Did the CareerSource rep give you any kind of documentation or reference number when they fixed it? I want to make sure I have proof that everything was resolved in case DEO tries to pull this again later.

Thanks everyone for your explanations and suggestions. I feel at least less confused now, even if the news isn't great. I'm going to try to get through to someone at DEO using that Claimyr service just to confirm what you're all saying, appeal my short-term disability denial, and check out the local assistance programs mentioned. Really appreciate the help during this stressful time.

I'm really sorry you're going through this tough situation. As others have mentioned, Florida's unemployment system is pretty strict about the "able and available to work" requirement. One thing I'd add - if you haven't already, make sure to document everything about your short-term disability denial. Sometimes these denials are based on missing paperwork or technicalities that can be corrected on appeal. Also, when you do have your surgery and are cleared to return to work, you might be able to reapply for unemployment at that point if your job isn't available. The timing is tricky, but it's worth understanding all your options. Hang in there!