The whole system is RIGGED to deny benefits by creating impossible barriers!!! My cousin works for a different state agency and says DEO management gets BONUSES for keeping payment rates low. They DELIBERATELY make it hard to get through so people give up! It's all about saving the state money at the expense of struggling Floridians!

Final update for anyone following this thread - I took everyone's advice here and: 1) Used Claimyr to finally reach a live agent who explained my claim had an employer verification flag, 2) Contacted my state rep with all my claim details, and 3) Sent a certified letter citing Florida Statute 443.151(3)(a). Not sure which one worked, but ALL MY PAYMENTS CAME THROUGH yesterday! 8 months of benefits all at once. Keep fighting and try all available options - persistence eventually pays off with this broken system.

Update: I uploaded all my documentation last night and called DEO this morning using the Claimyr service that was recommended. Got through in about 20 minutes! The agent confirmed they received my documents and said my Extended Benefits application looks good so far. She mentioned there's currently a 7-10 day processing time. Just wanted to update in case anyone else is in the same situation. Thanks everyone for your help!

did u get that weird fact finding thing in ur inbox when u applied for extended benefits? i got that and didn't understand half the questions lol

When I had to do this last year I went to my local DCF office and they actually helped me print everything right there. They have computers you can use and the staff showed me exactly what pages they needed from CONNECT. Saved me so much stress! Maybe try that if you're still confused?

To summarize what everyone has said: 1. The best document is the "Determination, Monetary and Issue Summary" from your CONNECT account 2. Make sure it shows your name, claim ID, and weekly benefit amount 3. For a mid-certification review, they typically want to see 4 weeks of payment history 4. You can print this directly from CONNECT or save as PDF 5. If you absolutely need an official letter, you'll need to contact DEO directly One more thing: take a screenshot of your submission confirmation when you upload these documents to DCF's portal. I've seen cases where they claim they never received documentation that was definitely submitted. Having that confirmation can save you a lot of hassle if there's any dispute later.

Just wanted to follow up on this since there seems to be some confusion about retroactive payments. For 2025 claims with effective date changes, here's what typically happens: 1. The state portion (RA benefits - up to $275/week) processes first 2. These will show as "processed" for 3-7 business days before payment info appears 3. Federal supplements (if your retroactive weeks fall in eligible periods) process separately 4. The federal portion may appear under a different claim ID or payment system 5. Bank holidays and weekends add 2-3 days to the normal processing time If your payments stay in "processed" status for more than 10 business days, that usually indicates an issue that requires agent intervention. At that point, calling DEO is your best option.

Quick update for everyone who responded - my state payments moved from "processed" to having a payment date today! The issue was exactly what some of you mentioned - retroactive claims just take longer to move through the system. The agent I spoke with (finally got through after 2 hours on hold) said the federal supplements should appear in my account in about 7-10 business days as a separate payment batch. They said it's completely normal for them to be processed separately with retroactive approvals. Thanks everyone for your help!

any luck with this yet? i'm invested in ur story now lol

That's great news! Make sure to document everything - the tracking number, the supervisor's name/ID, the date and time of the call. Set a calendar reminder to follow up exactly when they said. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with DEO, unfortunately. Please keep us updated!

Have you considered career retraining since you mentioned hospitality is still struggling? When my benefits were running out, I used my last few weeks to enroll in a short-term certification program through CareerSource. They have something called the WIOA program that can even pay for certain types of training. I switched from retail to healthcare administration with a 6-week medical office certification, and it made a huge difference in my job prospects.

i heard somewhere that if u work part time they extend ur benefits cuz u don't use them as fast? anyone know if thats true or just a rumor?

Just checking back - any updates? Were you able to reach someone using any of the methods suggested?

That's great news! The "technical flag" they mentioned is actually common after appeals. It's essentially a system protection to prevent automatic payments until someone reviews the case one final time. Since you got them to submit an expedited release, you should definitely see movement soon. Make sure to continue claiming weeks during this time if you're still unemployed. And check your CONNECT account each morning - you'll likely see all the back weeks change status to "Processed" before the money actually hits your bank account.

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure when you're contacting DEO about backdating, you're clear about WHY you need the backdate. Valid reasons include: 1. You were unable to file when first unemployed due to illness/hospitalization 2. You were given incorrect information by DEO staff about eligibility 3. You were unable to access CONNECT due to technical issues 4. You were unaware of potential eligibility (in limited circumstances) If you simply delayed filing without a qualifying reason, they may deny the backdate request regardless of how long you wait. Florida is pretty strict about this compared to other states. Document your reason thoroughly when communicating with them.

anybody else notice how DEO is quick to process overpayment notices but sooooooo sloooow to process backdates??? funny how that works!!!!

this happnd 2 me 2! so annoyin! i finally got it fixd by makin a new id.me acct with right email then callin deo

Just checking back - were you able to resolve this? I'm curious if the specific steps I suggested worked for your situation. This information might help others with similar email mismatch problems.

If you're still having trouble, there's a little-known option: email DEO.Records@deo.myflorida.com with your claimant ID number, the last 4 digits of your SSN, and full name requesting a PIN reset. It can take 3-5 business days but sometimes works when calling fails. Make sure to use the exact subject line "PIN RESET REQUEST" or it might get missed. Also, the DEO has been implementing a new system for PIN resets involving ID.me verification for some users. If you have trouble with the phone method, check if you've received any emails about ID.me verification as an alternative way to regain access.

Update: Finally got my PIN reset! Used the Claimyr service that was recommended here and got through to an agent in about 35 minutes. The DEO agent was able to verify my identity and reset my PIN immediately. Just logged in successfully and claimed my weeks! Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.