I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my manufacturing job cut me from 40 hours to about 20-25 hours per week. From what I've learned so far, the key things to remember are: 1. It's all about your weekly earnings, not the number of hours you work 2. You can earn up to $100 per week without any reduction in benefits (that's 8 times Florida's current minimum wage of $12.50) 3. After that $100, your benefits get reduced dollar-for-dollar 4. You still need to do all 5 work search activities every week, even though you're still employed The hardest part for me has been keeping track of everything accurately. I started using a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and earnings for each week I claim. Make sure you report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid - that seems to be where a lot of people run into trouble later. One thing that's helped me is looking at my determination letter in CONNECT to see exactly what my weekly benefit amount is, then using the formula others mentioned to figure out roughly what I can expect each week. Takes some of the guesswork out of it!

I've been through this exact situation and wanted to share what worked for me. I was a warehouse worker too and got my hours cut from 40 to about 22-28 per week last year. The most important thing I learned is to keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - hours worked each day, gross pay (including any shift differentials or overtime), and exactly which days you worked. I used a simple notebook at first but switched to taking photos of my work schedule each week. Here's what really helped me avoid problems: - Always report earnings for the week you performed the work, not when you got paid - Include ALL income - base pay, overtime, shift premiums, even small bonuses - Don't forget about any side gigs or cash work (like helping friends move, etc.) - Keep doing your 5 work searches every single week without fail The system actually worked pretty smoothly for me once I got into the routine. Some weeks I'd get partial benefits, other weeks nothing if I picked up extra shifts. The key is just being completely honest and accurate with your reporting. One last tip - if you ever have issues with CONNECT or need to speak to someone at DEO, don't waste days trying to call. There are callback services that actually work. Just my experience but it saved me a lot of frustration! Good luck with your claim!

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! The key thing that saved me was realizing there are actually THREE different places you might need to upload documents depending on what DEO is asking for: 1) ID.me verification (which it sounds like you got sorted), 2) the regular document upload in your CONNECT inbox under "Correspondence", and 3) sometimes there's a separate link they email you for specific verifications. If you're still getting requests after completing ID.me, check your email for any direct links from DEO - sometimes they send a separate secure upload portal that bypasses CONNECT entirely. I missed one of these emails and it went to my spam folder! Also, when you do upload, the system is super slow to update - mine took almost 48 hours to show "received" even though it went through immediately. Don't panic if you don't see confirmation right away, just keep that screenshot like others mentioned!

One more tip that saved me when I was in a similar panic - if you're still having trouble with any uploads after trying all these suggestions, you can also try visiting a local library. I know it sounds weird, but their computers and internet connection sometimes work better with the DEO system than home internet. Plus, library staff are usually pretty good at helping with government websites. I spent hours failing at home, then got everything uploaded successfully in 15 minutes at the library. Sometimes it's just the browser/connection combo that makes the difference with CONNECT's finicky system.

UPDATE: I finally got through!! Used a combination of the early morning call (tried at 7:28am exactly) + the key sequence that @helpful_guidance suggested. Had to wait 47 minutes on hold, but eventually spoke with someone who could help! Turns out there was a "fact finding" request buried in my account that I never received notification about. The agent helped me complete it right over the phone, and said my backpay should be processed within 5-7 business days. THANK YOU everyone for all your suggestions!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. @Emily Sanjay so glad you finally got through and found that hidden fact-finding issue - that's exactly the kind of thing that keeps people stuck in limbo for months. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Call early (7:28-7:29am), 2) Use the bypass sequence (5-2-1-6), 3) Enter your ID very slowly, 4) Ask specifically for "Retroactive Payment Unit", and 5) Always check the Fact Finding section separately from your inbox. DEO really needs to fix their notification system - it's ridiculous that people can have pending requirements they never even know about!

This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I just hit "Exhausted Active" status this morning and was in full panic mode when I saw those employment verification questions. Like everyone else here, my first thought was that I needed to re-enter all my wage data from the past year. Reading through all these experiences has completely changed my approach. The advice is so consistent - just confirm the existing employment information, don't resubmit wages that are already in their system, and most importantly keep claiming weeks during the review process. I would have definitely stopped claiming thinking I had to wait for the determination to finish. What really stands out to me is how this community has essentially reverse-engineered what DEO's confusing system actually wants from us. Their "Exhausted Active" terminology is so misleading - it sounds like something bad when it's really just a status indicating you've used your regular benefits but the claim is still active for potential extensions. The success stories here give me so much hope, especially seeing that the original poster got approved for Extended Benefits by following this exact guidance. I'm completing my verification today using the approach outlined here - confirm existing info only, no new submissions unless I've actually worked since filing. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and timelines. This thread should honestly be pinned as the definitive guide for handling "Exhausted Active" status in Florida!

This thread is amazing - I wish I had found it sooner! I've been dealing with the "Exhausted Active" status for almost a week now and was getting really anxious about those employment verification questions. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. The consistency in advice here is incredible - confirm existing info only, don't resubmit wages already in the system, and keep claiming weeks. I was definitely leaning toward re-entering everything thinking that's what DEO wanted, but now I understand that would have been a huge mistake. What really helps is seeing the timeline updates from people who've completed this process successfully. Knowing it typically takes 3-7 days for the review gives me realistic expectations instead of constantly refreshing CONNECT hoping for instant updates. I'm curious for those who got Extended Benefits approved - did you receive any advance notice about how many additional weeks you'd be eligible for, or does that information only show up after the determination is complete? Trying to plan ahead financially while waiting for this review to finish. Thanks to everyone who's shared their knowledge here. This community support makes dealing with DEO's confusing system so much more manageable!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare. 8 months is absolutely unacceptable! I just went through something similar (6 months pending) and finally got resolution last month. Here's what worked for me: 1. I emailed my state representative's office with a detailed timeline of my case - they have a DEO liaison who can actually get answers 2. Filed a complaint with the DEO Inspector General (as someone mentioned above) - this seemed to trigger actual movement on my case 3. Called the legislative hotline at 850-487-1052 - it's a different number than the regular DEO line and I had better luck getting through The key is hitting them from multiple angles at once. Don't rely on just one method. My claim was stuck because of an "employer separation verification" issue that literally took one 10-minute phone call to resolve once I finally reached the right person. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates you called, emails sent, responses received. You'll need this timeline when you finally get through to someone. Hang in there - you WILL get your money, but you have to be relentless about pursuing it through these alternate channels.

I feel your pain so deeply - this system is absolutely broken and designed to exhaust people into giving up. 8 months is unconscionable, especially when you've done everything right on your end. Based on what others have shared here, I'd strongly recommend doing ALL of these immediately: 1. Contact your state rep AND senator (use myfloridahouse.gov to find them) - be specific about your timeline and financial hardship 2. File that Inspector General complaint - sounds like this creates real accountability 3. Try that legislative hotline number @Layla Sanders mentioned (850-487-1052) 4. Document everything with dates/times for when you finally get through The fact that you're approaching the one-year deadline that @Aaliyah Jackson mentioned makes this even more urgent. DEO is essentially stealing from you at this point - you've paid into this system and they're withholding what you're legally entitled to. Also consider that Claimyr service @Sasha Ivanov used if you have any funds available. It's infuriating that we have to pay a third party to access our own benefits, but if it works in 25 minutes vs. months of torture, it might be worth it. Don't give up! You've made it 8 months - you're stronger than their broken system. Keep us posted on what works!