Congratulations on landing the retail management position! Just went through this exact process last month when I started my new job. The advice from @Giovanni Moretti is spot on - report your return to work during your final week claim, provide all employer details, and you're done. One small tip: screenshot or save confirmation of when you reported the job just in case you ever need proof later. DEO's system can be glitchy sometimes and it's good to have documentation. Best of luck with the new role!

Congrats on the new job! I just went through this same process a few weeks ago. One thing I'll add to all the great advice here - make sure you're 100% clear on your actual start date vs. orientation/training days. I almost made a mistake because my "orientation" was on a Friday but my actual first paid work day wasn't until the following Monday. DEO cares about when you start getting paid, not when you show up for paperwork. Also, if your new job offers any kind of signing bonus or immediate payment, that counts as earnings for the week you receive it. Just wanted to mention these details since they can trip people up! Good luck with the retail management position - hope it goes great!

@helpful_guidance Yes! The agent said once they have the employment verification documents, it typically takes 5-7 business days to update in the system. She also added a note to my file about the verification issues I was having. Feeling much more hopeful now!

For anyone still having trouble, I just discovered another workaround that worked for me today. If you log into CONNECT and go to "Inbox" then look for any messages about "Outstanding Issues" - click on that message and there should be a "Respond" button. When you click respond, it opens a form where you can attach documents directly. This upload method seems to work even when the main document upload feature is broken. I was able to submit my W-2s and paystubs this way after weeks of trying other methods. Worth a shot for anyone who's still stuck!

Hey Charlotte! I'm new to this community but your situation sounds exactly like what happened to my sister last month. She got her first payment, then "pending issues" appeared out of nowhere and she was terrified her benefits would be cut off. Turns out it was just DEO doing their regular verification checks - super common after you start receiving payments. What really helped her was that automated phone system people are mentioning. She called 1-800-681-8102, pressed 1 then 3, entered her SSN and found out it was just "routine claim verification" with an estimated 10-day resolution. Having that information made the waiting so much more bearable than just staring at "pending issues" with no context. The most important thing (which everyone here is saying but I'll repeat) - keep claiming your weeks! My sister almost stopped claiming thinking something was wrong, but thankfully someone warned her not to. When her review cleared after 12 days, she got all her back payments. I know the stress is real when you're counting on that money for rent. But from everything I've read here and my sister's experience, it sounds like you're dealing with normal DEO bureaucracy rather than a real problem with your claim. This community seems amazing for support during the waiting period!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this thread has been so helpful! I got my first payment two weeks ago, felt like I could finally breathe, and then yesterday morning I logged in to see "pending issues" with no explanation. I was absolutely panicking because I have bills due next week. Reading everyone's experiences here has calmed me down so much. I had no idea this was such a common thing with DEO - the way they display "pending issues" makes it seem like you've done something terribly wrong! I'm definitely going to try that automated phone system at 1-800-681-8102 tomorrow morning. The fact that multiple people have gotten useful information that way is really encouraging. I've already taken screenshots of my entire account (thanks Zoe!) and I'm going to keep claiming my weeks no matter what. It's crazy that we have to become experts in navigating a broken system just to get basic information about our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing all these tips and experiences. For anyone else dealing with this - you're not alone! Based on all the responses here, it sounds like these routine reviews are frustrating but normal. Hang in there everyone!

Just to add some clarity: "Adjudication" means there's an issue with your claim that needs to be resolved by a DEO adjudicator. Common reasons include: 1. Employment separation issues (they're verifying why you're no longer employed) 2. Wage discrepancies 3. Work search requirement verification 4. Availability for work questions While waiting, make sure you continue claiming your weeks on time and completing your work searches. Missing a week can restart the whole process. And whatever you do, don't engage with anyone contacting you outside of official DEO channels.

This is such an important warning! I've seen these scams targeting unemployment claimants across multiple states. The scammers are getting really sophisticated - they often know you've filed for unemployment because they scrape public job boards and social media posts. A few red flags to watch for: - ANY contact through social media/messaging apps (Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) - Promises to "expedite" or "fast-track" your claim - Requests for photos of documents or account numbers - Claims that you need to "verify" through their special link The only legitimate identity verification DEO uses is ID.me, which you access through your official CONNECT portal. Never click links sent via text or social media. Stay strong - I know the wait is brutal but don't let desperation make you vulnerable to these predators!

I'm in the exact same situation as you - my balance hits $0 after next week's claim but my benefit year runs until late summer. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no clue about continuing to claim weeks at $0 balance or about so many of these local resources. One thing I wanted to share that's helped me: I reached out to my former HR department and asked if they had any information about COBRA subsidies or other transitional benefits I might have missed. Turns out there was a small retirement account I could cash out penalty-free due to unemployment hardship that I completely forgot about. It's not much but every bit helps during this gap. Also, I've been using the public computers at my library for job applications since my internet got cut off last month - the librarians there are amazing and actually helped me reformat my resume. Had no idea libraries offered those kinds of services! The anxiety about running out of money while still being in your benefit year is so real. But seeing everyone share practical solutions and support each other through this makes me feel like there's actually hope. Thanks for posting this question and to everyone who's shared their experiences - you're all helping more people than you realize!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you Avery - my balance will be $0 after this week's payment but my benefit year doesn't end until October. This whole conversation has been incredibly informative and honestly such a relief to find so many people dealing with the same confusing situation! A few things I wanted to add that have helped me prepare: 1. I called my bank and credit card companies to explain my situation and ask about hardship programs - most had options for payment deferrals or reduced minimums that I didn't know existed 2. I signed up for every legitimate job alert service I could find (Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, etc.) and set them to email me daily - helps ensure I'm not missing opportunities 3. I started volunteering at a local nonprofit one day a week - it keeps me busy, helps with networking, and looks good on applications to show I'm staying active The advice about screenshotting everything from CONNECT before hitting $0 is brilliant - doing that today! And I'm definitely going to start keeping those weekly claims going even at zero balance. It's scary not knowing what comes next, but seeing everyone share practical resources and support each other through this makes it feel so much more manageable. Thanks for asking this question - you've helped way more people than just yourself!