I'm going through this exact nightmare too - been "under review" for almost 3 weeks now after being laid off from my restaurant job and this thread has been more helpful than anything DEO has provided! Like everyone else here, I had absolutely NO idea I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during the review process. I've been sitting here thinking I needed to wait for some kind of approval first. Starting my weekly claims immediately after reading all this! My situation is a bit different from the construction folks but similar pattern - worked for 2 different restaurants last year when my first one closed during the slow season, so that multiple employer thing probably triggered the manual review for me too. It's incredibly frustrating that DEO doesn't explain any of this clearly when it's obviously affecting people across so many different industries. Planning to try that Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that several people have mentioned with success, and I'm going to start checking all those hidden CONNECT sections daily. Also going to start documenting everything with screenshots like others suggested - wish I had thought to do that from the beginning! The financial stress is unreal when you're already dealing with job loss, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that this will eventually get resolved with persistence. Thank you all for sharing real actionable advice - this community has been infinitely more useful than any official DEO guidance I've found! At least now I know I'm not alone and have concrete steps to follow instead of just anxiously refreshing my account all day.

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation - been "under review" for 4 weeks after being laid off from my manufacturing job and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Like everyone else here, I had NO idea I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during the review process. I thought doing that might interfere with their system or seem pushy. Just started my weekly claims this morning after reading all these comments! My case also fits the multiple employer pattern - worked for 2 different manufacturing plants last year when my first company relocated operations, so that explains the manual review trigger. It's maddening that DEO doesn't clearly communicate this process when it's obviously affecting workers across so many industries who have completely normal job transitions. Going to try the Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that multiple people have had success with, and I'm planning to start checking all those hidden CONNECT sections daily since issues apparently pop up without notifications. Also starting a detailed log to track everything like others suggested. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're already stressed about finances, but seeing all these success stories gives me real hope that persistence pays off. Thank you everyone for sharing actual actionable advice instead of the generic responses we get everywhere else. This community has provided more useful information than anything I've gotten from DEO directly! At least now I have concrete steps to follow instead of just helplessly refreshing my status page.

I'm a new member here but have been lurking and reading everyone's experiences - this thread is a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with the exact same issue as the original poster. My payments stopped 2 weeks ago after being consistent for months, and I've been getting nowhere with calling. Reading through all these strategies gives me so much hope! I'm planning to try the Wednesday 10:45 AM approach with auto-redial, and I'm definitely going to ask about "soft holds" and internal system flags that @Chloe Martin mentioned. Has anyone tried contacting their state representatives' offices? I heard they sometimes have direct lines to DEO for constituent services, but I'm not sure if that actually works or just creates more bureaucracy. Also planning to check my CONNECT inbox more thoroughly tonight - sounds like those buried questionnaires are a common culprit. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies!

I've been dealing with this exact same nightmare for the past month! After reading through all these amazing strategies, I decided to combine a few approaches and finally had success yesterday. I called on Wednesday at 10:30 AM (close to what @Eduardo Silva and others suggested) using an auto-redial app, and got through after about 40 minutes. The game-changer was immediately asking for a Tier 2 specialist and specifically mentioning "internal system holds" that @Chloe Martin talked about. Turns out I had both a buried fact-finding questionnaire from 3 weeks ago AND a soft hold for wage verification that never showed up in my CONNECT account! The agent was able to clear both issues in about 15 minutes and said my payments should resume by Friday. For anyone still struggling: definitely check your CONNECT inbox going back at least a month, use the auto-redial apps, and ask about internal holds right away. The Wednesday mid-morning time slot seems to be the sweet spot based on everyone's experiences here. Don't give up - this thread proves the system is beatable even though it's incredibly frustrating!

Great question about timing for partial benefits! In my experience, it took about 3-4 weeks to receive the first payment after filing, but that included a fact-finding interview that delayed things by about a week. The key is to respond to EVERY notification in CONNECT immediately - DEO moves faster when you're on top of their requests. As for employer contests, most don't fight partial unemployment claims when hour reduction is well-documented because it's pretty cut and dried. They're more likely to contest full unemployment claims where misconduct or "voluntary quit" is involved. The employers know they'll lose if you have solid proof of hour cuts, so many just accept it rather than waste time on a losing battle. One tip: when you file, emphasize that you're available and willing to work full-time hours but your employer is limiting your schedule. This shows DEO that the reduced income is due to lack of available work, not your choice to work less. And yes, using the right terminology absolutely matters - DEO agents are trained to look for specific legal language that triggers different benefit categories!

This thread has been incredibly informative and I'm so glad I found this community! I was in a similar situation last year at a different restaurant and made the mistake of just quitting without documenting anything first - big mistake. DEO denied me initially and I had to go through the whole appeals process. What I learned from that experience is that Florida really does protect workers, but you have to know how to work the system properly. The advice here about filing for partial unemployment while still employed is brilliant - I wish I had known about that option. One thing I'd add is to also keep track of any verbal warnings or write-ups your manager might try to use against you later. Even if they're bogus, having documentation that shows the escalating hostility pattern can really strengthen your constructive discharge case. Also, when you do file (whether partial now or full later), make sure to mention that you attempted to resolve the issues through proper channels first - DEO really values seeing that you tried to work things out before taking action. The restaurant industry needs more workers who know their rights and aren't afraid to use them. Best of luck with your situation - sounds like you're handling it much smarter than I did!

I'm in week 3 of this exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! Like everyone else here, I have an "approved" status and got my Way2Go card right away, but absolutely zero payments. Reading about all these hidden employer verification issues that don't show up in CONNECT is both helpful and completely infuriating - how is this even legal? My former company went through a major restructuring right before they let me go, so they're probably swamped and just ignoring DEO's requests. Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely trying Claimyr this week. It's ridiculous that we have to pay a third party just to reach our own state agency, but if it works like it did for so many of you, it'll be the best money I've spent. I've started documenting everything after reading this thread - daily screenshots, call logs, the works. We shouldn't have to become our own case managers, but this broken system is forcing our hand. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences, especially the detailed updates. This community is providing more real help than any official DEO resource I've found! Will definitely post an update once I get through to an agent. Fingers crossed I discover the same hidden issues you all found!

I'm in week 4 of this exact nightmare and reading through everyone's experiences here has been both a huge relief and incredibly frustrating! Like so many others, I have an "approved" status, received my Way2Go card immediately, but haven't seen a single payment. The hidden employer verification issues that don't show up anywhere in CONNECT are absolutely mind-blowing - how is it acceptable for a state agency to have problems affecting our claims that we literally cannot see or track? My former employer has been pretty unresponsive to other requests lately, so this employer non-response issue makes perfect sense for my situation. Based on all the success stories here, especially Savannah's detailed experience, I'm definitely trying Claimyr tomorrow morning. It's insane that we have to pay a third-party service just to communicate with our own state government, but if it works like it did for so many of you, it'll be worth every penny. I've started documenting everything religiously after reading this thread - daily CONNECT screenshots, call attempt logs, email records. We shouldn't have to become our own case managers and advocates, but this broken system is forcing us to protect ourselves. Thank you to everyone for sharing your stories and updates. This community is providing more actionable help than months of trying to navigate DEO's completely useless official channels. I'll definitely post an update once I get through to an agent!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently completed the Florida unemployment process successfully! Reading through all these helpful responses brings back memories of how overwhelming it felt at first, but you're absolutely taking the right approach by getting organized from day one. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that really helped me: create a simple weekly checklist that you can print out and check off as you complete activities. Something like: - Applied to 2-3 positions online ✓ - Made 1-2 networking contacts ✓ - Completed 1 in-person visit/workshop ✓ - Updated tracking spreadsheet ✓ - Saved confirmation emails/screenshots ✓ Having that visual checklist made it feel less abstract and more manageable. Plus it's satisfying to check things off! For restaurant management specifically, don't forget about casino food service positions if you have any in your area - they often need experienced hospitality managers and the pay can be really competitive. Also consider reaching out to catering companies that handle corporate events or weddings - they value restaurant management experience for coordinating large events. The stress you're feeling is completely normal, but you're clearly approaching this the right way. Keep that detailed documentation everyone's emphasizing, stay connected with your industry network, and remember that your management skills are valuable and in demand right now. You've got this!

As someone who's been helping people navigate Florida's unemployment system for several years, I wanted to jump in and highlight a few critical points that can save you major headaches down the road. **Most Important Thing: START DOCUMENTING NOW** - Even though you can't enter work searches into CONNECT until you claim weeks, you should begin your 5 weekly work search activities immediately after filing. DEO expects you to be actively searching from day one, not waiting until your first claim period. **CONNECT Timing Reality Check** - The system is notorious for crashing during peak times. I always tell people to claim during these windows: Tuesday-Thursday between 10am-2pm or after 8pm on weekdays. Avoid Sunday nights and Monday mornings like the plague - that's when everyone tries to claim simultaneously. **Work Search Audit Red Flags** - DEO flags accounts that show patterns like: applying only to jobs way above/below your skill level, using the exact same contact method every week, or listing companies that don't actually have openings. Mix up your approaches and make sure your searches are genuinely appropriate for your background. **Restaurant Management Advantage** - Your timing is actually great! Post-pandemic, hospitality management is one of the hottest job markets in Florida. Consider hotel food service, hospital cafeterias, senior living communities, and corporate dining - they all need experienced managers and often pay better than traditional restaurants. You're asking exactly the right questions. The people who struggle with Florida DEO are those who don't take documentation seriously or try to wing it. Keep that organized approach!