Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! My balance showed $0 for almost 6 weeks but I kept claiming and doing my work searches. Turns out my previous employer had disputed my claim saying I was "fired for cause" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The adjudication process took forever but once they ruled in my favor, I got a lump sum payment for all the weeks I had claimed during that $0 balance period. The key things that helped me were: 1) Never stopped claiming weeks even though balance was $0, 2) Kept meticulous records of all my job search activities (screenshots, emails, etc.), and 3) Checked my CONNECT account multiple times per day for any new messages or fact-finding questionnaires. Don't get discouraged by the $0 balance - it's likely just a temporary hold while they investigate something. Keep doing what you're supposed to do and you should get paid once it's resolved!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and it was so stressful! My balance showed $0 for nearly 7 weeks but I had multiple unclaimed weeks available. Like others have mentioned, it turned out to be an adjudication issue - my former employer had initially provided incorrect information about my separation reason. Here's what I learned: ALWAYS keep claiming those weeks even with a $0 balance! I cannot stress this enough. The system will let you claim them for a reason. During my adjudication period, I claimed every single week and completed all 5 work search requirements religiously. When DEO finally resolved my case, I received a massive lump sum payment covering all those weeks I had claimed during the $0 balance period. A few tips that really helped me: - Set up a spreadsheet to track all work search activities (date, company, position, method of contact) - Take screenshots of every job application confirmation page - Check your CONNECT messages at least twice daily - they sometimes send time-sensitive requests - If you get overwhelmed by the phone system, try calling right at 7:30 AM when they open The waiting is absolutely awful, but hang in there and keep following the process. The system is designed to test your persistence, but if you're eligible, you will eventually get paid for all those weeks you claim during this period.

Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying! I just filed my initial claim last week and I'm still waiting to hear back on whether it's approved. The whole process feels like navigating a maze blindfolded. It's reassuring to see that some people are getting payments relatively quickly once they're in the system, but all the stories about people waiting months in "adjudication limbo" have me stressed. I've already started taking screenshots of everything like some of you suggested - definitely learned that lesson from reading this thread! And I'm bummed to learn about the $600 federal payments ending right when I might finally be eligible. Typical timing, right? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips - this community is honestly more helpful than anything DEO has provided so far!

Jumping in as someone who's been through the DEO process multiple times over the past few years - the timing really is all over the place! I've found that direct deposit typically takes 2-3 business days after claiming, but I've seen it as fast as next day and as slow as a full week depending on when you claim and how busy their system is. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through CONNECT so I get notifications when payments are processed. Also, since you mentioned budgeting carefully until you start work - just a heads up that your first week back at work might affect your final unemployment payment if there's any overlap in the benefit week dates. DEO can be really picky about reporting exact work start dates. The screenshot advice everyone's giving is spot on too - I learned that lesson the hard way when they "lost" one of my work search logs and I had to appeal. Now I screenshot literally everything including confirmation numbers and timestamps. Hope your payment comes through smoothly on Friday!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been on PEUC since January and suddenly no weeks available since 3/21. The frustrating part is that CONNECT still shows my claim as "active" but there's literally nothing to claim. I've been calling every day this week with no luck - either busy signals or I get disconnected after waiting for hours. It's so stressful when you're depending on these payments to survive. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here - at least now I know I'm not alone and it's not something I did wrong. Going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow since calling directly hasn't worked for me.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions here! I've been lurking on this subreddit for months but never posted until now. I'm also dealing with this PEUC issue - no weeks available since 3/17 despite having an "active" claim. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief because I was starting to think I somehow messed up my claim or got disqualified without knowing it. The fact that this is a known system glitch gives me hope that it can actually be fixed. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy and also look into Claimyr. It's absolutely ridiculous that DEO can just update their system and break people's benefits without any notice or communication. These are real people with real bills depending on these payments! Anyway, thank you all for creating such a helpful community where we can support each other through these bureaucratic nightmares.

I'm currently in week 9 of "under investigation" and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful and validating! Miguel, congratulations on finally getting through and discovering it was just a 3-day date discrepancy - that must have been such a relief mixed with complete frustration at how ridiculous the whole situation is. Reading everyone's experiences, I'm amazed at how common these investigations are and how they're often triggered by the most minor clerical issues. KaiEsmeralda's situation with employer reporting "terminated" vs "laid off" despite having written layoff documentation is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nightmare that shows how broken this system really is. Based on all the advice here, I'm planning to: 1. Try Claimyr this week since multiple people have had success reaching agents that way 2. Contact my state representative's office - the same-day callback stories are really encouraging 3. Keep documenting every contact attempt like Dylan suggested 4. Upload any additional employment documents I have to CONNECT The lack of communication from DEO is truly the worst part of this whole process. If they would just send one email explaining what triggered the investigation and what documents might help, most of these issues could probably be resolved in days instead of months. It's clear the system is designed to discourage people from collecting benefits they've rightfully earned. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines, strategies, and updates. Knowing we're not alone in this fight makes it a little easier to keep pushing forward. I'll update here once I make progress!

I'm in week 6 of "under investigation" status and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Miguel, I'm so relieved for you that it turned out to be just a 3-day date discrepancy, but honestly furious on your behalf that DEO put you through 10+ weeks of financial stress over something so minor. What really strikes me reading through everyone's experiences is how this seems to be a systematic issue - legitimate claims getting flagged for the tiniest discrepancies, then months of silence while people struggle to pay bills. KaiEsmeralda's situation with "terminated" vs "laid off" despite having written proof is another perfect example of how broken this system is. I've been trying to call DEO for weeks with zero success, so I'm definitely going to try Claimyr based on all the positive experiences shared here. The state representative route also sounds incredibly promising - multiple people getting callbacks within 48 hours is amazing compared to the endless hold times with DEO directly. One thing I'm wondering - for those who eventually got their claims approved after investigation, did you notice any pattern in timing? Like does it tend to happen at the beginning/middle/end of the month, or is it completely random? Just trying to figure out if there's any predictability to when adjudicators actually review cases. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and strategies. This community has been a lifeline during what feels like an impossible situation!

I'm so sorry you're going through this Paolo. Three months in adjudication is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you're facing homelessness. I went through something similar last year and here's what finally broke the logjam for me: I started emailing my state senator's office weekly (not just calling once). I also filed a complaint with the Florida Inspector General's office about the unreasonable delay. Within 2 weeks of filing that complaint, my claim was suddenly resolved. The IG complaint form is online and it creates a paper trail that DEO has to respond to. Also, if you haven't already, try calling the DEO director's office directly - sometimes going to the top gets results when the regular channels fail. Document everything and don't give up. You deserve better than this.

Paolo, I feel your pain - I've been stuck in adjudication since June myself. One thing that helped me get some traction was filing a formal complaint through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's website (not just calling). They have a complaint form under "Contact Us" that creates a case number and forces them to respond within a certain timeframe. I also started sending certified letters to DEO documenting my hardship situation - something about having to sign for mail seems to get more attention than phone calls. The other thing I'd suggest is reaching out to local news stations - Channel 9 here in Orlando has done several investigative pieces on DEO delays and they're always looking for people willing to share their stories. Sometimes public pressure is the only thing that works with these agencies. Hang in there and keep fighting!