This is absolutely maddening! I'm a new filer (just submitted my claim last week) and reading through all of these experiences has me terrified that I'm going to run into the same wall. I had NO IDEA about the EmployFlorida requirement - like everyone else here, there was nothing obvious in the CONNECT application that made this seem urgent or mandatory. I'm registering right now before I even wait to see if there's a problem with my claim. It's honestly shocking how many people are getting trapped by this same hidden requirement. The fact that DEO reps themselves don't always know about the connection between the systems is just beyond comprehension. How is this legal?? They're essentially withholding benefits because of a registration requirement that they barely mention and certainly don't emphasize. Going to complete the full EmployFlorida registration today (profile, resume, skills assessment, work history - everything mentioned in this thread) and then probably call DEO to make sure everything is linked properly. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread should be pinned at the top of this community because clearly TONS of people are running into this same trap.

This thread is incredibly eye-opening and honestly infuriating! I've been dealing with unemployment claims in Florida for my family members over the years, and the EmployFlorida registration requirement has ALWAYS been poorly communicated. What's worse is that even when you know about it, the systems don't always sync properly between CONNECT and EmployFlorida. A few additional tips based on my experience helping others navigate this mess: 1. After completing your EmployFlorida registration, log back in after 24-48 hours to make sure all sections saved properly - I've seen cases where parts of the profile randomly disappeared 2. When you call DEO, specifically ask them to "verify the EmployFlorida system integration" - use those exact words because some reps know that specific process 3. If possible, complete your registration on a desktop computer rather than mobile - the EmployFlorida site has issues on phones that can cause incomplete submissions The fact that this community thread has become the most comprehensive guide to solving this problem (instead of official DEO documentation) really says everything about how broken the system is. Florida needs to completely overhaul how they communicate these requirements during the initial application process. No one should have to wait 7+ weeks to discover a hidden requirement that should have been explained upfront!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now - filed my claim in early February and have been stuck with that "pending issues" message for over 8 weeks with absolutely no explanation of what's wrong. The stress of not being able to pay basic bills while being completely in the dark about my own claim status has been overwhelming. This thread has been such a lifeline though! Reading everyone's experiences has been both validating (knowing this is a widespread systemic problem, not just me) and incredibly helpful for actual solutions. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm planning to try the multi-pronged approach that seems to work best: contacting my state representative's office first thing tomorrow, looking into the Claimyr service that helped @Asher Levin and others, and sending that adjudication email @Marina Hendrix shared. It's absolutely infuriating that Florida's DEO system is designed to be this deliberately difficult and opaque. The fact that these "pending issues" often turn out to be simple administrative problems that could be fixed in minutes if they just told us what was needed makes the whole situation even more maddening. But I'm so grateful this community exists to share real working solutions when the official system completely abandons us. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping hope alive - we'll get through this broken system together!

I'm going through this exact same situation and it's been absolutely devastating. Filed my claim in late February and have been stuck with that "pending issues" message for over 6 weeks now with zero explanation of what's actually wrong. The stress of not being able to pay rent while being completely in the dark about my claim status has been overwhelming. Reading through all these responses has given me so much hope though - it's both validating to know this is a widespread systemic problem with Florida's DEO and incredibly encouraging to see all the real solutions people have found. Based on everyone's success stories, I'm definitely going to try the multi-pronged approach: contacting my state representative's office first thing Monday morning (so many people have had great results with that), and also looking into the Claimyr service that worked so well for @Asher Levin and others. It's absolutely criminal that Florida's unemployment system is designed to be this deliberately difficult and opaque. The fact that these "pending issues" often turn out to be simple things that could be fixed in minutes if they just told us what was wrong makes it even more infuriating. But I'm so grateful this community exists to share actual working solutions when the official system completely abandons us. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping hope alive - we'll get through this broken system together!

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for the past month! The DEO phone system is absolutely broken and it's clear they're hoping we'll just give up. After reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to share what's been working for me lately: I've had the most success calling between 7:28-7:31am on Tuesday through Thursday mornings. It still takes multiple attempts (usually 8-12 tries), but I've managed to get through 3 times in the past 2 weeks using this window. The key is to call RIGHT before they officially open at 7:30am and be ready to immediately navigate through the menu options. Also, definitely check your "Determinations and Pending Issues" section in CONNECT like others mentioned - mine showed a similar "able and available" flag that I didn't even know existed. Once I knew what the specific issue was, the agent was able to address it directly instead of us both guessing what was wrong. The system is absolutely infuriating, but don't give up! Your benefits are there waiting for you - it's just a matter of getting past their deliberately difficult barriers. Keep trying the early morning calls and consider the Inspector General complaint route if you're still stuck after a few more attempts.

I'm so glad to see this thread and all the helpful advice! I've been dealing with the exact same issue for almost 4 weeks now - my claim has been stuck in "pending" status and I get disconnected every single time I call. It's incredibly frustrating and honestly feels like they're deliberately making it impossible to get help. I'm definitely going to try the 7:29am calling strategy that several people have mentioned, and I'll also check my determinations section to see if there's a specific issue listed like the "able and available" flag others have found. It's ridiculous that we have to become detectives just to figure out what's wrong with our own claims! Has anyone had success with the email option through CONNECT? I sent a message 5 days ago but haven't heard anything back. At this point I'm willing to try every suggestion in this thread - the CareerSource visit, the Inspector General complaint, everything. It's so wrong that people who've lost their jobs have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies. At least now I know I'm not alone in this mess and there might actually be light at the end of the tunnel!

This entire thread is a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - completed ID.me verification last Friday and my CONNECT account is still locked. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this is a widespread problem that DEO really needs to fix at the system level. I'm going to try the phone option (833-FL-APPLY, 5-7-2) that worked for @Sasha first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work I'll email both DEO.Identityverification@deo.myflorida.com and Monica.Greenlee@deo.myflorida.com with the subject lines you all suggested. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but I'm grateful this community exists to share solutions. Will definitely update with my results to help others who might be going through the same thing!

This thread should be pinned! I just went through the same nightmare last week and wish I had found this information sooner. The phone tree option (833-FL-APPLY, 5-7-2) worked for me too - got through on the second try and they unlocked my account while I was on the phone. One thing I'd add for anyone else dealing with this: when you call, have your ID.me confirmation email ready. The agent asked me for the exact timestamp of when I completed verification, which was in that email. They said it helps them locate your case faster in their system. It's absolutely insane that DEO implemented ID.me verification without ensuring their systems could properly sync. How many people are probably giving up on their benefits because of these technical issues? Thank you to everyone who shared their solutions - you're literally helping put food on people's tables!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my balance is almost gone but my benefit year doesn't end until August. From what I've learned after calling around and researching, Florida really does only give you that initial lump sum amount and that's it. No extensions, no refills. It's pretty harsh compared to other states. One thing I'd suggest is checking if you qualify for any other assistance programs through ACCESS Florida while you're job hunting - things like SNAP benefits or emergency assistance. Also, make sure you're using all the free job search resources like Indeed, LinkedIn, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's job portal. The hospitality industry here does have a lot of turnover so new positions open up frequently. Keep your head up and definitely keep filing those weekly claims even with $0 - better to stay in the system just in case anything changes!

I went through this exact same situation when I moved here from Colorado last year! Florida's unemployment system is definitely a shock compared to other states. One thing that really helped me was setting up job alerts on multiple platforms (Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter) so I was getting notifications immediately when new hospitality positions were posted. Since you mentioned you have interviews lined up, that's a great sign! The Florida job market can be tough but hospitality management roles do come up regularly, especially with the tourism industry here. Also, if you're open to it, some of the major hotel chains and resorts offer decent signing bonuses right now due to staffing shortages. Keep filing those weekly claims even after your balance hits zero - it maintains your active status in the system and shows continuous unemployment if you need it for any future applications or assistance programs. You've got this!