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.

I went through this same nightmare last year! DEO sent me an overpayment notice for $4,800 claiming I didn't report my part-time work correctly, but I had reported every penny. Here's what worked for me: First - breathe! You're going to get through this. The screenshots you saved are going to be your lifeline. I submitted both the appeal AND the waiver request simultaneously (like others mentioned, these are separate processes). For the financial hardship documentation, I included everything - rent receipts, grocery bills, childcare costs, medical expenses, utility bills. Don't be embarrassed about showing your financial struggles - it's literally what they need to see. What really helped me was writing a detailed timeline of exactly what I reported each week, with dates and amounts. I cross-referenced this with my bank statements and screenshots to show there were no discrepancies on my end. The whole process took about 2 months, but my waiver was approved and I didn't have to pay back a cent. The key is being thorough with your documentation and meeting every single deadline they give you. Start your appeal TODAY - don't wait even one more day. You've got a strong case since you were diligent about reporting and have proof!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got an overpayment notice for $3,200 last week and I'm terrified! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful. I didn't even know about the waiver option until I saw this thread. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - when you upload your documentation to CONNECT, is there a file size limit? I have tons of screenshots and bank statements but I'm worried about hitting some kind of upload limit. Also, should I combine everything into one PDF or upload each document separately? The 20-day deadline is making me so anxious but seeing that people have successfully gotten through this is giving me hope. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is a lifesaver!

I've been following unemployment discussions across multiple states and wanted to add some perspective on the federal benefits question. The confusion might be coming from recent Congressional hearings about modernizing the unemployment system nationwide, but nothing has been passed into law yet. There are several proposals floating around - some for extending benefit duration, others for increasing federal funding to states - but they're all still in committee stages. Florida's system is particularly restrictive compared to most states, so even if something passes federally, implementation here could take months or even years given how slowly DEO moves on system changes. For now, your best bet is exactly what others have suggested: CareerSource, local assistance programs, and possibly exploring training opportunities that come with financial support. The reality is that Florida's 12-week limit leaves a lot of people in your exact situation, which is why these alternative resources become so important.

I've been reading through this thread and wanted to share my experience with navigating the post-unemployment phase. After my benefits ended in January, I was also confused about potential federal programs but learned the hard way that Florida really only has the basic RA system. What ended up helping me the most was combining several of the strategies mentioned here - I applied for SNAP immediately (took about 3 weeks to get approved), started attending CareerSource workshops which helped with work search documentation, and found a part-time gig through their job fair while continuing to look for full-time work in my field. The CareerSource counselor also told me about a local nonprofit that provides one-time emergency assistance for utilities, which bought me some breathing room. It's definitely not the federal safety net we had during COVID, but these local resources can really add up. The key is applying for everything at once rather than waiting to see what happens with each one individually.

I can confirm this is happening! I claimed yesterday and had the same experience - no work search entry screen at all. Based on what others are saying here, it sounds like DEO is transitioning to a random audit system instead of requiring weekly entry. I'm going to keep doing my 5 work searches and documenting everything with dates, company names, positions applied for, and how I applied (online, email, in-person, etc.). Better safe than sorry with DEO - they love to hit people with overpayments for the smallest reasons. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's really helpful to know we're not alone in this confusion!

This exact same thing happened to me when I claimed on Tuesday! I was so confused because I've been claiming for 6 weeks now and always had to enter my 5 work searches. When it skipped straight to submit, I thought maybe the system was broken or I accidentally clicked something wrong. I even went back and tried to find where to enter them but there was no option anywhere. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - sounds like DEO is switching to random audits instead of weekly reporting. I've been keeping a spreadsheet of all my job applications anyway (learned that lesson from horror stories on this forum), so I should be covered if they ask for verification. Still wish they would send out proper notifications about these changes instead of leaving us all confused and worried!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar overpayment double-billing issue right now (got the collection letter last week for an amount I already repaid in October). Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the CareerSource visit + certified appeal letter combo is the most effective approach. One question - for those who successfully got this resolved, did DEO send you any kind of written confirmation that the collection action was canceled? I want to make sure I have something in writing to protect myself if this somehow pops up again in the future. Their systems seem so unreliable that I wouldn't be surprised if the same issue happened again down the road. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - it's reassuring to know this can actually be fixed even though the process is frustrating!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Got an overpayment notice for $3,200 in November, paid it immediately through CONNECT, and now just received a collections letter this week for the same amount. It's absolutely maddening - you do the right thing and pay what you owe, only to have their broken system come after you again. Reading through this thread gives me hope though. I'm definitely going to try the CareerSource approach since calling DEO directly has been completely useless (4+ hours on hold yesterday just to get disconnected). @Sofia Ramirez - so relieved you got yours resolved! Quick question: when you visited CareerSource, did you need to bring anything specific beyond your payment confirmation and the collection letter? I want to make sure I have everything they might need before making the trip. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with financial hardship. DEO really needs to get their act together with these system integration issues.