Just want to echo what everyone else has said - this exact scenario happened to me about 6 months ago and it's SO stressful when you get that urgent email but can't find anything! The CONNECT system really needs better organization. For anyone else who finds this thread in the future, here's my quick checklist when you get one of those "action needed" emails: 1. Check regular inbox first (obvious but start there) 2. Look at your dashboard homepage for any red flags or notifications 3. Check Fact Finding section (this is where most "urgent" requests end up) 4. Look in Determinations & Pending Issues 5. Check Work Search section if it's about job search requirements 6. Don't forget the Correspondence section that Malik mentioned The key thing I learned is that DEO's email notifications are basically useless for telling you WHERE to actually find the thing they're talking about. They just say "check your inbox" for everything when it could be in like 5 different places. Really glad you found it and got it submitted Nora! The fact that you made it with 20 minutes to spare shows how broken their notification system is - you shouldn't have had to hunt through a forum to figure out where your "inbox message" actually was! 😤

This whole thread is a perfect example of why we need better resources for navigating DEO's messy system! As someone who's been helping folks with unemployment issues for a while, I see this exact problem come up constantly. A few additional tips for anyone dealing with similar issues: - Set up email alerts/reminders to check ALL sections of CONNECT weekly, not just when you get those vague "action needed" emails - If you're tech-savvy, bookmark direct links to each section (Fact Finding, Determinations, etc.) so you can quickly cycle through them - Keep a simple log of what you checked and when - it can help if you need to prove you were actively monitoring your account - Remember that "business days" for DEO deadlines usually means Monday-Friday, so weekend days don't count against you The community support here is incredible - it's sad that we have to crowdsource solutions to basic system navigation, but at least we're helping each other out! Nora, so glad you got everything submitted in time. Stories like yours should be sent to DEO as feedback about how confusing their notification system is.

Please help me understand why the middle class workers would vote for only 12 weeks of unemployment when we have worked all our lives. This change when Bush was in office in Florida however it was our governor. These are some of the things you do not realize you are voting for.......sad thing when you are voting against yourself

@Sabrina 3030 You're absolutely right about this being a policy choice that hurts working people. The reduction to 12 weeks happened in 2011 under Rick Scott, not Bush, but your broader point stands - these are exactly the kinds of policies that get buried in larger political conversations while having huge impacts on regular workers. What's particularly frustrating is that Florida also has one of the lowest maximum benefit amounts in the country (currently $275/week) AND the shortest duration. So we get hit with a double whammy - less money for fewer weeks than almost every other state. The justification is usually about "encouraging people to find work faster" and keeping business costs low, but as everyone in this thread can attest, 12 weeks isn't nearly enough time in a tough job market, especially for specialized fields like healthcare administration. You can be actively searching, doing everything right, and still run out of time simply because the market conditions aren't in your favor. It's one of those issues where people don't realize how inadequate the system is until they actually need it. Then you discover that this safety net you've been paying into for years barely catches you at all. The middle class gets squeezed the most because we make "too much" for most assistance programs but not enough to weather months without income. Thanks for pointing out the political reality behind these policies - it's important to connect the dots between voting choices and real-world consequences for working families.

I'm really grateful this thread exists - just filed my first unemployment claim in Florida after getting laid off from my manufacturing job and was completely confused about the work search requirements. My brother told me they weren't enforced anymore but clearly he was wrong! After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely taking this seriously. Already started a spreadsheet to track my job applications and plan to hit those CareerSource workshops too. Better to be over-prepared than lose benefits over something preventable. One thing I'm wondering - when you report your work searches during the bi-weekly claim, do you have to enter all the detailed information right then, or just confirm that you completed 5 activities? I want to make sure I'm ready for whatever format they use when I file my first claim next week. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here. This is exactly the kind of practical advice I needed!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also recently laid off (from my office job about 10 days ago) and had heard mixed information about work search requirements. My coworker told me the same thing as Paolo's friend - that they weren't being enforced anymore - but thankfully I stumbled across this discussion before making that costly mistake! I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice here: - Setting up a detailed spreadsheet to track all my work searches - Keeping screenshots and confirmation emails from applications - Looking into CareerSource workshops since they count AND provide actual job hunting help - Making sure I do exactly 5 documented activities every week The stories about people getting audited and having to repay benefits really drove home how serious this is. It's frustrating that there's so much misinformation floating around, but I'm grateful this community exists to share real experiences and accurate information. For anyone else reading this who might be in the same boat - definitely don't risk your benefits by skipping work searches. It sounds like Florida DEO is actually increasing enforcement, not decreasing it!

This whole thread is exactly why I tell everyone to save screenshots of EVERYTHING in CONNECT! The system has so many glitches and missing notifications that you really need to protect yourself with documentation. I had a similar issue last year where DEO claimed I didn't respond to an "identity verification request" that literally never appeared anywhere in my account. When I finally got through to someone (after weeks of trying), the agent admitted it was a known system bug where certain notifications weren't displaying properly for some users. What's really messed up is that they put the burden on us to somehow magically know about requests we can't see, then penalize us when we don't respond. It's like being expected to take a test you were never told was happening. For anyone going through this - don't give up! These "eligibility issues" almost always have simple explanations, but DEO makes it nearly impossible to find out what they are without speaking to an actual human. The connection services like Claimyr really are worth it when you're stuck in phone call hell for weeks. Also, once you do get it resolved, ask the agent to put notes in your file about what happened. Sometimes having that documentation helps prevent the same issue from happening again later.

This entire thread perfectly captures the nightmare that is dealing with DEO! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that CONNECT has serious systemic issues with notifications not appearing properly. What really bothers me is how this creates a two-tier system where people who can afford services like Claimyr get their issues resolved quickly, while those who can't are stuck in phone call hell for weeks or months. It shouldn't cost extra money just to access the unemployment benefits you're entitled to! I'm currently dealing with my own mysterious eligibility issue (different from OP's but equally frustrating) and this thread has convinced me to start taking daily screenshots of my CONNECT pages. The idea that they can claim they sent notifications that never actually appeared is terrifying - especially when your financial survival depends on these benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions here. It's sad that we have to rely on community knowledge to navigate a system that should be straightforward, but I'm grateful this resource exists. DEO really needs to fix their notification system before more people get denied for "failing to respond" to invisible requests.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - 7 months is absolutely insane and completely unacceptable. I went through something similar last year (stuck for 4 months in "processing") and the frustration is beyond words. What finally worked for me was a combination approach - I contacted my state rep, filed a complaint with the DEO Inspector General, AND used one of those callback services all at the same time. The key was creating pressure from multiple angles simultaneously rather than trying one thing at a time. One specific tip: when you do get through to someone, immediately ask for a "supervisor callback" and tell them your claim has been in processing for 7 months. Don't accept "we'll look into it" - demand they escalate it to someone with actual authority to take action on your claim right then and there. Also, screenshot everything in your CONNECT account regularly. Sometimes they make changes without notification, and having proof of your timeline helps when you're advocating for yourself. The system is absolutely broken by design, but don't give up. You're entitled to those benefits and the delay is 100% their fault, not yours. Keep pushing - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with DEO unfortunately.

This is absolutely maddening and unfortunately way too common with DEO! I went through almost the exact same thing - 6 months stuck in "application being processed" despite multiple ID.me verifications and consistent weekly claims. What finally broke me out of the loop was filing a complaint with Florida's Department of Management Services (DMS) in addition to all the other suggestions here. DMS oversees state agency operations and they can put pressure on DEO to actually review your case. You can file online at dms.myflorida.com under "File a Complaint." Also, try emailing your local news stations' consumer advocacy reporters. I know it sounds dramatic, but DEO is terrified of bad press and sometimes media inquiries get faster responses than months of phone calls. Channel 6 and Channel 13 both have "On Your Side" type segments that cover these exact situations. The fact that you've done everything right (ID verification, weekly claims, work searches) and they're still ignoring you for 7 MONTHS is beyond unacceptable. This is literally your lifeline they're playing games with. Don't let up the pressure - you're not asking for charity, you're demanding what you're legally entitled to receive!