Hey OP, what state are you in? The process can vary a lot depending on where you are.

unpopular opinion: maybe try looking for a job instead of waiting for a handout? 🤷‍♂️

thanks for the update!! gonna try claimyr tomorrow cuz im still locked out. this is ridiculous we have to go through all this just to access our own accounts 🙄

Glad to hear you got it resolved @Zainab! This is exactly the kind of info we all need. I've been dealing with similar access issues for the past few days and was about to lose my mind. Going to try the Claimyr route since direct calling hasn't worked for me either. It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own unemployment benefits, but at least there's a solution that actually works. Thanks for following up with what fixed it!

I'm dealing with the same issue! This is actually my first time experiencing a CONNECT outage since I just started filing claims two weeks ago. I've been trying to log in since about 7:45am and keep getting that "Service Unavailable" error. I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my account or that I'd missed some important step in the process. It's both frustrating and relieving to see that this is affecting everyone - at least I know it's not something I did wrong! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. I had no idea these outages were this common or that there were strategies like taking screenshots and trying different browsers. Definitely going to start doing that going forward. I tried calling the phone line but couldn't get through after an hour of waiting. Going to keep checking back throughout the day and hope it comes back up soon. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips - this community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating all the quirks of the Florida unemployment system!

Having the same issue here! I've been trying to get into CONNECT since around 8am and keep hitting that "Service Unavailable" wall. This is only my third week filing claims so I wasn't sure if this was a "me" problem or a system problem - really glad I found this thread! I was starting to get that sinking feeling that maybe I'd somehow messed up my account setup or missed some crucial step. The advice about taking screenshots is gold - wish I'd thought of that earlier. Also going to try that Microsoft Edge tip since Chrome has been giving me nothing but grief. It's frustrating that we have to become IT experts just to file for benefits, but I'm grateful for everyone sharing their workarounds and experiences. Makes me feel less alone in figuring out this whole system! Hopefully it's back up soon for all of us - fingers crossed! 🤞

I'm going through almost the exact same nightmare right now! Been waiting 8 weeks for adjudication after my former employer (a small tech startup that laid off half their staff) completely ignored DEO's requests. The fact finding status keeps disappearing and reappearing on my dashboard too - one day it shows "completed" and the next day it's gone entirely. It's like the system is playing games with us. I haven't found new work yet but reading that you got a warehouse job gives me hope that there are opportunities out there. The most frustrating part is having all the proper documentation (layoff email, final paystub, unemployment verification letter from HR) but still being stuck because one party won't respond. I've been claiming weeks religiously even though no payments are coming through. At this point I'm considering the Claimyr service mentioned above since calling DEO directly seems impossible. This whole process makes an already stressful situation so much worse!

I'm dealing with something very similar - been waiting 6 weeks for adjudication after my former employer (a restaurant chain that closed our location) never responded to DEO either. The fact finding status has been doing that same disappearing act on my CONNECT dashboard. It's so frustrating because I have all my documentation uploaded but they still need to hear from an employer that literally doesn't exist anymore at that location. I just wanted to say congrats on landing the warehouse job! That has to be such a relief even while you're still fighting for those back benefits. I'm still job searching but seeing success stories like yours keeps me motivated. This whole thread has been really helpful - it's good to know this employer non-response issue is common and not just something wrong with my specific case. Definitely going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here if my status doesn't change soon!

As someone brand new to this community and the Florida unemployment system, this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I just filed my first claim a few weeks ago and had no idea that these "on hold" situations were so common. What really stands out to me is how everyone here has basically had to become experts on workarounds for a system that should just work properly. The fact that @Luca Esposito got his payment but CONNECT still showed "on hold" perfectly illustrates how unreliable the official system is. I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here - checking payment methods directly instead of trusting CONNECT status, the 2-4 week timeline for mysterious holds to resolve, optimal calling times, and resources like the monetary reconsideration option. This is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that new claimants desperately need but can't find anywhere in DEO's official guidance. It's both frustrating and comforting to see how this community has come together to fill the information gaps left by the DEO's poor communication. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're helping so many people understand what to expect and feel less alone in dealing with this confusing process!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently dealing with my first unemployment claim and was completely bewildered when one of my weeks went "on hold" with absolutely no explanation from DEO. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - especially @Luca Esposito's update that the payment eventually came through after 3 weeks even though CONNECT never updated properly. That gives me hope that my held week isn't just lost forever! The practical advice shared here is invaluable - I had no idea about checking my actual payment method instead of trusting what CONNECT shows, or about resources like the monetary reconsideration option @Mateo Rodriguez mentioned. It's clear that successfully navigating the DEO system requires this kind of community knowledge that you simply can't get from their official resources. This thread perfectly demonstrates why this community is so important - real people sharing real experiences and actionable advice for dealing with a confusing and often frustrating system. Thanks to everyone who took the time to help others understand what to expect. It really helps newcomers like me feel less alone in this process!