As someone who just went through this exact same nightmare last week, I can confirm that the system is absolutely broken by design. What worked for me was a combination of what others mentioned here - I had to wait the full 72 hours after ID.me verification, then use a completely different browser (Edge worked when Chrome and Firefox didn't), and create a super complex password. But the real kicker was that my account was still locked even after all that, and I had to get DEO to manually unlock it. The fact that they don't tell you when your account is locked is criminal. For anyone still struggling with this, document EVERYTHING with timestamps and screenshots - it helps when you finally get through to an agent. This system desperately needs a complete overhaul.

This entire thread is a perfect example of why Florida's unemployment system is fundamentally broken. @Paolo Moretti I'm so glad you finally got through, but the fact that you had to use a third-party service just to contact DEO about THEIR system failing is absolutely insane. I've been helping people navigate CONNECT issues for over a year now, and the ID.me integration has made everything exponentially worse. The lack of clear communication about account locks, the hidden password requirements, the sync delays - it's like they designed this system to fail. What really gets me is that DEO knows these issues exist but does nothing to fix the root problems or even provide better error messages. Instead they just tell people to "keep trying" while their accounts get locked behind the scenes. For anyone reading this thread later: save yourselves the headache and assume your account will get locked if you have ANY issues after ID.me verification. Don't waste days trying technical fixes - go straight to getting DEO on the phone (however you can manage it) and have them manually verify everything. The system is broken, not you.

you might wanna check ur way2go card balance if thats how u get paid sometimes they dont notify you when backdated payments go thru and the money just shows up

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread is incredibly helpful! Filed in late February but need to backdate to early January when I was actually laid off. Been waiting about 4 weeks now with just "pending" status. One thing I learned from my research is that Florida has a specific statute (Section 443.101) that allows backdating for up to 4 weeks if you can show good cause. Since you mentioned your employer told you to wait until severance ended, that should definitely qualify as "misinformation from employer" which is one of their accepted reasons. I'm planning to try the state representative route if I don't hear anything by week 6. Also going to start checking my CONNECT inbox daily for any fact-finding requests. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know others have gotten through this process successfully!

I'm currently going through this exact same experience! My status just changed to "paid" this afternoon and I've been nervously checking my bank account every couple hours. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that waiting 2-3 business days after the "paid" status was completely standard. I was starting to panic thinking I'd somehow messed up my routing or account number during setup. The tip about checking for pending ACH transactions in online banking is absolutely genius - I'm definitely going to look for that tonight! It's so nerve-wracking being new to the unemployment system and not knowing what timeline to expect. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding the real-world timing of DEO payments. Thanks Dylan for asking exactly what so many of us newcomers are wondering about, and thanks to everyone who shared their actual experiences with payment delays. It makes such a difference to hear from people who've been through this before!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently waiting for my first payment too - status changed to "paid" yesterday and I've been checking my account obsessively. It's such a relief to know that 2-3 business days is completely normal. I was starting to panic thinking I'd entered my bank info wrong or something. The tip about checking for pending ACH transactions is genius - just looked and found it there! That gives me so much peace of mind. Thanks Dylan for asking what we're all wondering about, and thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences. This community is amazing for helping newcomers understand what to actually expect with DEO timing!

This is exactly why I keep telling people to document everything when dealing with DEO! Take screenshots of error messages, keep records of call times and dates, save confirmation numbers - it all helps when you finally get through to someone. I've been through similar lockout situations and having that documentation ready made the process go much smoother once I actually reached an agent. Also, for anyone reading this who hasn't been locked out yet, consider setting up a backup contact method or writing down your security questions/answers somewhere secure. The DEO system is so unreliable that it's better to be over-prepared than stuck like Javier was!

This thread is so helpful for anyone dealing with PIN lockouts! I went through something similar about 6 months ago and it was absolutely maddening. One additional tip I'd suggest - if you do manage to get your PIN reset, immediately change it to something you'll definitely remember but also write it down in multiple secure places. I use a password manager now specifically for my DEO login info because their system is so unforgiving if you mess up even once. Also, for future reference, the DEO mobile app sometimes works better than the website when you're trying to log in - not sure why but I've had better luck with it during high traffic times. Really glad you got sorted out though, and thanks to everyone who shared the working solutions!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been stuck in ID.me verification hell for over a week. What's really frustrating is that the error messages are so vague - just "verification unsuccessful" with zero explanation of what's actually wrong. One thing I discovered that might help - if you're using Chrome, try switching to Firefox or Safari. I read somewhere that ID.me has compatibility issues with certain browser versions. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere with the camera or photo upload. Another tip from my research: make sure your full legal name in your DEO account matches EXACTLY what's on your ID, including middle names or initials. Even tiny discrepancies can cause rejections. I'm planning to try the desktop approach tomorrow morning with natural lighting like others suggested. This whole system is absolutely broken and it's devastating that our basic survival depends on getting through this mess. Hang in there - from what I'm reading here, persistence eventually pays off for most people!

I went through this exact same ID.me nightmare about 6 months ago and it was absolutely devastating. After failing verification probably 15+ times, here's what finally worked for me: 1. Used a different device entirely - borrowed my neighbor's iPad instead of my phone 2. Made sure my face was completely centered in the selfie frame 3. Held my ID at a slight angle to avoid any glare from overhead lights 4. Most importantly - I discovered my CONNECT account had my nickname "Mike" but my driver's license shows "Michael". Once I updated my DEO profile to match my legal name exactly, it worked on the first try. The video verification is a complete joke - I waited 6 hours one day and never got connected. Don't waste your time with that unless you literally have nothing else to do. Also, once you do get verified, check your CONNECT account every few hours because sometimes the system doesn't update automatically. I had to call DEO and specifically ask them to "refresh" my verification status. The whole system is designed to make people give up, but don't let them win. Your benefits are rightfully yours. Keep pushing through - you WILL get there eventually!