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The DEO SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!! They don't want to pay benefits so they make it IMPOSSIBLE to complete applications!!! I spent 9 WEEKS trying to get my application processed and only succeeded when I contacted my state representative's office. They have special liaisons who can cut through the red tape. Email your rep ASAP!!!!!
While I understand your frustration, the system isn't actually designed to make people give up. It's just severely underfunded and running on outdated technology. The CONNECT system was built in 2013 and wasn't designed to handle the volume of claims they process now. But contacting your state representative is excellent advice - they do have dedicated DEO liaisons who can escalate issues.
UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what finally worked for me! I tried the Claimyr service that was recommended here, and I was connected to a DEO agent in about 35 minutes. The agent was able to see that my application was stuck because of an identity verification issue (my driver's license expiration date was entered incorrectly). She fixed it on the spot, and my application status changed from 'pending submission' to 'submitted' immediately! Now I just have to wait for the standard processing time. Thank you all for your suggestions - this forum saved my sanity!
That's awesome news! I've been following this thread because I'm having similar issues with my application being stuck. Going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow morning. Quick question - did they charge you for the service or is it free? And how long did the whole process take from when you first contacted them to getting connected with the DEO agent?
@Ethan Wilson The Claimyr service does charge a fee I (think it was around $20 but) honestly it was worth every penny after 6 weeks of getting nowhere on my own. The whole process took about 45 minutes total - I submitted my request through their website, they called me back within 10 minutes to confirm my info, then called again about 35 minutes later when they had a DEO agent on the line. Way better than spending hours every day redialing! Just make sure you have all your documents ready ID, (SSN, employer info because) once you get connected, you want to be able to answer everything quickly.
To give everyone the most up-to-date information: I just checked the latest DEO communications, and they're indicating that IF the new federal assistance program passes, claimants who exhausted benefits within the last 6 months would likely need to submit a special application through CONNECT. They'll also need to provide documentation proving continued job search activities during the gap period. For those who have active CONNECT accounts (even with exhausted benefits), the announcement would appear in your CONNECT inbox with application instructions. For those whose benefit year has ended, they would need to reopen their claim. Remember though - this program is still just proposed legislation. It's important to pursue all other available resources in the meantime.
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through benefit exhaustion recently. I exhausted my regular Florida benefits in December 2024 and have been navigating this exact situation. A few things I learned that might help: 1. Even after your benefits end, keep your CONNECT account active and check it regularly. I got a survey from DEO about potential new programs through my CONNECT inbox that I almost missed. 2. If you're worried about the income gap, look into temporary/gig work while waiting. I started doing some part-time warehouse temp work through staffing agencies - it's not ideal but it helps cover basic expenses and shows continued work search activity. 3. Contact your local American Job Center (part of CareerSource). They have resources beyond just job searching - some locations offer emergency assistance referrals and skills training programs that can help bridge the gap. The uncertainty is really stressful, but don't give up. Keep all your documentation organized and stay engaged with the process even after benefits end. Wishing you the best of luck with your job search!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who recently went through this. I didn't know about the surveys coming through CONNECT - I'll make sure to check my inbox more frequently. The temporary work idea is smart too. I've been so focused on finding a permanent position that I hadn't considered temp work as a bridge. Do you mind me asking which staffing agencies you found most responsive for warehouse temp work? I have experience in that area so it might be a good option while I wait to see what happens with the federal program.
This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my claim has been "under review" for almost 8 weeks now. Reading about Emma's and Romeo's success stories gives me hope that there actually are real people working at DEO who can help once you get through to them. I'm planning to try the Claimyr service this week based on the positive feedback here, and I'll also follow up with the DOL complaint route if needed. It's absolutely ridiculous that Florida's unemployment system is this broken, but at least this community is helping each other navigate it. One question for those who successfully got through - did the agents give you any timeline estimates for when similar issues might be resolved? I'm trying to manage expectations while also preparing backup plans for rent/bills. Thanks again everyone for the detailed advice and updates!
Hey Sean! When I spoke with the DEO agent after getting through via Claimyr, she told me that most "under review" cases should be resolved within 2-3 weeks once they're actually looked at by a human. The problem is that claims can sit in the queue for months without anyone touching them due to staffing issues. In my case, she said the wage verification issue should have been caught and fixed automatically by the system, but there was some glitch that required manual intervention. 8 weeks is definitely way too long - that's about the same timeframe I was dealing with. The agent I spoke with seemed genuinely surprised when I told her how long I'd been waiting and said that's not supposed to happen. She put some kind of priority flag on my case which is probably why it got resolved so quickly afterward. Definitely try the Claimyr service - it was frustrating to have to pay for it, but honestly it was worth every penny to finally get answers and get my payments flowing again. And yeah, having backup plans for bills is smart while you're waiting. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been stuck in "pending adjudication" for 5 weeks now and was starting to lose hope. Reading about Emma's and Romeo's success stories is exactly what I needed to hear. It's frustrating that Florida's system is so broken that we have to find workarounds just to access benefits we've earned, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate it. I'm going to try the Claimyr service based on the positive experiences shared here, and also reach out to my state representative as a backup plan. The tip about saying "payment issue" instead of "claim status" when calling directly is something I hadn't heard before - will definitely try that too if I attempt calling on my own again. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and actually providing actionable solutions instead of just complaining. This gives me hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel!
Welcome to the struggle, Sayid! I've been lurking in this community for a while dealing with my own DEO nightmare, and this thread has been a goldmine of actually useful information. It's refreshing to see people sharing real solutions instead of just venting (though the venting is totally justified too!). I'm in week 7 of "pending determination" myself and was getting ready to try some of these suggestions. Seeing multiple people have success with the Claimyr service is really encouraging - seems like it's legit despite the initial skepticism about paying for something that should be free. One thing I've learned from reading all these experiences is to try multiple approaches at once rather than waiting for one thing to work before trying the next. Time is money when you're dealing with bills piling up! Definitely going to follow Emma's approach of doing several things simultaneously. Keep us posted on your progress - the more success stories we can share, the more hope we can give to others stuck in this broken system!
I'm actually going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that the 13-week extensions were just a COVID thing - I've been planning my budget assuming I'd get those extra weeks automatically. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like Florida really doesn't make it easy for people who are genuinely trying to get back on their feet. James, I hope that job interview works out for you! For anyone else in this situation, it might be worth checking if you qualify for any other assistance programs while you're between benefits and employment. I know some counties have emergency rental assistance or utility help that can buy you some time. It's frustrating that we have to piece this information together from forums instead of getting clear guidance from DEO, but at least we're helping each other figure it out.
@Natalie Khan You re'so right about having to piece this together from forums instead of getting clear info from DEO! I just joined this community after stumbling across this thread while desperately googling about Florida unemployment extensions. I m'about 8 weeks into my benefits and honestly panicking after reading everyone s'experiences. Coming from out of state, I had no clue Florida s'system was so limited compared to other places. The fact that CONNECT doesn t'clearly explain the 12-week limit upfront is really misleading - they should have a big warning or something when you first apply. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories here, at least now I can plan accordingly instead of getting blindsided like James did. This whole situation really highlights how much people have to rely on each other when the official systems fail to provide basic information.
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to Florida after moving here from California and just filed my first unemployment claim last week. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm shocked that Florida only provides 12 weeks maximum - in California I would have gotten 26 weeks. It's really concerning that the CONNECT system doesn't make this clear upfront. James, I hope your new job comes through soon! For anyone else just starting their claims, it sounds like we need to treat these 12 weeks as emergency time to find work, not a safety net. I'm already looking into part-time work options just in case, and will definitely check out CareerSource Florida for additional resources. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences - this kind of peer-to-peer information is so much more valuable than the confusing official documentation.
Isabella Martin
Any luck with getting through? I'm curious if any of these methods worked for you.
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Steven Adams
•@Ava Hernandez That s'awesome that you finally made some progress! Claimyr really does seem to be the game changer here. I m'dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now and I suspect it s'also an employer contest issue. Did the DEO rep give you any sense of how long the adjudicator review typically takes once it gets escalated? And was there a cost for using the Claimyr service? Thanks for keeping everyone updated - it gives the rest of us hope!
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Aisha Khan
•@Ava Hernandez That s'fantastic progress! I ve'been following your situation and it s'such a relief to hear you finally got some answers. The employer contest issue makes total sense - that s'exactly the kind of thing that gets stuck in adjudication limbo for months. For anyone else reading this, it sounds like Claimyr might be worth the investment if you re'at your wit s'end like Ava was. The fact that she went from 3 weeks of no contact to getting through and having her case escalated in one day is pretty impressive. @Ava Hernandez - definitely keep us posted on the adjudicator timeline. I m curious'if they gave you a case number or any way to track the escalation status. Fingers crossed the 5-7 day estimate is accurate and you get this resolved soon!
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Javier Morales
I'm so glad to see you made progress @Ava Hernandez! Your situation really highlights how broken the DEO system is - it shouldn't take a third-party service to get through to your own state's unemployment office. But I'm definitely bookmarking Claimyr for future reference. For others still struggling, I wanted to add that if you're dealing with an employer contest like Ava, make sure you gather ANY documentation you have about your job separation - termination letters, emails about layoffs, even text messages from supervisors. The more evidence you can provide to the adjudicator, the stronger your case will be. Also, don't forget about legal aid organizations in your area. Many offer free consultations for unemployment issues and can sometimes help navigate the appeals process if your initial claim gets denied. It's another avenue to explore while you're trying to get through to DEO directly. Really hoping the adjudicator gets back to you within that 5-7 day window, Ava. Keep fighting - you shouldn't have to choose between rent and groceries because of bureaucratic delays!
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Ella Harper
•@Ava Hernandez @Javier Morales This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I m new'to this community but unfortunately not new to DEO nightmares. I ve been'lurking and reading everyone s experiences,'and it s both'depressing and reassuring to know I m not'alone in this mess. I m currently'on week 4 of trying to reach someone about my claim that got flagged for additional review "- no" idea what that even means. After reading all these suggestions, I think I m going'to try the Claimyr service and also reach out to my state rep like @Amelia Martinez suggested. @Ava Hernandez - really hoping your adjudicator timeline works out! Please keep updating us. Your persistence is inspiring and gives the rest of us hope that there s actually light at'the end of this tunnel. The documentation tip is spot on too @Javier Morales. I ve been scrambling to'dig up old emails and texts from when I got laid off. It s crazy that we'have to build a legal case just to get the benefits we re entitled to, but'here we are. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifeline when dealing with such a broken system!
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