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!

I'm in a similar boat - laid off from my retail management job in January and getting close to exhausting my benefits. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful, especially about keeping the CONNECT account active and documenting everything. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I called my local 211 service (just dial 2-1-1) and they connected me with several local organizations that help with utilities, rent assistance, and food while you're between jobs. Some of them don't even require you to be completely out of benefits yet - they help people who are about to lose income. Also, if anyone is in the Tampa Bay area, the Pinellas County Urban League has a program specifically for people transitioning off unemployment. They help with resume building, interview prep, and even have connections with employers who are willing to hire people coming off unemployment benefits. The whole system is definitely frustrating, but there are more resources out there than I initially realized. Hang in there everyone!

Just wanted to share my experience - I finally got through after 3 weeks of trying! What worked for me was calling right at 7:45 AM (15 minutes before they officially open) and staying on the line even when it said "all representatives are busy." I know it sounds crazy, but I literally called 47 times one day before getting through. The rep was actually really helpful once I got connected. For those still struggling, don't give up! Also, make sure you have your PIN, SSN, and claim confirmation number ready. The whole call took about 25 minutes once I got through. Hang in there everyone! 💪

Thanks for sharing this! I've been dealing with the same nightmare for about 10 days now. The automated system just hangs up on me half the time, and when it doesn't, I sit on hold for hours only to get disconnected. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about finances and then the system meant to help you is completely broken. I'm going to try some of the tips people have shared here - especially calling right when they open and having all my info ready beforehand. This thread is honestly more helpful than anything I've found on the official DEO website. Solidarity to everyone still fighting this system! 🤝

This is absolutely maddening! I'm a new filer (just submitted my claim last week) and reading through all of these experiences has me terrified that I'm going to run into the same wall. I had NO IDEA about the EmployFlorida requirement - like everyone else here, there was nothing obvious in the CONNECT application that made this seem urgent or mandatory. I'm registering right now before I even wait to see if there's a problem with my claim. It's honestly shocking how many people are getting trapped by this same hidden requirement. The fact that DEO reps themselves don't always know about the connection between the systems is just beyond comprehension. How is this legal?? They're essentially withholding benefits because of a registration requirement that they barely mention and certainly don't emphasize. Going to complete the full EmployFlorida registration today (profile, resume, skills assessment, work history - everything mentioned in this thread) and then probably call DEO to make sure everything is linked properly. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this thread should be pinned at the top of this community because clearly TONS of people are running into this same trap.

This thread is incredibly eye-opening and honestly infuriating! I've been dealing with unemployment claims in Florida for my family members over the years, and the EmployFlorida registration requirement has ALWAYS been poorly communicated. What's worse is that even when you know about it, the systems don't always sync properly between CONNECT and EmployFlorida. A few additional tips based on my experience helping others navigate this mess: 1. After completing your EmployFlorida registration, log back in after 24-48 hours to make sure all sections saved properly - I've seen cases where parts of the profile randomly disappeared 2. When you call DEO, specifically ask them to "verify the EmployFlorida system integration" - use those exact words because some reps know that specific process 3. If possible, complete your registration on a desktop computer rather than mobile - the EmployFlorida site has issues on phones that can cause incomplete submissions The fact that this community thread has become the most comprehensive guide to solving this problem (instead of official DEO documentation) really says everything about how broken the system is. Florida needs to completely overhaul how they communicate these requirements during the initial application process. No one should have to wait 7+ weeks to discover a hidden requirement that should have been explained upfront!

This entire thread is a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - completed ID.me verification last Friday and my CONNECT account is still locked. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this is a widespread problem that DEO really needs to fix at the system level. I'm going to try the phone option (833-FL-APPLY, 5-7-2) that worked for @Sasha first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work I'll email both DEO.Identityverification@deo.myflorida.com and Monica.Greenlee@deo.myflorida.com with the subject lines you all suggested. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to, but I'm grateful this community exists to share solutions. Will definitely update with my results to help others who might be going through the same thing!

This thread should be pinned! I just went through the same nightmare last week and wish I had found this information sooner. The phone tree option (833-FL-APPLY, 5-7-2) worked for me too - got through on the second try and they unlocked my account while I was on the phone. One thing I'd add for anyone else dealing with this: when you call, have your ID.me confirmation email ready. The agent asked me for the exact timestamp of when I completed verification, which was in that email. They said it helps them locate your case faster in their system. It's absolutely insane that DEO implemented ID.me verification without ensuring their systems could properly sync. How many people are probably giving up on their benefits because of these technical issues? Thank you to everyone who shared their solutions - you're literally helping put food on people's tables!

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for the past month! The DEO phone system is absolutely broken and it's clear they're hoping we'll just give up. After reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to share what's been working for me lately: I've had the most success calling between 7:28-7:31am on Tuesday through Thursday mornings. It still takes multiple attempts (usually 8-12 tries), but I've managed to get through 3 times in the past 2 weeks using this window. The key is to call RIGHT before they officially open at 7:30am and be ready to immediately navigate through the menu options. Also, definitely check your "Determinations and Pending Issues" section in CONNECT like others mentioned - mine showed a similar "able and available" flag that I didn't even know existed. Once I knew what the specific issue was, the agent was able to address it directly instead of us both guessing what was wrong. The system is absolutely infuriating, but don't give up! Your benefits are there waiting for you - it's just a matter of getting past their deliberately difficult barriers. Keep trying the early morning calls and consider the Inspector General complaint route if you're still stuck after a few more attempts.

I'm so glad to see this thread and all the helpful advice! I've been dealing with the exact same issue for almost 4 weeks now - my claim has been stuck in "pending" status and I get disconnected every single time I call. It's incredibly frustrating and honestly feels like they're deliberately making it impossible to get help. I'm definitely going to try the 7:29am calling strategy that several people have mentioned, and I'll also check my determinations section to see if there's a specific issue listed like the "able and available" flag others have found. It's ridiculous that we have to become detectives just to figure out what's wrong with our own claims! Has anyone had success with the email option through CONNECT? I sent a message 5 days ago but haven't heard anything back. At this point I'm willing to try every suggestion in this thread - the CareerSource visit, the Inspector General complaint, everything. It's so wrong that people who've lost their jobs have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies. At least now I know I'm not alone in this mess and there might actually be light at the end of the tunnel!