Yes, you can definitely deduct business expenses for your dog sitting work! Since you're essentially running a small business, you can deduct things like: - Gas/mileage for traveling to clients (huge one!) - Dog treats, toys, or supplies you buy for the pets - Cleaning supplies if you're doing overnight sits - Phone expenses (portion used for Rover communications) - Any equipment like leashes, waste bags, etc. Keep ALL receipts and track your mileage - the IRS standard mileage rate is 65.5 cents per mile for 2023. Even small expenses add up quickly with gig work. I use a simple app to track my miles automatically. Also consider setting up a separate checking account for your Rover income and expenses - makes bookkeeping much easier come tax time. And if you're doing overnight sits, you might be able to deduct a portion of your phone/internet bills since you're using them for work. Just make sure everything is legitimately business-related and keep good records. The IRS is pretty reasonable about gig work deductions as long as you can justify them!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who does both Rover and TaskRabbit while on unemployment - the key is DOCUMENTATION! I keep screenshots of every booking confirmation, payment notification, and client message. When I had to speak with a DEO agent about a discrepancy in my claim, having all that documentation saved me from a potential overpayment situation. One thing I learned is that if you have a cancellation fee from Rover (like when a client cancels last minute), you still need to report that as income for the week it was earned, even though you didn't actually provide any service. DEO considers any payment from your 1099 work as reportable income. Also, don't forget that Florida has a partial benefit formula - if your weekly Rover earnings plus your reduced unemployment benefit end up being less than your full weekly benefit amount, you might actually come out ahead financially some weeks. It's worth doing the math to see if picking up an extra small gig is worth it or if you should wait for a bigger one. Stay organized and honest with your reporting - the system is definitely confusing but being upfront about everything is always the safest route!

Welcome to the community @NeonNomad! Your 3-month wait is unfortunately very common right now. I'd definitely recommend trying both strategies that worked for Leo - the Claimyr service seems to be the fastest way to actually reach someone who can help, and your state rep can provide additional pressure from a different angle. When you do get through, make sure to ask specifically what's flagging your claim in their system. Sometimes it's something ridiculously minor like Leo's 2-day date discrepancy that could be fixed in minutes once someone actually looks at it. The key is getting past the automated system to a real person who can see your account details. Document everything and don't give up - your persistence will pay off eventually!

Welcome to everyone who's new to this thread! It's great to see people sharing their experiences and helping each other navigate this frustrating system. For anyone just joining - I want to emphasize that while these delays are unfortunately common, they ARE fixable once you get the right person to look at your case. The combination approach seems most effective: 1) Use services like Claimyr to actually reach a DEO agent who can transfer you to adjudication, 2) Contact your state representative for additional advocacy, and 3) Document absolutely everything. Leo's success story shows that even after months of delays, resolution can happen quickly once someone reviews your file. Don't lose hope - the system is broken but your benefits are still there waiting for you. Keep fighting and supporting each other!

I just want to say how incredible this community is! Aisha, you came here scared and overwhelmed with your benefits running out, and look at all the amazing support and practical advice you've received. This is exactly what these forums should be about - real people helping each other through tough situations with actionable solutions. You now have a comprehensive action plan that covers immediate needs (temp agencies, remote call centers, gig work), medium-term support (CareerSource training programs, emergency assistance), and long-term strategy (resume optimization, expanding job search). The fact that you're being proactive about this instead of waiting until after your last payment shows you're going to make it through this. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - save this post! The resources shared here (2-1-1, CareerSource RESEA program, emergency hardship funds, ATS resume optimization, remote customer service companies) are gold for anyone facing benefit exhaustion in Florida. Aisha, please do keep us updated on how your calls go tomorrow. I have a feeling you're going to find multiple options that work. The combination of your customer service experience, willingness to learn new skills, and all these resources puts you in a much better position than you probably felt this morning. You've got this!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in after reading through this entire thread. Aisha, I'm so sorry you're facing this stressful situation, but honestly, you couldn't have asked for better advice! The response from everyone here has been incredible. As someone who just moved to Florida last year, I had no idea the unemployment benefits were so limited - only 12 weeks is shocking compared to other states I've lived in. But reading through all these suggestions, you now have such a comprehensive action plan that covers every angle. What really stands out to me is how everyone emphasized taking action IMMEDIATELY rather than waiting. That advice about applying for assistance programs now because they take weeks to process could be crucial. Same with the temp agency suggestion - if they really can place people within days, that could bridge your gap perfectly. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread in case I ever need these resources. The combination of CareerSource training programs, 2-1-1 emergency assistance, temp agencies, remote customer service jobs, resume optimization tips, and even plasma donation creates such a thorough safety net of options. You're going to get through this, Aisha. The fact that you reached out for help instead of just panicking shows you have the right mindset to navigate this challenge. Please keep us posted on how your calls go tomorrow - I think you're going to be surprised at how many doors open once you start making those contacts!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Just filed my claim two weeks ago and was so confused when I saw "Waiting Week: 11/4/2025 - 11/10/2025" on my CONNECT account. I kept refreshing the page thinking it was some kind of error or that they were still processing my first week. Reading all these responses has been such a relief - at least now I know I'm not missing out on money due to a technical glitch or mistake on my part. It's frustrating that DEO doesn't explain this clearly anywhere obvious in the application process. I spent hours googling and trying to find information about what a "waiting week" meant. They really should rename it to "unpaid eligibility week" like someone mentioned above - that would be so much clearer! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's making this whole process feel less overwhelming knowing others have been through the same confusion.

I'm dealing with this same exact situation right now and honestly, it's such a relief to find this thread! I filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and have been staring at "Waiting Week: 10/15/2025 - 10/21/2025" on my CONNECT account, completely baffled about what it meant. Like so many others here, I kept thinking it was some kind of processing delay or technical issue. The fact that DEO just throws this term out there with zero explanation is honestly infuriating - especially when you're already stressed about finances and counting on every dollar. I wish someone had warned me about this policy before I applied. I had to dip into my emergency savings to cover the gap, which defeats the whole purpose of having unemployment benefits as a safety net. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. It's clear this is a widespread communication problem with DEO, not just individual confusion. They really need to overhaul how they present this information to new claimants!

I'm so sorry you're going through this Paolo. Three months in adjudication is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you're facing homelessness. I went through something similar last year and here's what finally broke the logjam for me: I started emailing my state senator's office weekly (not just calling once). I also filed a complaint with the Florida Inspector General's office about the unreasonable delay. Within 2 weeks of filing that complaint, my claim was suddenly resolved. The IG complaint form is online and it creates a paper trail that DEO has to respond to. Also, if you haven't already, try calling the DEO director's office directly - sometimes going to the top gets results when the regular channels fail. Document everything and don't give up. You deserve better than this.

Paolo, I feel your pain - I've been stuck in adjudication since June myself. One thing that helped me get some traction was filing a formal complaint through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's website (not just calling). They have a complaint form under "Contact Us" that creates a case number and forces them to respond within a certain timeframe. I also started sending certified letters to DEO documenting my hardship situation - something about having to sign for mail seems to get more attention than phone calls. The other thing I'd suggest is reaching out to local news stations - Channel 9 here in Orlando has done several investigative pieces on DEO delays and they're always looking for people willing to share their stories. Sometimes public pressure is the only thing that works with these agencies. Hang in there and keep fighting!