This thread has been incredibly informative and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, Ravi! As someone who's had identity theft issues before (not with DEO but similar situation), I wanted to add that you should also consider filing a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. This creates an official federal record of the fraud that can sometimes help speed up investigations with state agencies like DEO. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to change the password and security questions on your email account that's linked to CONNECT - often hackers get into email first to see payment notifications and then know exactly when to strike with banking changes. One more thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all your contacts, case numbers, reference numbers, and follow-up dates. It sounds like overkill but when you're dealing with multiple agencies (DEO, bank, police, etc.) it becomes a lifesaver to have everything organized in one place. You're doing everything right by being proactive and thorough. The $1,100 will come back - it's just going to take persistence and patience. Keep us updated on your progress!

This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry you're going through this! The advice in this thread is incredible - I've saved several of these tips for my own reference. One thing I'd add that helped when my mom dealt with a similar situation: if you're getting nowhere with the regular DEO channels, try contacting your state senator or representative's office directly. Most have dedicated staff who handle constituent issues with state agencies, and they often have direct phone numbers that bypass the regular customer service queues. Also, when you do get through to someone at DEO, ask them to email you a summary of your conversation and case details. Having written confirmation of what was discussed and what steps they're taking can be really helpful if you need to escalate later. The fact that you've documented everything so thoroughly and are being so proactive gives me confidence you'll get this resolved. That $1,100 is YOUR money and you deserve to get it back. Stay strong and keep advocating for yourself! 💪

Quick question - does anyone know if we can download that payment history as a spreadsheet or PDF? I tried looking but couldn't figure it out.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding your payment history, try clearing your browser cache and cookies for the CONNECT site first. I had issues where certain sections wouldn't load properly until I did that. Also, the payment history sometimes takes a few seconds to load completely, so don't click away too quickly if it looks blank at first. The system can be really slow during peak hours (usually Monday mornings and around 5pm when everyone gets off work).

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! My balance showed $0 for almost 6 weeks but I kept claiming and doing my work searches. Turns out my previous employer had disputed my claim saying I was "fired for cause" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The adjudication process took forever but once they ruled in my favor, I got a lump sum payment for all the weeks I had claimed during that $0 balance period. The key things that helped me were: 1) Never stopped claiming weeks even though balance was $0, 2) Kept meticulous records of all my job search activities (screenshots, emails, etc.), and 3) Checked my CONNECT account multiple times per day for any new messages or fact-finding questionnaires. Don't get discouraged by the $0 balance - it's likely just a temporary hold while they investigate something. Keep doing what you're supposed to do and you should get paid once it's resolved!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and it was so stressful! My balance showed $0 for nearly 7 weeks but I had multiple unclaimed weeks available. Like others have mentioned, it turned out to be an adjudication issue - my former employer had initially provided incorrect information about my separation reason. Here's what I learned: ALWAYS keep claiming those weeks even with a $0 balance! I cannot stress this enough. The system will let you claim them for a reason. During my adjudication period, I claimed every single week and completed all 5 work search requirements religiously. When DEO finally resolved my case, I received a massive lump sum payment covering all those weeks I had claimed during the $0 balance period. A few tips that really helped me: - Set up a spreadsheet to track all work search activities (date, company, position, method of contact) - Take screenshots of every job application confirmation page - Check your CONNECT messages at least twice daily - they sometimes send time-sensitive requests - If you get overwhelmed by the phone system, try calling right at 7:30 AM when they open The waiting is absolutely awful, but hang in there and keep following the process. The system is designed to test your persistence, but if you're eligible, you will eventually get paid for all those weeks you claim during this period.

Update: I finally got through to DEO this morning (called right at 7:30am and waited 45 mins). The rep told me my pending issue is a 'wage verification' problem because my previous employer reported different quarterly wages than what I claimed. They said this requires adjudication but she marked it for 'expedited review' since it's been pending so long. She said to expect 7-10 more business days. I'm not holding my breath based on everyone's experiences here, but at least I know what the issue is now. Will try the 72-hour supervisory review request too if nothing happens in a week. Thanks for all the advice everyone!

Hey @KingKongZilla - glad you finally got some answers! I went through something similar last year and the wage verification issue took about 3 weeks total once they actually started working on it. The "expedited review" marking does help - it puts you in a slightly faster queue. One thing that helped me was uploading my W-2 and final paystub from that employer to the document section in CONNECT, even though they didn't specifically ask for it. Sometimes the adjudicators can resolve wage discrepancies faster when they have your documentation right there instead of having to request it separately. Also keep an eye on your employer's response in the system - sometimes the wage difference is just a reporting error on their end that gets corrected quickly. Hoping you see movement soon!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been dealing with DEO for about 6 months now. The payment timing really does vary - I've had weeks where it hits my account in 24 hours and others where it takes 4-5 days. One thing I noticed is that if you claim early in the morning (like before 8am), it seems to process faster than if you wait until later in the day. Also, for anyone still waiting on payments from months ago - definitely try contacting your state representative's office. I was stuck in "adjudication limbo" for 8 weeks and my rep's office got it resolved in 3 days. They have direct lines to DEO that bypass all the phone tree nonsense. And yeah, the end of the $600 FPUC is going to hurt. I'm already trying to find part-time work to supplement because regular benefits alone just don't cut it with how expensive everything has gotten.

Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying! I just filed my initial claim last week and I'm still waiting to hear back on whether it's approved. The whole process feels like navigating a maze blindfolded. It's reassuring to see that some people are getting payments relatively quickly once they're in the system, but all the stories about people waiting months in "adjudication limbo" have me stressed. I've already started taking screenshots of everything like some of you suggested - definitely learned that lesson from reading this thread! And I'm bummed to learn about the $600 federal payments ending right when I might finally be eligible. Typical timing, right? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips - this community is honestly more helpful than anything DEO has provided so far!