This is such a relief to see resolved! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got a vague fact finding email yesterday with no details in CONNECT. Based on your experience and everyone's advice here, I'm going to try calling DEO first thing tomorrow morning, and if I can't get through I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service. It's frustrating how common these system glitches seem to be with DEO. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - it gives me hope that mine will get sorted out too!

This thread is so helpful! I'm going through something similar right now - got the vague fact finding email 3 days ago and nothing in CONNECT. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the system glitches are unfortunately really common with DEO. I'm going to follow Dylan's approach and try calling them first thing tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work, I'll look into the Claimyr service that StarSailor mentioned. It's reassuring to know that these issues do get resolved eventually, even though the whole process is incredibly stressful. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone dealing with DEO's broken system!

One thing I recommend doing immediately: make sure you're registered with EVERY staffing agency in your area. Tell them you're available for temp work while you continue your job search. It won't pay as well as your marketing job, but it can help bridge the gap. Also, consider reaching out to your previous employer's HR department - sometimes they can connect you with industry-specific resources or other companies that might be hiring.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the 12-week limit is absolutely brutal. I just wanted to add that you might also want to check if you qualify for any local assistance programs in Tampa Bay. Places like the Salvation Army, United Way, and local churches often have emergency assistance funds for rent/utilities while you're job searching. Also, have you tried expanding your search to remote marketing positions? With your experience, you might have better luck with companies outside of Florida that offer remote work. The marketing job market is tough everywhere right now, but casting a wider net geographically could help. Hang in there - you're not alone in this struggle.

I went through something similar last year and want to share what I learned. The key thing that helped me was discovering that DEO often makes errors in how they calculate the "week ending" dates for income reporting. What happened in my case was that I was paid on Fridays, but DEO was attributing that income to the wrong certification week. So it looked like I had unreported income when really it was just a timing issue with how they processed the dates. Here's what I'd suggest doing RIGHT NOW: 1. Pull up your old weekly certifications and write down exactly what you reported each week 2. Get your pay stubs/bank statements and note the exact dates you received payments 3. Compare these side by side to see if there's a date mismatch Also, when you call DEO (and you MUST call them), ask them to walk you through exactly which weeks they say you misreported and what amounts. Don't let them just say "you didn't report correctly" - make them be specific about dates and dollar amounts. The appeal process is stressful but totally doable if you have your documentation in order. You've got this!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Just got hit with a $3,100 overpayment notice and I'm completely overwhelmed. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both terrifying and reassuring at the same time. One thing I noticed from my determination letter is that they're claiming I didn't report income for weeks where I KNOW I reported everything correctly. I've been keeping detailed records because I was paranoid about making mistakes, but now I'm second-guessing everything. Has anyone had success with requesting the specific calculation details from DEO? Like, can they show you exactly how they arrived at the overpayment amount? I feel like I'm flying blind trying to figure out what they think I did wrong. Also, for those who successfully appealed - how long did it take from filing the appeal to actually getting a hearing date? I'm worried about the financial stress dragging on for months while this gets resolved. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and advice. This community is literally the only place I've found real information about dealing with these overpayment nightmares!

This is excellent advice. I tend to get emotional about this whole situation because it's been so stressful, but you're right - I need to focus on the technical and regulatory aspects. I'll practice making my points clearly before any hearing.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might help with your appeal and hearing preparation. Since you mentioned being hospitalized for 91 days with COVID, you should also look into whether Florida has any provisions for "good cause" exceptions to standard eligibility timelines due to medical emergencies. When I had a similar (though much shorter) medical issue that prevented me from filing claims, I found that DEO has internal policies about medical incapacity that aren't well-publicized. You'll want to specifically ask about Florida Administrative Code Rule 73B-11.011 which covers situations where claimants couldn't comply with requirements due to circumstances beyond their control. Also, make sure to get a detailed printout of your entire claim history from CONNECT before your hearing - including all the lock/unlock dates, failed ID.me attempts, and system error messages. The hearing officer needs to see the pattern of technical failures that prevented you from accessing benefits you were entitled to. One last tip: if you do get through to a DEO agent via Claimyr or your state rep, ask them to put detailed notes in your file explaining the system failures. These notes become part of your official record and can be referenced during appeals.

Has anyone tried the Florida Senate office for help with DEO issues? My coworker said they resolved her 3-month stuck claim in less than a week after she contacted her state senator's office. Might be worth a shot if the state rep doesn't help.

Update: I tried calling at 7:29am today and actually got through after being on hold for about 45 minutes! The agent confirmed my claim WAS assigned to an adjudicator on February 1st, but said they're currently working on claims from mid-January. She estimated it would be another 2-3 weeks before mine is reviewed. I also emailed the urgent address and plan to contact my state rep tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your advice - at least I have some actual information now instead of being completely in the dark.