Has anyone else noticed that DEO deliberately makes it hard to reach them so people give up on getting benefits they're entitled to? I've been dealing with the FL unemployment system for 3 years now (on and off) and it's ALWAYS like this. The phone system is intentionally designed to frustrate claimants. Florida has one of the lowest benefit payment rates in the country because their system is designed to deny people or make it so difficult they give up. I've had some luck by calling their fraud department number and then asking to be transferred to claims. Sometimes they'll do it. DON'T actually falsely report fraud obviously, but if you call that department, they actually answer phones.

Just to follow up on your specific issue with payments showing as eligible but not being deposited - this is usually due to one of three things: 1. Payment method issues (direct deposit info incorrect, Way2Go card not activated, etc.) 2. A hidden hold on your account that isn't displaying properly in CONNECT 3. A system glitch where the payment was processed but not properly recorded When you do reach someone, specifically ask them to check for any payment holds or flags on your account. Also ask if they can see when/if payments were issued. Sometimes payments were sent to the Way2Go card even when claimants requested direct deposit. If the payments are for weeks in January 2025, make sure you completed all work search requirements (5 work search activities per week) and reported them correctly. That's the most common reason for payment delays.

Just to be clear about the biweekly claiming: You'll claim TWO weeks at once when your window opens. You'll need to enter work search information for both weeks (5 activities per week, so 10 total when claiming biweekly). Also, remember that your first week is a "waiting week" that you must claim but won't get paid for. So your first payment will actually cover week 2 only. After that, you'll get two weeks of benefits each time you successfully claim. Make sure to answer all questions honestly - especially about whether you worked or earned any income during the weeks you're claiming. Incorrect info can lead to overpayment issues later.

One last tip: When your claiming link does appear, set aside at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete it. Have your work search information ready (company names, addresses, contact methods, positions applied for, application dates). The system times out after 30 minutes of inactivity and doesn't save your progress. Also, when answering the question about being "able and available" for work, always select "yes" unless you were truly unavailable (hospitalized, out of the country, etc.). Selecting "no" will disqualify you for benefits for that week.

Hey there, I actually work in HR and deal with unemployment claims all the time. Here's what's happening: when a business closes and the owner isn't responding to DEO's requests for information, your claim gets flagged for manual review (adjudication). The good news is that Florida law has a "non-response default" provision - if the employer doesn't respond to DEO's inquiries within a certain timeframe, they have to process your claim based solely on your information. You need to get through to a DEO agent and specifically request that they note your file with "employer non-responsive due to business closure" and ask for escalation to an adjudicator. Also ask them to check if your former employer's DEO account is inactive, which would further support your case. In the meantime, gather any evidence of the closure - pictures of the closed location, news articles, social media announcements, final pay stubs, or statements from coworkers. You can upload these to your CONNECT account under "Documentation."

Update? Were you able to get your claim resolved? I'm curious if the Claimyr suggestion helped or if you found another way through.

Quick update - I just saw your comment about not seeing anything in your CONNECT inbox. That could actually be part of the problem. Sometimes the DEO system glitches and doesn't display messages even though they're in the system. When you finally reach a representative, ask them specifically to check if there are any pending fact-finding questionnaires or requests for information assigned to your account that aren't visible to you. Also, make sure you're still claiming weeks even while waiting for this to resolve! Many people stop claiming thinking there's no point since they're not getting paid, but once the issue is fixed, they can only pay you for properly claimed weeks.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to anyone? The Claimyr service I mentioned earlier helped me connect within 35 minutes today when I needed to ask about a new issue. The DEO agent was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim - turned out to be something completely different than what I thought. Hope you get answers soon!

Have u tried the automated phone system? I couldnt find it online either but when i called the main DEO number (not the regular customer service) and went through the automated menu there was an option specifically for tax documents. Might be worth trying before spending hours trying to talk to a human.

Just wondering did u check ur spam folder in ur email??? Sometimes DEO sends electronic copies and they go to spam. Worth checking!!

im pretty sure if you miss answering any questions they wont process your payment. happened to my roommate. he had to call DEO and they fixed it for him but took like 3 weeks to get paid

Based on what you mentioned about reporting self-employment income, that's almost certainly why your payment is pending. DEO automatically flags claims with reported income for verification. They want to make sure you're reporting the correct amount and that you're still eligible for partial benefits. This is actually a good sign that you're doing things correctly - it's better to accurately report income and have a temporary delay than to not report it and potentially face an overpayment issue later. These income verifications usually resolve within 5-10 business days without you needing to do anything. If it goes longer than two weeks, then it might be worth contacting them directly to check on status.

anybody try calling the naples office? i heard they sometimes answer faster than the main line

I just wanted to follow up on this - the changing payment amounts issue is actually a known system problem DEO is working on fixing. I was at a CareerSource office yesterday and overheard a DEO representative telling someone that their IT department identified a bug affecting certain claims filed between March-May. The bug occurs when the system applies income deductions incorrectly. If you're experiencing this, they recommend: 1. Document all payment amounts received 2. File a formal appeal for each incorrect payment (this puts it in a different processing queue) 3. Submit all appeals together with a cover letter explaining the pattern 4. Request retroactive adjustment of all affected payments For the backpay issue, they're currently about 90-120 days behind on processing those requests, so you should hear something within the next 30 days hopefully.

have u tried using a different device? my laptop wouldn't work but my sisters phone did for some reason

Hi, just checking back - were you able to resolve this issue? I'm curious if any of the suggestions worked for you.

i waited 8 weeks but my friend got thru using that claimyr thing someone mentioned above. she said it was WAY faster than waiting

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! Used Claimyr to get through to DEO this morning and was connected to an agent in about 30 minutes. They transferred me to an adjudicator who confirmed I should have never been told to file a new claim. They're removing the new application, putting me back on my original claim with an extension, and said I should see payments within 48 hours for all my back weeks! Thank you everyone for your help - especially the suggestion to use Claimyr and to specifically ask for an adjudicator.

I think the real issue is that Florida's unemployment system is designed to deny claims and keep the official unemployment rate artificially low. I was denied three times before finally getting approved, and then it was only for 12 weeks at $325 (before the recent increase). They count on people giving up.

To directly answer your question: There are currently no new federal unemployment programs being implemented through Florida DEO. The regular state Reemployment Assistance provides 12-23 weeks depending on state unemployment rate (currently at the minimum 12 weeks). If you've exhausted these benefits, I recommend connecting with your local CareerSource office for job search assistance and potential retraining opportunities. They can also inform you about other assistance programs you might qualify for.