My sister went through this exact situation! She worked at a school and had summer break but was contracted to return in fall. She had to do work searches even with a guaranteed return date because her return date was more than 8 weeks away. DEO is really strict about that timeframe.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else in this situation - I was furloughed from my retail management job last year with a guaranteed return date 6 weeks out. I successfully got the work search exemption approved, but here's what I learned: make sure your employer's letter includes not just the return date but also confirms you're expected to return to the SAME position with the SAME hours/salary. DEO rejected my first request because the letter didn't specify I was returning to my exact same role. Once I got that clarification added, it was approved within a week. Also, keep checking your CONNECT dashboard daily - the approval notification is easy to miss and you want to know right away so you can stop doing work searches if you've been doing them as a backup plan.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - been stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks now. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! I'm definitely going to try the CareerSource approach since several people mentioned success there. One thing I wanted to add - I found out you can also file a complaint with the Florida Department of Management Services if DEO isn't following proper procedures. It's different from the Inspector General number and focuses more on service delivery issues. The number is 850-488-2786. Haven't tried it yet but might be worth a shot if other options don't work. Also, for anyone considering the paid services like Claimyr, make sure you're going to legitimate websites. There are unfortunately scam sites out there trying to take advantage of desperate people waiting for unemployment benefits.

I went through something very similar last year - 10 weeks in adjudication hell. After reading all these responses, I wish I had known about some of these options back then! What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I called my state representative's office AND showed up at CareerSource on the same day. The rep's office made an inquiry, and CareerSource helped me document everything properly. Within 48 hours, my adjudication was complete and payments started flowing. A few additional tips from my experience: - When you visit CareerSource, bring printed copies of EVERYTHING (claim confirmation, correspondence, screenshots of your CONNECT account) - If you get through to DEO on the phone, immediately ask for the agent's name and employee ID number - write it down - Keep a detailed log of every call attempt, message sent, and person you speak with The system is absolutely broken, but persistence does pay off eventually. Don't give up - you WILL get through this! And definitely try that CareerSource visit - it seems to be one of the most effective options based on what everyone's sharing here.

To answer your previous question about timeframes - yes, interstate claims typically take 4-6 weeks longer than regular claims. You'll need to be vigilant about checking your CONNECT account for fact-finding questionnaires and adjudication notices. They won't always call you - many communications happen through the CONNECT portal. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date so you don't miss any communications. And as others have mentioned, continue claiming your weeks even while waiting for the interstate verification process. You'll be paid retroactively for eligible weeks once approved.

I went through this exact situation when I moved from Texas to Florida in 2023! Here's what I learned: First, definitely report your NJ unemployment in the "Other Income" section as others mentioned. Second, Florida DEO will likely need to request wage records from ALL your previous employers during your base period, not just from Florida. This includes any employers you had while receiving NJ benefits. One thing I wish someone had told me - download and save ALL your documentation from New Jersey before their system locks you out (which can happen after a certain period). I needed my NJ wage statements later for verification and couldn't access them anymore. Also, if you worked for any federal employers or military, that gets handled differently through the UCFE/UCX programs. The interstate process is slow but it works. Just stay on top of your weekly certifications and respond quickly to any requests for information. Good luck with your claim!

Quick update - just checked DEO's Twitter and they posted that maintenance finished early. The system should be back up now. Give it a try again!

This is exactly why I keep telling people to bookmark the DEO's status page and follow their social media accounts. System outages happen more often than they should, but at least when you know about scheduled maintenance you can plan around it. Also pro tip - if you're ever stuck during an outage, you can call the automated line at 1-833-FL-APPLY and sometimes claim your weeks over the phone as a backup option. The wait times are still terrible but it's better than being completely locked out!

any update? did u get ur money?

So glad you got it sorted out! The manual review flag for part-time income is such a common issue that trips people up. DEO really needs to do a better job of notifying people when payments get stuck like that instead of just showing everything as "paid" in CONNECT. Thanks for updating us - it's helpful to know what the actual issue was in case others run into the same thing.