Thank you all for the advice! I logged into CONNECT and found the fact-finding questionnaire about 2020 employment verification. I'm gathering all the documents I can find - my mother's death certificate, hospice paperwork, some emails about job applications, and I'm writing a detailed statement explaining everything. I'll also check out Claimyr to try reaching an agent directly. I'm still really worried, but at least I have a plan now. I'll update once I hear back from DEO after submitting everything.

I'm dealing with a similar audit situation right now, though mine is for 2021 PUA benefits. What helped me was creating a detailed timeline document that included not just employment gaps but WHY those gaps existed - in your case, the caregiving responsibilities and your mother's declining health. Since you mentioned you were 67 when this happened, you might also want to include information about your age and how that affected your job search prospects, especially during COVID when many employers were hesitant to hire older workers. The combination of caregiving duties, your age, and the pandemic created legitimate barriers to employment that DEO should understand. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing the difference between regular unemployment and PUA - most people had no idea there were different programs with different rules. The important thing is that you were honest about your situation when you applied. Document everything you submit with dates and keep copies. The system is overwhelming but you're taking the right steps by responding promptly to their requests.

dont 4get to check ur CONNECT inbox!!! somtimes they send messages there but dont email u about them!!! missed a fact finding deadline bc i didnt know they messaged me there n had to start my whole claim over

I've been dealing with the same nightmare for 9 weeks now! Filed in January, did everything by the book - ID.me verification, weekly claims, work searches documented perfectly, uploaded every document they asked for. Still stuck in "pending" status with zero communication about what's wrong. The most frustrating part is the complete lack of transparency. At least if they told us "your claim will take 12 weeks to process" we could plan accordingly. Instead we're left guessing whether we did something wrong or if it's just their broken system. I'm going to try the state representative route that others mentioned - seems like that's had the most success. Has anyone had luck with contacting the governor's office directly? I'm willing to try anything at this point. Living on credit cards and the kindness of family is not sustainable much longer. Florida really needs to overhaul this entire system. Other states manage to process claims in 2-3 weeks, there's no excuse for this level of dysfunction.

am i the only 1 confused by all the different unemployment terms?? whats the difference between benefit year ending vs exhausting benefits vs extensions??? i thought i had until december but now im worried

Update: I finally got through to DEO this morning after trying for 3 hours! The agent confirmed there's no automatic extension after July 31st. She said I need to wait until my benefit year officially ends, then file a completely new application. She also checked my work history and said I probably won't qualify for a new claim because I haven't earned enough in my base period. She suggested applying for other assistance programs through ACCESS Florida in the meantime. Not the news I was hoping for, but at least I know where I stand now.

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked for me. I tried several of the suggestions here: 1. Sent the certified letter with all my documentation to the appeals address 2. Visited my local CareerSource office (thanks for that tip!) 3. Eventually used Claimyr to get through by phone The CareerSource visit was actually the most helpful - they have a direct line to DEO and filed a case for me. Two weeks later I received confirmation that they found my payment and are canceling the collection notice! Thanks everyone for the help during this stressful time. For anyone else dealing with this: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and be persistent!

This is such a common problem with DEO - glad to see you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread, I'd also recommend keeping a screenshot of your CONNECT account showing the payment history (if it displays correctly there). Sometimes having that visual proof along with the confirmation email helps when dealing with different DEO departments. The system really needs an overhaul but at least there are workarounds like CareerSource visits that actually work.

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! Just to confirm what I'm understanding: I'll claim my final week (ending right before my start date), answer YES to the return to work question, provide all my new employer details and start date, and then just stop claiming after that. No need to call DEO or fill out any separate forms. My claim will automatically go inactive after I miss two claiming periods. This makes sense and sounds much simpler than I feared! Really appreciate all the guidance.

Congratulations on landing the retail management position! Just went through this exact process last month when I started my new job. The advice from @Giovanni Moretti is spot on - report your return to work during your final week claim, provide all employer details, and you're done. One small tip: screenshot or save confirmation of when you reported the job just in case you ever need proof later. DEO's system can be glitchy sometimes and it's good to have documentation. Best of luck with the new role!