After battling with DEO for weeks over a similar hold, I finally got through using the Claimyr service the other commenter mentioned. It really does work - connected me to a DEO agent in about 15 minutes after I'd been trying for days on my own. The adjudicator told me these incarceration holds are automatically triggered by their system and require manual review. He cleared mine immediately after verifying my identity. The key is getting to an actual adjudicator who has the authority to remove these holds. Regular call center agents can't help with these specialized issues.

@system_critic Not expensive considering I was about to miss a car payment. Worth it just to get the issue fixed. The adjudicator actually told me they've been having issues with their automated cross-checking system pulling outdated records. She said many people have been experiencing these incarceration holds incorrectly.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO FRUSTRATE YOU INTO GIVING UP!! Don't fall for it! My claim was "under review" for 9 WEEKS and I nearly went bankrupt waiting. Call first thing Monday morning right when they open (7:30am), that's when you have the best chance of getting through. Keep claiming weeks religiously every two weeks. Document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your CONNECT account. If you get anyone on the phone, get their name and ID number. The whole system is designed to deny benefits to eligible people through frustration and bureaucracy!!

Updating on my situation: after using Claimyr to finally reach DEO, they told me my claim needed wage verification because I had worked for multiple employers. The agent transferred me directly to an adjudication specialist who fixed it while I was on the phone. Went from "under review" to "eligible" in one call. Sometimes you just need to reach the right person who can actually see what's holding things up.

this whole system is designed to kick people off asap. 12 weeks is nothing when the job market is bad

Just to give you accurate information for 2025: Florida's maximum duration for unemployment benefits is still tied to the state unemployment rate. The formula is: - When state unemployment is 5% or lower: 12 weeks maximum - Each 0.5% increase in unemployment above 5% adds an additional week of benefits - Maximum possible duration is 23 weeks (if unemployment reaches 10.5% or higher) Currently, Florida's unemployment rate is below 5%, so we're at the 12-week minimum. This system has been in place since 2011 and hasn't changed despite various reform attempts. Also, once your benefits exhaust, you'll still have access to your CONNECT account for a year, which can be helpful for tax documents and checking for any messages.

never trust unexpected money from DEO. I got a random deposit once and spent it then got hit with a $1200 overpayment notice 3 months later. now they take 25% of every payment to pay it back. call them!!!!!

UPDATE: I finally got into my payment history section on CONNECT and found that this payment was for a week from about 6 weeks ago that had been marked as 'pending adjudication' because I had reported some part-time income. Looks like they finally approved it and released the payment. I'm still going to claim as normal on the 15th since those are different weeks. Thanks everyone for your help!

She had to email them copies of her DEO notices and ID plus fill out a form authorizing them to act on her behalf. But they walked her through exactly what they needed - very straightforward. Good luck!

UPDATE: Thanks for all the advice everyone! I tried both the Claimyr service AND contacted my state rep's office. The Claimyr thing got me through to a DEO agent who confirmed there was a "system flag" on my account, but she couldn't remove it herself. However, 2 days after contacting my state rep's office, I got a call from someone at DEO who said they were reviewing my case as a priority due to the legislative inquiry! My dashboard updated this morning and shows all my payments as "processed" - hopefully hitting my account in the next couple days. I'll update again when I actually see the money. THANK YOU ALL!

im so confused about all this. do i need to wait for a corrected 1099g to file my taxes or can i just report the amount i actually got? will the irs know the difference?

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO today! After asking specifically for the tax document department like many of you suggested, I was transferred to someone who could actually help. Turns out they were counting weeks that were approved but then I reported wages from my new job, so I never actually received those payments. They're sending me a corrected 1099-G that should arrive in 3-4 weeks. For anyone else dealing with this - be persistent and specifically ask for the tax document department. And thank you all for your help and suggestions!

I moved from New York to Florida last year and experienced the same culture shock with the unemployment system. What eventually worked for me was sending a physical letter (yes, actual mail!) to the DEO Appeals Unit explaining my situation. It sounds ridiculous but I got a call back within a week after trying the phone for a month straight. Sometimes the old-school methods work when technology fails. The address should be on your determination letter.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through using any of these methods? I'm curious which one worked for you.

For everyone following this thread, here's a clarification on the ID.me verification process with DEO: 1. Complete the ID.me verification separately from the CONNECT system first 2. After successful ID.me verification, DEO still needs to link that verification to your CONNECT account 3. This linking process is what often causes delays - it's NOT automatic 4. For fastest resolution, email DEO.Verify@deo.myflorida.com AND contact them by phone 5. CareerSource offices can sometimes help, but not all locations have the same capabilities The most important thing is documenting every contact attempt you make. If you end up needing to appeal anything, having records of your attempts to resolve the issue will help your case tremendously.

Any updates on your situation? Were you able to get your account verified? The email route worked for my cousin recently but it still took about a week for them to respond.

To answer your other question - when you do get through to an agent (whether via Claimyr or other means), ask them to transfer you to an adjudicator or at minimum, have them add detailed notes to your account about your attempts to resolve the issue. Regular agents can't fix adjudication issues, but they can escalate your claim for review. Make sure to get the agent's name and ID number for your records. Sometimes just having an agent properly document your situation can move your claim up in the priority queue.

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO this morning using Claimyr! The agent confirmed my claim was stuck because my former employer reported different dates of employment than what I entered (literally off by 2 days). She transferred me to an adjudicator who fixed it on the spot and released all my weeks for payment! The agent said I should see the money in 2-3 business days. THANK YOU everyone for your help and advice! I'm so relieved after months of stress.

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that I spoke with a DEO supervisor yesterday (after MANY attempts). She confirmed a few important things: 1. The last $600 payment will be for the benefit week ending July 25th 2. If you have weeks claimed before July 25th that haven't been processed yet, you WILL still get the $600 for those weeks when they process 3. DEO has a team ready to implement whatever Congress passes, but she admitted it will take time to program their system 4. Florida DEO cannot extend the $600 on their own - it MUST come from federal legislation She recommended everyone make sure their direct deposit info is current in CONNECT and that you continue claiming weeks even after the $600 stops. Also, keep up with your work searches since that requirement is back in effect.

we should all protest!!!! this is BS they cant just cut us off during a pandemic when nobody hiring!!!!