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Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation a few months ago. After I got my new job, I was paranoid about doing everything correctly with DEO, so I actually called them to confirm the process (took forever to get through, of course). The rep told me exactly what everyone here is saying - just stop claiming weeks after your final accurate claim and that's it. No need to notify them separately or formally close anything. Your claim will show as "inactive" in the system but stays available for the full benefit year if needed. The key is making sure you're 100% honest about your work and earnings on that last claim to avoid any overpayment issues down the road. DEO is notorious for coming after people months later if there are discrepancies. Sounds like you handled it correctly though - congrats on the new job and hopefully you won't need to deal with DEO again anytime soon!
Thanks for sharing your experience with actually calling DEO to confirm! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the extra step of verifying with them directly. You're so right about being 100% accurate on that final claim - the last thing anyone wants is DEO coming back months later with overpayment demands. I've heard horror stories about that happening to people. It's good to know the process is actually straightforward once you get past all the confusion from their unclear website. Hopefully this thread helps other people who are in the same boat!
Congrats on landing the new job after 4 months! That's awesome news. You're doing everything right - just stop claiming weeks after accurately reporting that final week and you're all set. No formal closure needed with DEO. I went through this same situation last year and was worried about the same things you mentioned. The system will show your claim as inactive but it stays open for the full benefit year from when you originally filed, which is actually helpful if anything unexpected happens with your new role. The most important thing is that you were honest about your earnings on that last claim - that prevents any overpayment headaches later. DEO's website really doesn't explain this process clearly at all, which is why so many people get confused about it. You handled it correctly though, so you should be good to go. Best of luck with the new retail management position!
I feel your frustration! I've been dealing with similar issues trying to reach unemployment services. One thing that's helped me is calling multiple times throughout the day - sometimes you get lucky and hit a less busy period. Also, if your bank has a local branch, try going in person even if they initially tell you to call. Sometimes being physically present makes them more willing to help or at least escalate your issue. Keep a detailed log of your attempts too - dates, times, how long you waited - it can be useful if you need to file a complaint later. Hang in there! 💪
Great advice about keeping a detailed log! I never thought of that but it makes total sense - having documentation could really help if you need to escalate or file a complaint. The multiple calls throughout the day strategy is smart too. I've noticed some systems seem less busy during lunch hours or later in the afternoon. Thanks for sharing what's worked for you! 📝
I've been in the exact same situation and it's incredibly frustrating! One trick that finally worked for me was calling right at 8:00 AM on the dot when they open - I literally had my finger hovering over the call button and hit it the second the clock hit 8. Also, try the "callback" option if they have one - some banks will hold your place in line and call you back instead of making you wait on hold. If all else fails, try reaching out through their mobile app's chat feature or secure messaging. Sometimes those channels have shorter wait times than the phone lines. Don't give up - I know it's exhausting but you'll eventually get through! 🤞
The 8 AM sharp strategy is brilliant! I've heard that timing really matters with these systems. The callback option is a game-changer when it's available - saves so much sanity from sitting on hold. I hadn't thought about the mobile app chat feature, that's a great alternative route to try. Thanks for the encouragement too, it's easy to get discouraged when you've been trying for days!
I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to CONNECT issues! I've been dealing with similar password reset problems for the past few weeks. What's really helped me is keeping a bookmark to the direct password reset page (connect.myflorida.com/Claimant/Core/Login.ASPX) instead of going through the main login page - sometimes the "Forgot Password" link on the main page doesn't work properly but the direct URL does. Also, if you're still having trouble, try clearing ALL your browser data (not just cache) including cookies and saved passwords. The CONNECT system seems very sensitive to stored login data. I had to do this three times before it finally let me reset my password successfully. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through!
Welcome to the community @Alexander Evans! That direct URL tip is brilliant - I never thought to bookmark the password reset page directly. I'm definitely going to save that link for future reference. The clearing ALL browser data suggestion makes sense too since CONNECT seems to have issues with cached login information. It's really helpful to have newcomers share fresh perspectives on these ongoing technical problems. Thanks for taking the time to share what worked for you!
As someone who just joined this community after dealing with my own CONNECT nightmares, I wanted to share another potential solution that worked for me last week. If the password reset email isn't coming through, check your spam/junk folder first (I know, obvious, but sometimes we forget!). But more importantly, I discovered that CONNECT sends emails from "noreply@connect.myflorida.com" and many email providers automatically block or filter these. I had to manually add this address to my email's safe sender list, then request the password reset again. The email came through within 10 minutes after that! Also, make sure you're using the email address that's EXACTLY as it appears in your CONNECT profile - even an extra space or different capitalization can cause the system to not recognize it. It's ridiculous how finicky this system is, but hopefully this helps someone avoid the runaround with phone calls and office visits!
I went through the exact same nightmare last month! Here's what finally worked for me: I called at 2:47 PM on a Thursday (weird time, I know) and when I got to the menu, I pressed option 5 then waited about 10 seconds before pressing anything else. Sometimes pressing buttons too fast confuses their ancient phone system. When the next menu came up, I selected option 1 then option 3. Got transferred to claims on the first try! The wait was still about 45 minutes but at least I was in the right queue. Also make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the dates of the weeks you're asking about written down before you call. The agent was able to see my adjudication issue immediately and explained it was just waiting for employer verification. Got it resolved that same day. Don't give up - you WILL get through eventually!
This is super helpful! I never thought about waiting between button presses - that actually makes sense if their system is old. I'm going to try your exact timing and button sequence tomorrow. The tip about having all the documentation ready is good too. How long did the whole call take from start to finish once you got through to the right person?
I'm dealing with the same exact problem right now! Been trying to reach claims for over a week about my pending adjudication and keep getting bounced around to different departments. The most frustrating part is when they tell you "sorry, wrong department" after you've already waited 30+ minutes on hold. Reading through these responses, I'm definitely going to try the early morning approach at 7:30am and the option 5-2-4 sequence that Lucas mentioned. Also going to give the afternoon calling strategy a shot since that seems to work for some people. Has anyone had success with the live chat feature on the CONNECT website, or is that just as useless as the phone system? I noticed it's available during business hours but wondering if they can actually help with adjudication issues or if they just tell you to call. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not the only one going through this nightmare!
@Miguel Ortiz The live chat on CONNECT is pretty much useless for adjudication issues unfortunately. I tried it twice last week and both times they just told me I needed to call the phone number for claims-specific questions. They can only help with basic account stuff like resetting passwords or checking payment dates. For adjudication holds, you definitely need to talk to an actual claims specialist on the phone. Super frustrating but that seems to be the only way to get real help with pending issues.
Haley Bennett
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 6 weeks of pending adjudication with zero explanation. Reading through these comments gives me some hope though! I'm definitely going to try the secondary number (833-352-7759) that Sebastian mentioned, and maybe look into Claimyr if that doesn't work. One thing I wanted to add - I've been documenting every single call attempt with dates and times in a spreadsheet. My friend who works in legal said this could be helpful if I need to escalate to a formal complaint later. Might be worth doing if you haven't already. Also, have you tried checking if there are any local legal aid organizations that help with unemployment issues? I found one in my area that offers free consultations for people stuck in the system. They might know additional tricks or have connections we don't. Thanks for posting this - it's oddly comforting to know I'm not alone in this nightmare!
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Connor O'Brien
•That's a really smart idea about documenting everything! I wish I had started doing that from the beginning. I'm definitely going to start tracking my attempts now. And yes, knowing other people are going through the same thing does help - this whole process makes you feel like you're losing your mind sometimes. I'll look into legal aid organizations in my area too. Thanks for the suggestion and good luck with the secondary number!
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Kayla Jacobson
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the DEO system is absolutely broken. I went through almost the exact same thing last year (3 months of calling with no success). What finally worked for me was a combination approach: 1. Used the Spanish line trick (call at 7:29am, select Spanish, ask for English when connected) 2. Called my state senator's office AND representative's office on the same day - sometimes one is more responsive than the other 3. Filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Inspector General's office online The IG complaint seemed to trigger something because I got a call back within a week from someone who could actually help. They have a form on their website specifically for CONNECT system issues. Also, make sure you're checking your CONNECT account for any "correspondence" that might not show up in notifications. I had a critical document request buried in there that I almost missed. Don't give up - you WILL get through eventually. The $4,250 is worth fighting for. Document everything like others suggested, and try multiple approaches at once rather than just one at a time. Good luck!
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