I'm new to this whole unemployment process and this thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea there was such a difference between "monetary eligible" and actually getting approved for payments. Reading everyone's experiences really helps set realistic expectations. I'm curious - for those who successfully got through adjudication, did DEO ever send you any kind of notification when it cleared? Or did you just have to keep checking CONNECT until the status changed? I'm trying to figure out the best way to stay on top of things without obsessively checking the website every few hours! Also wanted to say thanks to everyone sharing specific tips about what to include in statements and documentation. As someone who might need to file soon, this real-world advice is way more helpful than anything on DEO's official website. This community is amazing! 🙏

Just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact situation earlier this year! The "monetary eligible" vs actual approval confusion is probably the most stressful part of the whole process - I remember staring at that screen wondering if I was getting money or not. My case was also flagged for "Able and Available" because I mentioned I could only work certain shifts due to my second job. Ended up stuck in adjudication for about 3 weeks, but once I uploaded a detailed statement explaining my full availability during standard business hours, things moved pretty quickly. One thing I learned that might help others - when you upload your statement to CONNECT, make it as specific as possible. Don't just say "I'm available to work" - include exact days, hours, that you have transportation sorted, childcare arranged, can start immediately, etc. The more detailed you are, the less likely they'll have follow-up questions that slow things down. Also want to confirm what others said about that Claimyr service - I was skeptical but it actually worked for getting through to a real person. Sometimes you just need someone to look at your case and push it along instead of sitting in the queue. Keep claiming those weeks everyone, even though the waiting is brutal! The backpay is worth it when everything finally processes. This thread shows how helpful it is when we share real experiences instead of just dealing with DEO's confusing system alone! 💪

@helpful_guidance Yes! The agent said once they have the employment verification documents, it typically takes 5-7 business days to update in the system. She also added a note to my file about the verification issues I was having. Feeling much more hopeful now!

For anyone still having trouble, I just discovered another workaround that worked for me today. If you log into CONNECT and go to "Inbox" then look for any messages about "Outstanding Issues" - click on that message and there should be a "Respond" button. When you click respond, it opens a form where you can attach documents directly. This upload method seems to work even when the main document upload feature is broken. I was able to submit my W-2s and paystubs this way after weeks of trying other methods. Worth a shot for anyone who's still stuck!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now and this thread has been so helpful! I got my first payment two weeks ago, felt like I could finally breathe, and then yesterday morning I logged in to see "pending issues" with no explanation. I was absolutely panicking because I have bills due next week. Reading everyone's experiences here has calmed me down so much. I had no idea this was such a common thing with DEO - the way they display "pending issues" makes it seem like you've done something terribly wrong! I'm definitely going to try that automated phone system at 1-800-681-8102 tomorrow morning. The fact that multiple people have gotten useful information that way is really encouraging. I've already taken screenshots of my entire account (thanks Zoe!) and I'm going to keep claiming my weeks no matter what. It's crazy that we have to become experts in navigating a broken system just to get basic information about our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing all these tips and experiences. For anyone else dealing with this - you're not alone! Based on all the responses here, it sounds like these routine reviews are frustrating but normal. Hang in there everyone!

I just went through this exact same situation about two months ago and wanted to share what worked for me! After getting my first payment, I saw "pending issues" appear and was terrified I'd lose my benefits. I tried that automated phone system everyone's mentioning (1-800-681-8102, press 1 then 3) and it told me it was "routine eligibility verification" with a 7-14 day timeframe. The waiting was nerve-wracking but I kept claiming my weeks like everyone advised. On day 11, the pending status disappeared and I got all my back payments deposited the next day. The key things that helped me: 1) Don't stop claiming weeks no matter what, 2) Screenshot everything in your account, 3) Try the automated phone line for basic status info, and 4) Remember that getting initial payments is actually a good sign - it means your claim was properly approved. DEO's system is terrible at communicating but these routine reviews are super common. You're likely dealing with bureaucracy, not a real problem with your claim. Hang in there!

That's awesome that you got approved so quickly! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been trying to file for 2 weeks and keep getting error messages. Your post gives me hope that the backdate process actually works. Going to try the CONNECT request form today and take screenshots of all the errors I'm getting. Thanks for sharing your success story!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this - I had a similar backdate situation last month where CONNECT kept crashing during my initial application. What really helped was being very specific in my request about the technical issues. I wrote down every single error message exactly as it appeared, the dates and times I tried to access the system, and even mentioned which browsers I tried (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). The key thing is showing you made "good faith efforts" to file on time but were prevented by system issues beyond your control. DEO seems to approve these requests pretty routinely when you have solid documentation. Don't give up if you don't hear back right away - sometimes it takes the full 10 business days, but the backdating does work when you follow the proper process!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - just exhausted my 12 weeks last Friday and feeling completely lost. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful though. I had no idea about some of these resources like 211 or that CareerSource offered free resume help. One thing I wanted to add that helped me a bit - if you have any professional licenses or certifications, check if there are renewal fee waivers available for unemployed people. I found out my state license board offers a hardship waiver that saved me $200 I was dreading having to pay. Also, LinkedIn has been surprisingly useful for networking even when you're unemployed. I've been connecting with people in my industry and letting them know I'm looking - a few have shared job postings that weren't publicly advertised yet. The stress is real though. Some days I can barely get out of bed knowing I have no income coming in. But seeing people like @Nia Thompson who found work after 16 weeks gives me hope that this isn't permanent. We just have to keep pushing through this awful system. Good luck to everyone dealing with this - Florida really needs to do better by its unemployed residents.

I'm in manufacturing too and just went through this exact situation a few months ago. The 12-week limit is absolutely brutal, especially in our industry where finding comparable work takes time. A few things that helped me survive the gap: 1. Check with your local Workforce Development Board (part of CareerSource) - they sometimes have emergency funds specifically for people who've exhausted benefits 2. Look into Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade/imports - it can provide extended benefits and retraining funds 3. Many manufacturing companies are using "temp-to-perm" hiring now to reduce risk - don't overlook these opportunities as they can become permanent faster than you think Also, I used Indeed's salary tool and Glassdoor to make sure I wasn't pricing myself out of the market during my search. Sometimes we have to take a step back salary-wise just to get back in the door, then work our way back up. The mental health aspect is real - consider reaching out to your county's mental health services if you're struggling. Most have free or sliding-scale counseling for people facing financial hardship. Hang in there - manufacturing is starting to pick up in some areas as companies reshore operations. Your CareerSource appointment tomorrow is a great first step!