This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar phantom payment situation right now - shows "issued" on January 22nd but nothing in my account after 9 days. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like this is unfortunately pretty common with DEO's system. I'm going to try the 7:30am calling strategy tomorrow morning and also send an email to that FIRRE address someone mentioned. It's reassuring to know that @Reginald got his resolved even though it took weeks - gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to DEO payment issues! Just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions here. I've been dealing with a "payment issued" status that never actually deposited for about 10 days now, and reading through this thread has given me a clear action plan. Going to try the 7:30am calling strategy tomorrow, and it's really helpful to know about the email option and Way2Go card possibility too. It's frustrating that this seems to be such a common issue with their system, but at least there are people here who know how to navigate it. Really appreciate this community existing - dealing with DEO alone would be so much worse without these shared experiences and tips!

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. While the regular benefit amount can't be increased beyond your determination, make sure you're claiming all your weeks on time and completing the 5 required work searches per week so you don't miss any payments. Also, check if you qualify for partial benefits if you find part-time work - you can earn up to $69 per week without reducing your benefits.

I'm in the exact same situation as Maya - got my $417 payment last week but was totally caught off guard that there was no extra $300. I wish DEO had sent out some kind of notification when the program ended instead of just letting us figure it out when the money stopped coming. It's really tough because I was budgeting based on getting that extra amount. Has anyone found any other assistance programs in Florida that might help bridge the gap? The regular benefit really doesn't cover basic living expenses anymore.

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 this exact same frustrating experience right now - been "under review" for 3 weeks after being laid off from my warehouse job and it's incredibly stressful! This entire thread has been more helpful than anything I've gotten from DEO directly. Like so many others here, I had absolutely NO idea I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during the review process - I thought doing that might interfere with their review or seem pushy somehow. Starting my claims immediately this week after reading all these comments! My situation also fits the multiple employer pattern - worked for 2 different logistics companies last year when my first company downsized, so that explains why my claim got flagged for manual review. It's ridiculous that DEO doesn't clearly explain this process anywhere when it's obviously affecting so many people across different industries. Going to try the Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that multiple people have had success with, and I'm planning to check all those hidden CONNECT sections daily since issues apparently pop up in random places without notifications. Also starting a detailed log to track call attempts and any account changes like others suggested. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're already worried about finances, but reading all these success stories gives me real hope that persistence eventually pays off. Thank you everyone for sharing actual actionable advice and real experiences - this community support means everything when dealing with such a broken and confusing system! At least now I have concrete steps to follow instead of just sitting here helplessly refreshing my account.

I'm in the exact same situation - been "under review" for 6 weeks now and it's absolutely maddening! This thread has been incredibly helpful though. Like everyone else, I had NO clue about claiming weeks during review until reading these comments. I've been just sitting here waiting thinking the system would handle everything automatically once approved. What a costly mistake! My case also involves multiple employers - worked for 4 different landscaping companies last year as seasonal contracts ended, so the construction/trades pattern definitely applies to my situation too. It's infuriating that DEO has no clear guidance about this when it's obviously such a common trigger for people in project-based work. I'm going to start claiming weeks immediately and try the Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that several people have mentioned. Also planning to check all those hidden CONNECT sections daily and start documenting everything with screenshots. The state rep contact option is looking really appealing at this 6-week mark too. Thank you all for sharing real actionable advice instead of the generic "be patient" responses everywhere else. This community has been more valuable than any official DEO resource! At least now I know there's hope and have concrete steps to follow instead of just anxiously watching my savings disappear.

This thread is incredible - I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare and was starting to think I was going crazy! My claim has been on hold for 2.5 weeks because CONNECT shows I'm "not registered" with Workforce Florida, despite being fully registered since late January and completing all required activities. Like everyone else here, CareerSource confirmed I'm 100% active in their system. The counselor pulled up my account and showed me everything is in perfect order - workshops completed, resume uploaded, job searches documented. She said this sync issue is "really common" but there's nothing they can do on their end to fix CONNECT's database. I've uploaded screenshots, printed verifications, and service history reports but the status never changes. It's beyond frustrating to have two government systems that can't communicate with each other while people are struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. Based on all the amazing strategies shared here, I'm going to try the comprehensive approach: Claimyr service for phone access, state representative contact, ombudsman complaint, and social media pressure on the governor's pages. The specific tips about asking for "EF integration permissions" and the "Work Registration Override" form are incredibly valuable - thank you @Hunter Brighton for sharing that insider knowledge! It's clear this isn't isolated "technical glitches" but a widespread system failure affecting hundreds of legitimate claimants. We shouldn't have to become activists just to access benefits we're entitled to, but it seems like coordinated pressure is the only thing that gets results. Will definitely update if I make any progress. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

This is absolutely maddening and I'm going through the exact same thing! My claim has been on hold for 2 weeks because CONNECT shows I'm "not registered" with Workforce Florida, even though I've been fully registered since February and have completed all the required workshops, job searches, and documentation. Just like everyone else here, when I went to CareerSource they confirmed I'm 100% active and compliant in their system. The counselor even printed out my service history showing all completed activities, but said this sync problem between CONNECT and Employ Florida is something they see "multiple times every week." I've tried uploading every piece of documentation imaginable - screenshots from Employ Florida, verification letters from CareerSource, service history reports - but nothing changes that stupid "not registered" status in CONNECT. Meanwhile, I'm behind on rent and my electric company is threatening to shut off my power. Reading through all these experiences has been both a relief (I'm not alone!) and absolutely infuriating (this is clearly a massive systemic failure that DEO refuses to fix properly). The fact that CareerSource staff are calling this a "known issue" while DEO treats each case like some mysterious isolated incident is completely unacceptable. Based on all the incredible strategies shared here, I'm going to try the comprehensive approach: using Claimyr to actually get through to someone, contacting my state representative's office, filing an ombudsman complaint, and posting on social media for public pressure. The insider tips about asking for "EF integration permissions" and requesting the "Work Registration Override" form are invaluable - thank you @Hunter Brighton! This isn't just bureaucratic incompetence - it's causing real human suffering while they drag their feet on what's obviously a widespread system integration failure. We shouldn't have to become full-time advocates just to access benefits we're legally entitled to. Will definitely update if I make any progress!