You won't get an immediate decision during the hearing. The appeals referee will review all testimony and evidence, then mail a written decision within 2-3 weeks. Your benefits should continue during this waiting period. If the decision is in your favor, nothing changes. If it's not, you'll receive information about any potential overpayment and further appeal options. Be sure to attend the hearing. If you miss it, the referee will likely rule based only on your employer's testimony and whatever documentation is available. Statistics show that claimants who actively participate in their hearings have much better outcomes than those who don't.

Don't panic - this is actually more common than you'd think! I went through the exact same thing last year. Got a hearing notice while still receiving benefits and freaked out thinking they were going to cut me off immediately. The key thing is that Florida law requires DEO to continue paying benefits during the appeals process if your initial claim was approved. Your employer probably waited until near the deadline to contest your claim. Since you found your hearing notice and it shows they're claiming excessive absences when you were actually laid off, you're in a good position. That layoff letter mentioning department elimination is gold - make sure you have multiple copies ready for the hearing. A few practical tips: - Answer the phone promptly when they call for the hearing - Have all your documents organized and ready to reference - Stay calm even if your employer makes false claims - The referee will give you time to present your side - use it I won my case and my benefits continued without any issues. You've got the documentation to back up your side, so try not to stress too much about it. Good luck!

ya'll making this more complicated than it is. they take ur severance, divide by ur weekly benefit amount, and that's how many weeks u gotta wait. just keep claiming every 2 weeks and when the severance period ends they'll start paying u automatically if everything else checks out. they don't actually need to talk to u for this part usually

I'm in a similar boat - got laid off in October with 10 weeks severance and DEO has been dragging their feet on adjudication for over a month now. One thing I learned is that you can check your "monetary determination" in CONNECT to see what your weekly benefit amount will be once payments start. This helps you calculate exactly when your severance period ends. Also, if you're really struggling financially during this wait, some local food banks and assistance programs don't count severance as current income since you're not actively receiving weekly payments. Might be worth looking into if you need help bridging the gap. The whole system is frustrating but hang in there - the benefits will come once that severance period is over!

You'll need to provide your full name, contact info, claimant ID (from CONNECT), and a brief explanation of your issue. Also include the date of the overpayment notice and amount. They usually ask you to sign a privacy release form so they can legally discuss your case with DEO. My rep's office had mine resolved in about 2 weeks after I'd been getting nowhere for a month on my own!

One more tip that saved me - when you submit your appeal and waiver request, also send a physical copy by certified mail to the DEO Appeals Office. I know it seems redundant, but their online system sometimes has glitches and doesn't properly timestamp submissions. Having that certified mail receipt gives you backup proof of when you filed within the 20-day deadline. The mailing address is: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Appeals Office 107 E. Madison Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-4143 Also, don't forget to include a cover letter explaining that you're submitting both an appeal of the overpayment determination AND a request for overpayment waiver. Be very clear about which forms and documents relate to each request. You've got this! The fact that you kept screenshots shows you were being responsible about reporting - that's going to work in your favor.

UPDATE: I wanted to share what ended up working for me in case others are still struggling. I took the advice about going to CareerSource and it was PERFECT. I went to the office in Broward County, showed my ID, and they were able to print my 1099-G in less than 15 minutes. The staff person there said they've been helping hundreds of people with this same issue. She also mentioned they can help with other DEO-related problems too. Definitely try this route if you're still trying to get your tax documents!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My 2021 CONNECT account also seems to have vanished into thin air. I've been trying for weeks to get my 1099-G and it's been incredibly frustrating. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea CareerSource could help with this! I'm definitely going to try that option first since it seems like the fastest solution. It's ridiculous that the DEO makes it so difficult to access our own tax records. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

Just to clarify for anyone else reading this thread - extensions like PEUC were specifically created by Congress for the pandemic. They weren't a regular feature of unemployment. Florida's system is back to its pre-pandemic rules now, which unfortunately means 12-19 weeks maximum based on state unemployment rate. If you're getting close to exhausting benefits, don't assume there will be an extension. Plan accordingly.

Hey James, I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. The hospitality industry has been brutal and Florida's unemployment system definitely doesn't give you much time to find something stable. Since you mentioned you have an interview lined up, you might want to reach out to CareerSource Florida in the meantime - they sometimes have emergency assistance programs or can connect you with temporary work that doesn't interfere with your job search requirements. Also, if you're really struggling financially, look into local food banks and utility assistance programs through 211. The gap between benefits ending and starting a new job is tough, but there are resources out there to help bridge it. Good luck with the new position!