One more thing to be aware of - after you complete the Employ Florida registration, you'll need to log in regularly (at least once every two weeks) to maintain your active status. I've seen people lose benefits because they thought it was a one-time registration and then their account went inactive. Also, Employ Florida will sometimes send you job matches via email. While you're not obligated to apply to every one, completely ignoring all of them can trigger a review of your account. Just something to keep in mind.

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago and it was definitely confusing at first! The Employ Florida registration is mandatory when your regular benefits exhaust - it's basically Florida's way of transitioning you to their workforce development system. A few things that helped me get through it smoothly: - Set aside 2-3 hours when you won't be interrupted (better to have extra time than rush) - Have your work history dates and details ready before you start - The skills assessment section takes longer than you'd think - be thorough - Don't worry too much about making the resume "perfect" - you can always edit it later The good news is once you complete it, your extended benefits should kick in without much delay. Just make sure to check both your CONNECT account AND your Employ Florida account regularly to stay compliant with all requirements. The two systems don't always communicate perfectly, so staying on top of both is important. Good luck with the process!

UPDATE: I called HR and confirmed they do need the DEO's FEIN (59-3451366) for their work opportunity tax credit documentation. They also asked for my benefit end date which I was able to find in my CONNECT account under payment history. Thanks everyone for your help! Starting the new job on Monday!

Congrats on the new job! This is really helpful info - I had no idea employers could get tax credits for hiring people transitioning from unemployment. That explains why they need all this verification. Good to know the DEO's FEIN is something we might need to provide to future employers. Thanks for sharing the update!

UPDATE: Based on everything here, it sounds like you have a few good next steps: 1) Try visiting CareerSource in person, 2) Contact your state representative, 3) Try calling right at opening time or consider using a service to connect you, and 4) Specifically ask to speak with an adjudicator who can see the detailed status of your claim. One of these approaches should help break through the logjam. Please let us know what ends up working!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - my claim has been on hold since January 15th with absolutely no explanation! Like you, I've called dozens of times and gotten nowhere. What's really frustrating is that I have friends who filed claims after me and they're already getting their benefits. The "pending issue" message is maddening because it tells you literally nothing. I've been surviving on credit cards and help from family, but that's not sustainable. Really hoping some of these suggestions work for you because I'm going to try them too. The system is definitely broken when people are waiting months just to find out what the problem even is.

For anyone else with this issue - make sure you complete ALL parts of the EmployFlorida registration: 1. Basic profile with contact info 2. Work history (similar to your CONNECT application) 3. Skills assessment (at least the initial one) 4. Background information section 5. Resume upload or creation Missing any of these can result in your registration being considered incomplete, which won't resolve the pending issue in CONNECT.

This is exactly why I think Florida's unemployment system is intentionally confusing. I went through something similar last year - had to register with EmployFlorida but nobody told me about the skills assessment part. I thought just creating an account was enough! Ended up waiting 6 weeks for payments because my "registration" was incomplete. The worst part is when you call DEO, half the reps don't even know what EmployFlorida is or how the systems connect. It's like they're designed to fail people. Really glad you finally got through to someone who knew what they were talking about!

One last tip: When your claiming link does appear, set aside at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete it. Have your work search information ready (company names, addresses, contact methods, positions applied for, application dates). The system times out after 30 minutes of inactivity and doesn't save your progress. Also, when answering the question about being "able and available" for work, always select "yes" unless you were truly unavailable (hospitalized, out of the country, etc.). Selecting "no" will disqualify you for benefits for that week.

Hey Charlie! I went through the exact same confusion when I first started claiming in Florida. One thing that helped me was creating a calendar reminder to check CONNECT every Monday and Wednesday during my potential reporting windows. Also, if you have a smartphone, try accessing CONNECT through your phone's browser instead of desktop - sometimes the mobile version shows different menu options or loads faster. And definitely keep a simple spreadsheet with your work search activities (date, company, position, how you applied) - it makes claiming so much easier when you have everything organized ahead of time. The system really is poorly designed, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes more manageable. Hang in there!