Quick update for everyone - I just got my first payment today! Took exactly 2 business days after adjudication completed for the money to hit my account. If you're stuck waiting, PLEASE try contacting your rep. I wasted so much time trying to go through DEO directly when this solved it in 48 hours.

This is incredibly helpful information! I'm currently on week 6 of adjudication with no updates despite calling daily. I had no idea contacting state representatives was even an option. For anyone else who might be hesitant to try this - I found my rep's info on the Florida House website by entering my address. Going to send that email first thing tomorrow morning. Paolo, did you mention anything specific about the timeline in your email or just focus on the hardship aspect?

UPDATE: I finally got through to DEO this morning! Had to call 14 times before I wasn't disconnected. The representative confirmed there was a system glitch that affected my account and several others. She said the missing weeks should reappear within 48-72 hours and gave me a confirmation number this time. She also added a note that I'm eligible for those weeks when they do appear. Fingers crossed this actually works! Thanks everyone for your advice - especially about asking for the Tier 2 rep and getting confirmation numbers.

That's fantastic news! 🎉 Really hoping those weeks show up for you in the next few days. Your experience is going to be super helpful for others dealing with this same issue. The fact that you had to call 14 times just to get through is absolutely ridiculous though - DEO really needs to fix their phone system along with all these technical glitches. Keep us posted on whether the weeks actually appear!

The "able and available" adjudication is very common. This typically means they need to verify that you're able to work and available for work. It could be triggered by something in your application responses, like if you indicated you had transportation limitations, childcare issues, or are only available for certain shifts. This type of adjudication usually requires an adjudicator to contact you for clarification, which is why you need to get through to someone. While waiting, make sure you continue claiming your weeks and completing all work search requirements. If approved, you'll receive backpay for all eligible weeks.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare! Been trying to get through for almost a month now. The system is completely broken. What finally worked for me was using the callback feature - if you call and get the busy message, sometimes there's an option to request a callback instead of hanging up. It took 3 days but they actually called me back! Also, I found that calling RIGHT at 8:00am on Wednesdays seems to have slightly better odds. The wait times are still insane (I was on hold for 2.5 hours) but at least I didn't get disconnected. Hang in there - you're not alone in this mess!

UPDATE: Finally got through!!! After trying the direct line that @helpful_advisor suggested plus contacting my state rep's office, my claim was unlocked yesterday! Had to speak with a claims specialist who explained there was a "system flag" on my account related to previous employment verification. They removed the flag manually and now I can access everything. Already claimed all my back weeks and should receive payment within 2-3 business days. THANK YOU everyone for your help - I would have never figured this out without your suggestions!

Congratulations on finally getting this resolved! Your experience is exactly why this community is so valuable - people helping people navigate this broken system. For anyone else reading this thread who's still stuck with a locked claim, here's what seems to work based on all the responses: 1) Try the direct DEO line with specific menu options that @helpful_advisor provided, 2) Contact your state representative's office for escalation, 3) Document everything in case you need to file an appeal. The key takeaway is DON'T GIVE UP - these issues can be resolved, but it takes persistence and knowing the right channels. Thanks for updating us with your success story!

One more tip: If you're trying to reach DEO by phone, call right when they open at 7:30am. That's when the queue is shortest. And always make sure to have your claimant ID, PIN, and the last 5 work search contacts you submitted (they sometimes verify these). When you do get through, specifically ask if there are any "pending determinations" or "issues" listed on your claim that you can't see in CONNECT. Sometimes the representatives can see details that aren't visible to claimants online. The DEO is running about 90-120 days behind on adjudication right now, but claims with simpler issues are sometimes grouped together for batch processing. This helps them clear more cases more quickly.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in December 2024, only claimed 3 weeks before getting hired at a new job, and my claim has been stuck in adjudication for over 2 months. It's so frustrating because like you said, it's such a small amount (around $900 for me) but it would have really helped with the gap between jobs. I've called probably 10 times and get the same runaround about "escalation" and "no timeline available." Reading through these comments is actually really helpful though - I had no idea about contacting state representatives or the inspector general. I'm definitely going to try those approaches this week. It's crazy that so many of us are dealing with this for just a few weeks of benefits. You'd think shorter claims would be processed faster, not slower! Keep us updated on what works for you - I'll do the same if I make any progress.