That's great news about getting through with Claimyr! I'm in a similar situation - been waiting 6 weeks with "determination needed" status and no communication from DEO. My local CareerSource office basically told me the same thing everyone else is saying here - they can't help with adjudication issues. I'm going to try both the Claimyr service and contacting my state rep's office. The fact that you got an actual explanation (employer response issue) gives me hope that there might be a real reason mine is stuck too, not just lost in the system. Keep us posted on whether you actually see movement in those 14 days! And congrats on the new job - at least you'll have income coming in while waiting for the back pay.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now! Been waiting 8 weeks with "determination needed" status and absolutely no communication from DEO. Called probably 50+ times and either get disconnected or stuck in endless hold loops. My CareerSource office was completely useless too - they basically admitted they can't access any of the systems that matter. Reading through these comments is both depressing and helpful. Sounds like the Claimyr service and contacting state representatives are the only things that actually work. I'm definitely going to try both approaches this week. @Diego Vargas really hoping your 14-day timeline works out! Please keep us updated. It's insane that we have to use third-party services and political connections just to get basic government benefits we're entitled to. The whole system is completely broken. For anyone else in this situation - don't give up! Seems like persistence and finding the right workarounds eventually pay off, even if it takes months longer than it should.

This is excellent advice. I tend to get emotional about this whole situation because it's been so stressful, but you're right - I need to focus on the technical and regulatory aspects. I'll practice making my points clearly before any hearing.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might help with your appeal and hearing preparation. Since you mentioned being hospitalized for 91 days with COVID, you should also look into whether Florida has any provisions for "good cause" exceptions to standard eligibility timelines due to medical emergencies. When I had a similar (though much shorter) medical issue that prevented me from filing claims, I found that DEO has internal policies about medical incapacity that aren't well-publicized. You'll want to specifically ask about Florida Administrative Code Rule 73B-11.011 which covers situations where claimants couldn't comply with requirements due to circumstances beyond their control. Also, make sure to get a detailed printout of your entire claim history from CONNECT before your hearing - including all the lock/unlock dates, failed ID.me attempts, and system error messages. The hearing officer needs to see the pattern of technical failures that prevented you from accessing benefits you were entitled to. One last tip: if you do get through to a DEO agent via Claimyr or your state rep, ask them to put detailed notes in your file explaining the system failures. These notes become part of your official record and can be referenced during appeals.

This whole thread has been super helpful! I was in a similar situation a few months ago and spent weeks thinking I was on some special extension program. Turns out it was just the regular RA benefits with the weeks adjusted for unemployment rates like everyone explained. One thing I'd add is that if you're still confused about your specific situation, try logging into CONNECT early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when the system is less busy. That's when I was finally able to access all my determination letters and payment history without the site timing out. The information is all there, it's just buried in the system and hard to find when the site is overloaded during peak hours.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was having the exact same confusion about my benefits. Like others mentioned, I kept seeing references to "extensions" in my paperwork but couldn't figure out what program I was actually on. After reading through everyone's explanations, I logged into CONNECT this morning (thanks for the early morning tip!) and confirmed I'm on regular RA with 18 weeks total due to the unemployment rate adjustments. It's frustrating that DEO doesn't make this clearer - they really should explain the difference between pandemic programs that ended and the standard rate-based week adjustments. This community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate their confusing website or sit on hold for hours!

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!

UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for their help! I followed several suggestions: 1) Emailed my state rep with all my info, 2) Used Claimyr to actually reach a DEO agent (finally!), and 3) Uploaded the construction delay documentation from my employer to CONNECT. The agent I spoke with saw that my adjudication was assigned but sitting in a backlog. She escalated it, and my state rep's office also contacted DEO. Got my determination letter yesterday - APPROVED! Payments should be coming in the next few days including all the back weeks. Such a relief!

Congratulations @Jamal Carter on getting your claim approved! Your success story gives me hope for my own situation. I'm currently at week 3 of adjudication hell with DEO and feeling pretty defeated. It's encouraging to see that the combination of contacting your state rep AND using Claimyr actually worked. I've been hesitant to try these third-party services but your experience makes it seem worth it. Did you have to pay for Claimyr or were there any other costs involved? Also, how long did it take your state rep's office to respond? I'm definitely going to try both approaches - thanks for sharing your victory!