This is absolutely maddening and unfortunately way too common with DEO! I went through almost the exact same thing - 6 months stuck in "application being processed" despite multiple ID.me verifications and consistent weekly claims. What finally broke me out of the loop was filing a complaint with Florida's Department of Management Services (DMS) in addition to all the other suggestions here. DMS oversees state agency operations and they can put pressure on DEO to actually review your case. You can file online at dms.myflorida.com under "File a Complaint." Also, try emailing your local news stations' consumer advocacy reporters. I know it sounds dramatic, but DEO is terrified of bad press and sometimes media inquiries get faster responses than months of phone calls. Channel 6 and Channel 13 both have "On Your Side" type segments that cover these exact situations. The fact that you've done everything right (ID verification, weekly claims, work searches) and they're still ignoring you for 7 MONTHS is beyond unacceptable. This is literally your lifeline they're playing games with. Don't let up the pressure - you're not asking for charity, you're demanding what you're legally entitled to receive!

This entire thread is both heartbreaking and infuriating - 7 months is absolutely criminal! What strikes me most is how many people are dealing with the exact same "application being processed" nightmare, which proves this is a systemic failure, not isolated cases. I'm taking notes on all the strategies mentioned here because I have a feeling I might need them soon (my claim is only 2 months old but already showing warning signs). The multi-pronged approach seems to be the consensus - state rep, Inspector General, DMS complaint, media contacts, AND the callback services all at once. One thing I wanted to add: document your financial hardship too. Keep records of late notices, eviction threats, medical bills you can't pay, etc. When you contact your representatives and media, lead with the human impact. "I'm about to lose my apartment" hits different than just "my claim is delayed." These aren't just processing delays - they're putting people on the street while sitting on money that's rightfully theirs. @Evelyn - I really hope you try all these approaches simultaneously this week. You've been way too patient already. The system is literally designed to exhaust people into giving up, but you've got a whole community here rooting for you. Keep us updated on what works! The fact that people are getting resolution in days/weeks once the right person finally looks at their case just proves how deliberately broken this process is. It's not complicated - they just don't want to pay out benefits.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - been "under review" for 5 weeks after getting laid off from my HVAC job and this thread has been absolutely incredible! Like literally everyone else here, I had NO clue I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during review - I thought that would mess up their process or seem impatient. Just started claiming this week after reading all these comments and kicking myself for the weeks I probably lost! My case fits the pattern perfectly - worked for 3 different HVAC contractors last year as seasonal work shifted around, so the multiple employer trigger makes total sense now. It's absolutely mind-blowing that DEO doesn't clearly explain this anywhere when it's obviously such a widespread issue for anyone in trades or project-based work. Going to try the Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that multiple people have had success with, and I'm starting to check all those hidden CONNECT sections daily since issues apparently show up randomly without notifications. Also beginning a detailed log of call attempts and account changes like others suggested. The waiting is brutal when you're already stressed about money, but seeing all these success stories gives me real hope that persistence eventually works. Thank you everyone for sharing actual useful advice instead of the generic "please wait" responses we get everywhere else. This community has been more helpful than anything official from DEO! At least now I have concrete steps to follow instead of just sitting here helplessly refreshing my status.

I'm going through this exact nightmare too - been "under review" for almost 3 weeks now after being laid off from my restaurant job and this thread has been more helpful than anything DEO has provided! Like everyone else here, I had absolutely NO idea I was supposed to keep claiming weeks during the review process. I've been sitting here thinking I needed to wait for some kind of approval first. Starting my weekly claims immediately after reading all this! My situation is a bit different from the construction folks but similar pattern - worked for 2 different restaurants last year when my first one closed during the slow season, so that multiple employer thing probably triggered the manual review for me too. It's incredibly frustrating that DEO doesn't explain any of this clearly when it's obviously affecting people across so many different industries. Planning to try that Tuesday 7:30am calling strategy that several people have mentioned with success, and I'm going to start checking all those hidden CONNECT sections daily. Also going to start documenting everything with screenshots like others suggested - wish I had thought to do that from the beginning! The financial stress is unreal when you're already dealing with job loss, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that this will eventually get resolved with persistence. Thank you all for sharing real actionable advice - this community has been infinitely more useful than any official DEO guidance I've found! At least now I know I'm not alone and have concrete steps to follow instead of just anxiously refreshing my account all day.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My status just changed to "Eligibility Redetermination" this morning and I was completely terrified until I found this thread. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such an enormous relief - it's amazing to see how many people have successfully gotten through this process without major disruptions. I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks now and everything was going smoothly until this status suddenly appeared. Based on all the incredible advice shared here, I'm going to make sure I keep extra detailed records of my work search activities, verify that all my employer contact information is accurate, and definitely check my ID.me verification status like QuantumQuasar suggested - that's such a smart tip I never would have thought of! It's really reassuring to see Andre's update that his payment came through on time even with the redetermination status still active. I have rent due next week so I was really stressed about potential delays, but seeing that most people's benefits continue normally during this review gives me so much peace of mind. I'm also going to create that detailed spreadsheet several people mentioned with dates, company names, contact info, and screenshots of applications. The advice about them potentially calling employers to verify contact information is something I definitely wouldn't have considered - I'm going back through all my entries now to double-check everything is legitimate and current. This community is absolutely incredible - everyone sharing both positive experiences and the occasional challenges really helps set realistic expectations. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their stories. It's such a comfort to know we're all supporting each other through these stressful DEO processes! I'll make sure to post an update once my situation resolves to help others who might be going through this in the future.

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! My status changed to "Eligibility Redetermination" just yesterday and I was absolutely panicking until I found this thread. It's such a relief to read everyone's experiences and see that this seems to be a routine review process that DEO does periodically. I've been on unemployment for about 8 weeks now and everything has been smooth until this status appeared. Based on all the helpful advice here, I'm going to make sure I keep detailed documentation of my work search activities, double-check that all my employer contact information is accurate, and definitely verify my ID.me status like QuantumQuasar suggested. It's really reassuring to see Andre's update that his payment came through on time even with the redetermination still showing. I was worried about my payment due this Friday, but knowing most people's benefits continue normally during this process gives me so much peace of mind. I'm also going to create that spreadsheet multiple people mentioned with dates, company names, and screenshots of applications. The tip about them potentially calling employers to verify is something I never would have thought of - definitely going back to check all my contact info is current and legitimate. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community is amazing and it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these stressful DEO situations!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea Florida had so many protections for workers in situations like this. The fact that you can file for partial unemployment while still employed is huge - I've been struggling with reduced hours at my retail job and didn't know this was even an option. The advice about documenting everything immediately is spot on too. I made the mistake of not keeping records when my previous employer was pulling similar stunts with scheduling and hostile management. One question though - for those who have successfully filed for partial benefits in Florida, how long did it typically take to start receiving payments? I'm worried about the gap between filing and actually getting financial help, especially if there are fact-finding interviews and other delays in the process. Also, did any of you have issues with employers trying to contest partial unemployment claims? I know they get notified when you file, but I'm curious if they typically fight it or just accept it when the hour reduction is clearly documented. The tip about using specific terminology like "constructive discharge" and "unsafe working conditions" when filing is really valuable - I never would have known DEO looks for those particular phrases. This whole thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with workplace issues in Florida!

Great question about timing for partial benefits! In my experience, it took about 3-4 weeks to receive the first payment after filing, but that included a fact-finding interview that delayed things by about a week. The key is to respond to EVERY notification in CONNECT immediately - DEO moves faster when you're on top of their requests. As for employer contests, most don't fight partial unemployment claims when hour reduction is well-documented because it's pretty cut and dried. They're more likely to contest full unemployment claims where misconduct or "voluntary quit" is involved. The employers know they'll lose if you have solid proof of hour cuts, so many just accept it rather than waste time on a losing battle. One tip: when you file, emphasize that you're available and willing to work full-time hours but your employer is limiting your schedule. This shows DEO that the reduced income is due to lack of available work, not your choice to work less. And yes, using the right terminology absolutely matters - DEO agents are trained to look for specific legal language that triggers different benefit categories!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Just got hit with a $3,100 overpayment notice and I'm completely overwhelmed. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both terrifying and reassuring at the same time. One thing I noticed from my determination letter is that they're claiming I didn't report income for weeks where I KNOW I reported everything correctly. I've been keeping detailed records because I was paranoid about making mistakes, but now I'm second-guessing everything. Has anyone had success with requesting the specific calculation details from DEO? Like, can they show you exactly how they arrived at the overpayment amount? I feel like I'm flying blind trying to figure out what they think I did wrong. Also, for those who successfully appealed - how long did it take from filing the appeal to actually getting a hearing date? I'm worried about the financial stress dragging on for months while this gets resolved. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and advice. This community is literally the only place I've found real information about dealing with these overpayment nightmares!

I'm dealing with this same situation right now - got hit with a $2,950 overpayment notice three weeks ago and I was absolutely panicking at first. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I wanted to share what I've learned so far. The biggest thing that helped me was realizing that DEO makes A LOT of mistakes with these determinations. I spent hours going through my records and found that they were double-counting income from a two-week pay period where my employer paid me for the previous week and current week together. It showed up as unreported income because of how the dates lined up. For anyone just getting started with this process: 1. Don't panic (easier said than done, I know!) 2. Gather EVERYTHING - pay stubs, bank statements, screenshots of your weekly certs if you have them 3. Create a timeline matching your actual pay dates to the weeks you certified 4. File your appeal immediately through CONNECT - don't wait I'm still waiting for my hearing date (filed appeal 2 weeks ago), but getting organized and understanding exactly what they're claiming has made me feel so much more confident about fighting this. The people in this community who've won their appeals all seem to have one thing in common - they had solid documentation and didn't give up. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we have a real fighting chance if we stay organized and persistent!