Has anyone tried the Florida Senate office for help with DEO issues? My coworker said they resolved her 3-month stuck claim in less than a week after she contacted her state senator's office. Might be worth a shot if the state rep doesn't help.

Update: I tried calling at 7:29am today and actually got through after being on hold for about 45 minutes! The agent confirmed my claim WAS assigned to an adjudicator on February 1st, but said they're currently working on claims from mid-January. She estimated it would be another 2-3 weeks before mine is reviewed. I also emailed the urgent address and plan to contact my state rep tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your advice - at least I have some actual information now instead of being completely in the dark.

For anyone else finding this thread later: This is a common occurrence with Florida DEO payments. Different payment types (regular weekly benefits, back payments, adjustments, etc.) may show the same processing date in CONNECT but typically post to bank accounts on different schedules. This isn't a glitch - it's just how their system processes different payment batches. Tips for new claimants: 1. Allow 2-5 business days for all payments to arrive 2. Check your CONNECT payment history for accurate processing dates 3. Keep track of which payments you've received vs. what's showing as processed 4. If payments don't arrive after 5 business days, then contact DEO

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I had the exact same thing happen when I first started my claim. The staggered payment schedule is actually pretty standard for Florida DEO. What helped me was setting up text alerts through CONNECT so I get notified when each payment is processed, rather than constantly checking my bank account. Also, if you're really tight on funds waiting for that second payment, some banks will give you provisional credit if you call and explain it's a delayed government benefit - worth asking about if you're in a pinch for rent like Diego was.

this is y ppl dont report income tbh. system is rigged againt honest people

Ugh, this exact same thing happened to me last year! I did a one-day consulting gig for $125 and it completely wiped out my $200 weekly benefit PLUS the $600 federal payment. Lost $800 total for being honest about $125 in income. The math makes absolutely no sense - you'd think they'd want to encourage people to take on small work opportunities while job searching, but instead the system punishes you for it. I ended up turning down several small freelance jobs after that because I couldn't afford to lose my benefits. It's so backwards and discouraging when you're already struggling financially.

wait i forgot to say my sister also had to upload some extra documents for her extension that she didnt need for regular benefits! check ur CONNECT inbox!!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation - just exhausted my regular benefits two weeks ago and submitted my extension application. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially with bills piling up! From what I've been reading here and my own research, it seems like the timeline really varies. I've been religiously continuing my work searches and claiming my weeks even though I'm not getting paid right now. One thing that's been helpful is setting up alerts in my CONNECT account so I get notified immediately if there are any updates or if they need additional documentation. For anyone else in this boat - I found that keeping a detailed spreadsheet of all my work search activities with dates, company names, and contact info has been really helpful. That way if they ask for verification, I have everything organized and ready to go. The last thing any of us need is a delay because of missing paperwork. Hoping we all get through this process quickly! Will definitely update once I hear back on my extension status.

Thank you all for the advice! I logged into CONNECT and found the fact-finding questionnaire about 2020 employment verification. I'm gathering all the documents I can find - my mother's death certificate, hospice paperwork, some emails about job applications, and I'm writing a detailed statement explaining everything. I'll also check out Claimyr to try reaching an agent directly. I'm still really worried, but at least I have a plan now. I'll update once I hear back from DEO after submitting everything.

I'm dealing with a similar audit situation right now, though mine is for 2021 PUA benefits. What helped me was creating a detailed timeline document that included not just employment gaps but WHY those gaps existed - in your case, the caregiving responsibilities and your mother's declining health. Since you mentioned you were 67 when this happened, you might also want to include information about your age and how that affected your job search prospects, especially during COVID when many employers were hesitant to hire older workers. The combination of caregiving duties, your age, and the pandemic created legitimate barriers to employment that DEO should understand. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing the difference between regular unemployment and PUA - most people had no idea there were different programs with different rules. The important thing is that you were honest about your situation when you applied. Document everything you submit with dates and keep copies. The system is overwhelming but you're taking the right steps by responding promptly to their requests.