I'm seeing a lot of great advice here, but I want to add something from personal experience - when you file for partial unemployment, DEO will likely schedule a "fact-finding interview" within 2-3 weeks. This is where they'll ask detailed questions about your work situation, so make sure you have all your documentation organized and easily accessible. They'll want specific dates, times, and examples of the hostile behavior and hour reductions. Also, since you mentioned your manager is sketchy about tip reporting, you should know that DEO can cross-reference your reported wages with what your employer submitted - any discrepancies will come up during their investigation. This actually works in your favor since it shows wage theft. One more tip: when you do the interview, stick to facts only and don't let emotions take over even though the situation is frustrating. They're looking for objective evidence of employer misconduct, not subjective complaints. The combination of documented hour cuts, hostile environment, and wage violations through tip underreporting should make for a very strong case. Best of luck with your filing!

I've been working as a server for 8 years and unfortunately dealt with similar situations multiple times. Based on everything I've read here, you're in a much stronger position than you might think! The combination of hour cuts (from full-time to 18-20 hours), hostile management, schedule manipulation, AND tip underreporting gives you several different angles for either partial benefits now or full benefits later. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - keep track of your actual work schedule vs. what was originally promised when you were hired. If they hired you for full-time and are now giving you part-time hours, that's a material change in your employment terms that could support a constructive discharge claim. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from when you were first hired that mention expected hours or scheduling, save those too. The restaurant industry is notorious for these kinds of practices, but Florida workers do have protections - you just have to know how to use them. Filing for partial unemployment while still employed is definitely your best move right now. It gives you immediate financial relief, protects you from retaliation, and starts the documentation process with DEO in case you need to escalate later. Stay strong and don't let them push you around!

I'm in the same exact situation as you Avery! My balance hits $0 in two weeks but my benefit year doesn't end until November. This thread has been a goldmine of information - I had absolutely no clue about continuing to claim weeks at zero balance to maintain your record. That alone makes this worth reading! A few additional resources that have helped me prepare for this gap: 1. I signed up for my county's emergency rental assistance program before I actually need it - many have waiting lists so it's better to get on them early 2. I've been checking with local workforce development nonprofits beyond just CareerSource - many offer specialized training programs that can make you more competitive while you're job searching 3. I started doing small freelance tasks on sites like TaskRabbit and Fiverr to bring in a little income during the gap (just make sure to report any earnings properly) The advice about screenshotting your CONNECT account details before hitting $0 is brilliant - doing that immediately! Also planning to call DEO at 8 AM sharp to get clarification on my account status before the money runs out. It's terrifying facing this gap period, but seeing everyone share practical solutions and support each other makes it feel like there's actually a path through this. Thanks for starting this conversation - you've helped way more people than just yourself figure out how to navigate this confusing system!

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you! My balance will hit $0 next week but my benefit year doesn't end until August. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about continuing to claim weeks even at $0 balance or about so many of these resources everyone has shared. One thing I wanted to add that's helped me prepare: I reached out to my local food banks and pantries to get registered before I actually need them. Most don't require income verification and it's one less thing to worry about during the gap period. Also, I've been checking with community colleges about their job placement services - many offer free career counseling and have connections with local employers even if you're not a student. The advice about screenshotting your CONNECT account details is brilliant - definitely doing that this week! I'm also going to try calling DEO at 8 AM sharp like someone suggested. It's scary not knowing what comes next financially, but seeing everyone share practical solutions and support each other through this makes it feel so much more manageable. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped way more people than just yourself navigate this confusing system!

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to file today. Sounds like it might be cutting it close with the timing, but worth trying. I'll make sure to be clear about the "business needs" reason consistently. And I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service if I run into trouble getting through to DEO. Really appreciate all the help!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're worried about the timing, you can also call the DEO customer service line at 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to check on your claim status once you submit it. They're usually swamped but sometimes you can get through early in the morning (like 7-8 AM). Also, even if your benefits don't arrive before you start your new job, they'll still be backdated to cover those eligible weeks. So don't stress too much about the timing - just get that application in ASAP and let the process work. You've got this!

Congratulations on landing the retail management position! Just went through this exact process last month when I started my new job. The advice from @Giovanni Moretti is spot on - report your return to work during your final week claim, provide all employer details, and you're done. One small tip: screenshot or save confirmation of when you reported the job just in case you ever need proof later. DEO's system can be glitchy sometimes and it's good to have documentation. Best of luck with the new role!

Congrats on the new job! I just went through this same process a few weeks ago. One thing I'll add to all the great advice here - make sure you're 100% clear on your actual start date vs. orientation/training days. I almost made a mistake because my "orientation" was on a Friday but my actual first paid work day wasn't until the following Monday. DEO cares about when you start getting paid, not when you show up for paperwork. Also, if your new job offers any kind of signing bonus or immediate payment, that counts as earnings for the week you receive it. Just wanted to mention these details since they can trip people up! Good luck with the retail management position - hope it goes great!

This whole tier system is incredibly frustrating and honestly feels like psychological warfare against people who are already struggling financially. I've been dealing with DEO for a different issue (identity verification) for 6 weeks now and had no idea about these escalation tiers until reading this thread. The fact that they make you call every 2 weeks just to move up in line is ridiculous - it's like they're deliberately making the process as painful as possible to discourage claims. And requiring people to mention "severe financial hardship" to get priority treatment? What unemployed person isn't experiencing financial hardship?! I'm definitely going to try the state representative route that Jessica mentioned. It's sad that we have to go around the system to get the system to work, but at this point I'll try anything. Cameron, I hope you get to Tier 3 soon and finally get this resolved. Keep us posted on what works!

Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and infuriating. I'm currently on week 6 of adjudication hell over a simple vacation payout issue - they're treating two weeks of accrued vacation pay like it's some complex financial mystery that requires a team of forensic accountants to figure out. What really bothers me is how they've gamified our desperation. Making us call every 2 weeks to "level up" in their tier system feels deliberately designed to exhaust people into giving up. And the fact that we have to use specific magic words like "severe financial hardship" to get basic priority treatment is just cruel. I'm going to try Benjamin's advice about requesting "DEO Merit Staff" when I call next week, and also reach out to my state rep as Jessica suggested. It's ridiculous that we need a multi-pronged approach just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but clearly playing by their hidden rules is the only way to get results. Cameron, thanks for posting this - you've inadvertently created a support group and information sharing hub that's probably more useful than DEO's actual help resources!