I completely messed up my claim filing schedule and now I'm panicking! I thought I knew exactly when to file my biweekly claim but then CONNECT was down for maintenance the day I tried to log in. When I finally got back in yesterday, the system is telling me I need to file a brand new claim instead of just claiming weeks?? I was only 4 months into my benefit year and had plenty of benefits remaining. When I tried starting the new claim application, the website froze halfway through and kicked me out. Now I'm stuck in limbo and can't get through on the phone lines (keep getting busy signals or automatic disconnects). Has anyone dealt with missing a biweekly filing deadline? Do they really terminate your entire claim if you miss one filing period? This seems extreme when it was partly because their website was down for maintenance! Any advice on fixing this without having to start the whole process over again?

Just got approved for PUA benefits after waiting for almost 2 months (filed March 12th). I finally see my account showing payments, but it's only $113 per week backdated to when I applied. Shouldn't I be getting the additional $600 FPUC payment too? My CONNECT dashboard doesn't show anything about the extra $600 anywhere. Is this normal or did something go wrong with my claim? I'm a gig worker and this is my first time dealing with unemployment. Super confused and starting to worry because bills are stacking up fast.

I'm at my wits' end dealing with this identity theft nightmare with DEO since March 2025. Someone filed for unemployment using my information, and despite having TWO separate appeal hearings with Tallahassee officials, I STILL keep getting overpayment notices for weeks I never claimed! Every hearing ends with 'We've resolved the issue, Mr. Johnson' but then boom - another bill shows up demanding $4,200 for 'fraudulent claims' I NEVER MADE. When I log into CONNECT, there's absolutely nothing showing these supposed weeks, no appeal option, no record of these claims they're billing me for. It's like fighting a ghost! I've sent 8 emails to the fraud department with zero response. Every single phone call ends with that stupid automated message about 'higher than normal call volume' before disconnecting me. I'm genuinely worried this will damage my credit or trigger wage garnishment for something I didn't do! Has anyone successfully resolved identity theft with Florida DEO? I'm desperate for actual solutions.

I started my Florida unemployment claim last week and I'm super confused about the claiming process. The system isn't letting me claim week by week - says I can't claim again until 9/11. Is this normal? Nobody told me the first week isn't paid either! The CONNECT site is absolutely terrible to navigate - every login bombards me with tons of useless information while hiding the actually helpful stuff. I've spent HOURS reading through contradictory instructions and getting nowhere. This feels deliberately designed to frustrate people out of claiming benefits they're entitled to. Anyone else think this system is intentionally broken to keep payment rates low? How are people supposed to survive when the very system meant to help is this user-unfriendly? Seriously wondering if our state officials ever tried using their own system!

After 3+ years at my company, I was suddenly let go last week with some vague explanation about 'performance issues' even though I've never had a single negative review. Filed for unemployment through DEO CONNECT and just got denied - the determination letter says my employer claimed misconduct, which is completely untrue! I think they're trying to avoid the unemployment claim affecting their tax rate. Has anyone here successfully appealed this kind of situation? Can anyone recommend a good lawyer in the Jacksonville area who specializes in wrongful termination AND unemployment appeals? This feels so unfair and I'm really stressing about paying bills while this gets sorted out.