Florida Unemployment
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- Connect you to a human agent at the DEO
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
FL DEO claiming I owe overpayment but 1099-G shows wrong amount - can't reach anyone!
I'm in serious trouble with FL DEO and can't reach a single human to help! My 1099-G tax form from 2020 shows they paid me almost DOUBLE what I actually received in my bank account. When I first got the tax form, I called and the rep insisted it was correct (it wasn't). Now, in 2025, I just got hit with an overpayment notice saying I owe them money back?! This makes no sense - how can I owe money when I never got the full amount they claim I received in the first place? Every time I call the main DEO number, I go through all the phone prompts just to have the system tell me 'sorry, we're receiving more calls than normal and can't process your call at this time' and then it HANGS UP on me. The overpayment notice doesn't even have contact info except for a payment website that doesn't work - I just get a 'Not found' error. I've tried emailing through CONNECT but no response after 2 weeks. Has anyone managed to actually reach a human at DEO recently? I need to get this fixed before they start garnishing my wages or something crazy.
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Can I qualify for DEO benefits after only one day at Amazon Flex before COVID shutdown?
Hey everyone, I'm really confused about my eligibility for unemployment. I started working for Amazon Flex in February 2025 but only completed ONE day of work before everything shut down due to the new COVID variant. I had to stay home with my three kids (6, 8, and 11) because schools closed and I'm a single parent with no childcare options. I've heard there might be special provisions for people in my situation? I tried calling DEO but can't get through. The CONNECT system keeps saying I don't have enough work history for regular unemployment. Would I qualify for any benefits at all? I'm desperate - rent is due next week and I've got nothing.
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This reminds me of when my daughter lost her job at the mall during that big retail shutdown last year. She was only there for two weeks before everyone got laid off. She kept getting denied by DEO too. The whole thing is so frustrating. She ended up moving back home with us because she couldn't pay rent. Have you looked into food banks in your area? At least that could help with feeding your kids while you figure things out.
I'm sorry about your daughter's situation. That's exactly what I'm afraid of - having to give up my apartment. I've been to our local food bank once already. They were helpful but said they can only provide assistance once a month due to high demand.
After reading through this thread, I think your best next steps are: 1) Use one of the methods suggested to actually speak with a DEO representative - either calling right at opening time or using Claimyr if you continue having trouble getting through 2) Ask specifically about alternative assistance programs you might qualify for given your childcare situation 3) Contact your county's Human Services department about emergency assistance programs - many counties have special funds for families with children 4) Document everything - your attempts to find work, childcare limitations, and communications with DEO Most importantly, don't give up after the initial rejection. Many people get denied initially but qualify after speaking with an actual representative who can consider your full situation.
Thank you for laying out clear steps. I feel a bit less overwhelmed now with a plan to follow. I'll try calling at opening time tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll look into Claimyr. I'll also contact Human Services tomorrow. I appreciate everyone's help so much.
DEO holding claims because of work search despite caretaker exemption and doctor's note - HELP!
I've been caught in an absolute nightmare with DEO since April. My situation: I became the primary caretaker for my grandmother who had a stroke in February. My employer initially approved my medical caretaker leave with proper documentation, but then suddenly terminated me 7 weeks into it (wasn't expecting that!). I immediately filed for unemployment and was told by THREE different DEO reps that I qualified for a work search exemption as a full-time caretaker if I: 1) completed the required CareerSource workshop (which I did on April 22nd), and 2) submitted a doctor's note confirming my caretaker status with each claim (which I've faithfully uploaded every time). My claims were being paid properly until May 16th. Since then, my last 3 claims are stuck as 'pending' with a message about incomplete work search requirements. I've called DEO at least 85 times in the past 3 weeks - either busy signals, disconnects after 2 hours on hold, or useless automated messages. I've sent 6 emails to different addresses listed on their website. NOTHING. My grandmother still needs full-time care until her rehab is complete, and I have ZERO income right now. What am I doing wrong? Has anyone dealt with the caretaker exemption before? This is beyond frustrating!
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Final DEO payment coming - need budget advice until I find a job
Just got the email - my Florida unemployment benefits are ending next month. My last 3 DEO payments are all I've got until I find work. I've applied to 20+ jobs but nothing yet. Looking for real advice on stretching these final payments. What resources helped you get through when benefits ran out? Any budget tricks? The anxiety is hitting hard and some days I feel pretty hopeless. Are there emergency assistance programs that actually work? Food banks? Rent help? Anything?
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When my unemployment ran out I started donating plasma twice a week. Brought in about $400/month which helped a lot with groceries. Not ideal but it was something when nothing else was coming in.
I hadn't thought about plasma donation! There's a center not far from me. Might look into that as a temporary option. $400/month would definitely help.
One last thought - when you're budgeting those final DEO payments, remember they're taxable income. If you didn't have taxes withheld, set aside some money for potential tax bills next year. I made that mistake and got hit with an unexpected tax bill after my benefits ended. And keep documenting EVERYTHING related to your job search. Some assistance programs want proof you're actively looking for work. Most importantly - don't lose hope. I was unemployed for almost 5 months after benefits ended, but eventually found something. It's incredibly stressful, but you will get through this.
You're right about the taxes - I did have them withholding, thankfully. And I'll definitely keep detailed records of all my job applications. Really appreciate all the support here - feeling a bit more hopeful today.
Worried about DEO benefits ending Dec 31 - will my new Regular UI claim be complicated?
I just got approved for Regular Unemployment about 3 weeks ago with a monetary determination of $375/week (about $13,125 total). My benefit year is supposed to end December 31, 2025 according to my CONNECT dashboard. I'm getting really anxious about what happens when we hit that date. Does anyone know if filing a new application after my benefit year ends will be straightforward, or am I going to have to go through the whole nightmare process again? I remember reading something about a 'streamlined reapplication' but can't find that info now. I don't want to start completely from scratch with uploading documents and waiting months for approval. Has anyone gone through this transition recently? What was your experience?
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One more thing to prepare for: expect your account to go into "pending" status during the transition between benefit years. This is normal but stressful. You'll still need to claim weeks during this time, even though payments might be delayed until your new claim is processed. If your claim gets stuck in adjudication during the transition (this happened to me), be persistent about contacting DEO. The regular phone lines are nearly impossible, so having alternative contact methods ready is essential. Also, occasionally check your CONNECT inbox and spam folder for any fact-finding questionnaires. Missing these can seriously delay your new claim processing.
Thank you for the heads up about the pending status. I'll mentally prepare for that so I don't panic when it happens. And good reminder about checking for messages - I've had important DEO emails go to spam before.
Freya Larsen
Has anyone actually gotten through by calling at a specific time of day? I've heard early morning (right when they open) might work better? I'm dealing with a different issue but also can't reach anyone.
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Javier Torres
I tried calling at 7:29am (they open at 7:30am) and still got the same recording and hangup. Its like nobody actually works there!!!
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Malik Johnson
I tried all different times for weeks before using Claimyr. The problem isn't just high call volume - they actually limit how many calls can even sit in the queue. So even if agents are available, the system hangs up once the queue limit is reached. Really frustrating system.
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Emma Wilson
UPDATE: The DEO just released a new form specifically for 2020-2021 overpayment disputes where there's a 1099-G discrepancy. It's called the "Benefit Payment Reconciliation Request." You can find it under the "Forms and Publications" section of CONNECT. This form lets you specifically flag cases where your 1099-G doesn't match what you received. They implemented this in March 2025 because so many people were having this exact issue.
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Natasha Volkov
AuthorThis is AMAZING news! Thank you so much for sharing this update. I just logged in and found the form. It specifically addresses my situation perfectly. I'm filling it out right now and uploading all my bank statements. I really appreciate everyone's help!
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