Florida Unemployment
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- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Can I apply for Federal assistance while my FL reemployment claim is still pending?
I submitted my Florida reemployment application last week and it's showing 'pending' status in CONNECT. With everything taking forever to process, I'm getting worried about bills. Does anyone know if I can go ahead and apply for the Federal pandemic assistance now, or do I have to wait until my state claim is either approved or denied? The DEO website is so confusing and I can't get through on the phone. Don't want to mess anything up, but really need some help coming in soon.
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DEO claiming I didn't request 3 weeks of benefits - filed appeal but worried
Has anyone dealt with the DEO saying you didn't request benefits when you KNOW you did? I'm freaking out because they're denying 3 weeks of my benefits (about $950 total) claiming I never requested them. I am 100% certain I completed all my work search requirements and submitted everything through CONNECT just like I always do. The system even showed my request was complete when I finished! Now they send me this determination letter saying I failed to request these weeks in a timely manner. I immediately filed an appeal explaining that I did everything correctly and it must be a technical error on their end. I should have taken screenshots of the confirmation page, but who thinks of that? The worst part is I'm relying on this money for rent next month. Has anyone successfully appealed something like this? Do they ever rule in claimants' favor when it's basically your word against their system records?
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my nieghbor works for deo and says they never check if u actually claim until somebody complains lol the whole thing is just computers
That's not true at all. They have a whole department that reviews claims.
Quick update on my situation that might help you - after I got through to DEO using that service I mentioned, the agent told me something interesting. Apparently sometimes if you claim your weeks but close the browser before seeing the final confirmation page, the system doesn't record it properly even though it seems like you completed everything. They said always wait to see the final confirmation page that shows the exact weeks you claimed and the payment amount. Just sharing in case it helps anyone else!
That's actually really helpful info! I sometimes have to use my phone when my laptop isn't working, and the mobile site is terrible. It's entirely possible something didn't process correctly even though I thought I finished everything. I'm going to mention this possibility in my appeal.
Identity theft nightmare: Someone hacked my DEO account and changed all contact info before my claim week deadline
I'm freaking out right now. Someone got into my CONNECT account and completely hijacked it. They changed the direct deposit info to their own bank account, switched my email address, AND changed my phone number so they get the verification codes instead of me. I discovered this yesterday when I tried to log in and couldn't get the 2-factor authentication code. I immediately called the DEO fraud hotline and sent messages through the contact portal, but NO RESPONSE. My claim weeks deadline is TOMORROW and I can't even access my own account! This is literally my rent money for next month. Has this happened to anyone else? How long did it take to get your account back? I'm seriously panicking right now because I have no idea if I'll even get my benefits this cycle or if they'll go straight to the scammer's account.
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UPDATE: Finally got everything sorted! For anyone with the same problem in the future: 1. CareerSource visit with all my docs was the key - they have a direct line to DEO security team 2. Had to fill out 3 different forms and get one notarized ($10 at UPS Store) 3. They put a security hold on my account within 24 hours to stop payments 4. Took 9 days total to get full access back 5. They're reissuing the payment that went to the wrong account but said it might take up to 3 weeks Thank you everyone for your help! Special thanks to whoever suggested the Claimyr service - that's the only way I actually got through to a human being at DEO.
Great to hear you got it resolved! Just a tip for ongoing security - enable all available security features in your CONNECT account and consider using a password manager to create unique passwords for every site you use. Also, check if your email address has been in any data breaches at haveibeenpwned.com - this might explain how your information was compromised.
Contacting state rep got my boyfriend's DEO claim paid after 3 months stuck - share your success stories
After watching my boyfriend struggle with his DEO claim for over 3 months, I wanted to share what FINALLY worked for us. He applied back in June 2025 and his claim just sat there with 'pending adjudication' status. He called constantly, waited on hold for hours, and sent emails that never got responses. After uploading the same documents multiple times and completing ID.me verification twice, we were desperate. I suggested he contact our state representative through the Florida House website, and wow - it actually worked! Within 10 days of contacting them, his claim was processed and he received payment for all 14 weeks he'd been waiting on. Has anyone else had success using state representatives to push DEO claims through? Any other tactics that worked when nothing else did? I'm building a list of strategies for friends who are still stuck in the system.
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ok but that website doesn't work it just goes to a map that doesnt load for me..can someone just tell me how to find my rep??
You can also find your state representative by going to https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find and entering your address. This should work even if the House website map is having issues. If both sites are down, you can call the Florida Legislature's Office at 850-488-4371 and they can look up your rep based on your address.
so after reading this thread i finally got the courage to contact my state senator instead of my rep (who ignored me). sent an email yesterday and his office already called me this morning!! they said they're sending an inquiry to their DEO contact person today. will update if anything happens but im actually hopeful for the first time in months!! my claim has been stuck since july so fingers crossed this works!!!!
That's fantastic! Please do update us and let us know if it works. I really hope they can get your claim sorted out quickly!
DEO FEMA extra $900 payment lump sum vs. weekly installments — what's happening?
Just heard on the radio that Rep. Val Demings is pushing for the FEMA extra unemployment money to be paid in one lump sum instead of three weekly payments. According to what I heard, we should be getting $300/week for 3 weeks (total $900) backpaid from August 1st, but only if we're already receiving at least $100 in UI benefits. Demings mentioned she thinks it probably won't end up being one payment, which sucks because a lot of us could really use that lump sum right now. Has anyone heard any updates on this from DEO? Their website is completely useless as usual - nothing about when these payments are coming or how they'll be distributed. My regular UI payments have been consistent, but I'm counting on this extra money to cover my car insurance that's about to lapse. Wondering if anyone has insider info or has talked to a DEO rep recently about this?
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UPDATE: Just got off the phone with DEO (thanks to those who suggested different ways to get through). The agent I spoke with confirmed they're starting to process the payments next week, but they'll be distributed in three separate $300 payments, probably a few days apart. She said everyone should have all three payments by October 5th at the latest. She also mentioned that people who were on PUA with less than $100 benefits won't be eligible, which is terrible for gig workers and self-employed people who are getting the minimum PUA amount. Still frustrating that it's not a lump sum, but at least there's a timeline now.
thanks for sharing the update 👍 good to know when to expect it
That timeline helps a lot! Was worried about my electric bill. Did they say if we need to do anything special to get these payments, or will they just automatically show up if we qualify?
For those needing clarification on eligibility: To receive the LWA $300 supplement, you must: 1. Have been eligible for regular unemployment (UI), PUA, or PEUC during the weeks beginning August 1, 8, and 15, 2025 2. Be receiving at least $100 per week in benefits 3. Be unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 disruptions The LWA payments are subject to federal income tax but not state tax. They should appear in your CONNECT account payment history once processed, though they may show up under a different category than your regular benefits. Based on my experience with previous supplemental payments, they'll likely appear in your account 1-2 business days before hitting your bank account or Way2Go card.
This is super helpful, thanks! One quick question - what about people who were eligible during those weeks but have since returned to work? Will they still get the retroactive payments?
Yes, if you were eligible during those specific weeks (Aug 1-15), you should receive the payments even if you've returned to work since then. The eligibility is based on your status during those three weeks, not your current status.
Mei Chen
my freind works at deo and she told me they have HUGE backlog right now, so everyone is waiting weeks longer than normal. something about system upgrades causing problems???
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ThunderBolt7
Yes, this is accurate. The DEO implemented some system changes in early 2025 that have created processing delays. They're working through the backlog, but it's definitely causing longer wait times than the usual 2-3 weeks for new claims. Make sure you're logging in regularly and claiming weeks on schedule despite the pending status.
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Andre Dupont
Update: I used Claimyr this morning and actually got through to someone! The agent said my claim was pending because they needed additional proof of my last day worked (even though I submitted that with my initial application). She sent me a link to upload the document, and said my claim should be processed within 48-72 hours after they receive it. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Zoe Papadakis
That's great news! Glad you were able to get an answer. Keep us posted on how it goes after you upload the document.
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