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To answer your second question - you don't need to mail in the actual 1099-G form with your tax return. The IRS already gets a copy directly. You just need to report the amount on Schedule 1. But definitely keep your 1099-G with your tax records for at least 3 years in case of an audit.
my cousin had same issue and finally got a lawyer after 8 months... the lawyer sent one letter and suddenly deo fixed everything and he got all his back pay. sometimes they just need to see ur serious
One final piece of advice: Request a copy of your claim file through a formal public records request. Under Florida law, you're entitled to see your complete file, which might reveal why your claim is stuck. Email DEO.PublicRecords@deo.myflorida.com with your request. Specifically ask for all notes, fact-finding results, and determination drafts related to your claim. This information can be incredibly valuable if you do end up needing legal assistance.
Why is everyone saying they won appeals?? Almost NOBODY wins against DEO - their whole process is designed to deny benefits and keep their numbers low. They literally don't care if their system causes problems, they'll still blame you!!
Thank you all for the input! I'm going to file the appeal online today and start gathering my evidence. Will try to get those system logs like @profile2 suggested and have all my job search activities documented clearly. Feeling a bit more optimistic now. I'll update this thread once I have my hearing scheduled!
To add some clarity on the employer side: When an employee files for unemployment in Florida, the employer doesn't directly pay that specific claim. Instead, their overall tax rate might increase in the future based on their "experience rating" (how many former employees collect benefits). The employer is trying to intimidate you to protect their future tax rate, which is both illegal and unethical. The DEO has specific channels for reporting employer misconduct. You should definitely report this situation to prevent them from doing this to other employees in the future. Your benefits are protected by law.
Jade Santiago
UPDATE: Just claimed my weeks and confirmed the waiver is definitely showing in my account. When I got to the work search section, there was a message saying "Work search requirements temporarily waived through 05/29/2025 - no documentation required." So it seems legit! What a relief honestly, job hunting has been brutal lately.
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Caleb Stone
•nice! one less headache to deal with. DEO system is confusing enough as it is
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Aurora St.Pierre
Wait I'm confused... so if we're on regular unemployment (not pandemic or disaster) we don't have to do the 5 job applications? What about the appointments at CareerSource? I have one scheduled next week that took forever to set up
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Daniel Price
•The waiver only applies to the weekly work search activities (job applications, etc.). If you have a mandatory CareerSource appointment as part of your Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), you still need to attend that appointment. Missing it could affect your benefits eligibility regardless of the work search waiver. I recommend calling CareerSource directly to confirm your specific appointment requirements.
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