Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! My balance showed $0 for almost 6 weeks but I kept claiming and doing my work searches. Turns out my previous employer had disputed my claim saying I was "fired for cause" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The adjudication process took forever but once they ruled in my favor, I got a lump sum payment for all the weeks I had claimed during that $0 balance period. The key things that helped me were: 1) Never stopped claiming weeks even though balance was $0, 2) Kept meticulous records of all my job search activities (screenshots, emails, etc.), and 3) Checked my CONNECT account multiple times per day for any new messages or fact-finding questionnaires. Don't get discouraged by the $0 balance - it's likely just a temporary hold while they investigate something. Keep doing what you're supposed to do and you should get paid once it's resolved!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My balance has been showing $0 for about 2 weeks but I have 3 unclaimed weeks available. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea that I should keep claiming weeks even with a zero balance. I was actually scared to claim them thinking it might mess something up in the system. I just checked my "Determination, Pending Issues and Decision Summary" section like someone mentioned and there's definitely something there about adjudication that I didn't notice before. The date shows it started about 2 weeks ago which matches when my balance went to zero. One question for everyone who's been through this - when you were doing your 5 work searches per week during the $0 balance period, did you have any issues with the system accepting them? Sometimes when I try to log my work searches it gives me error messages, and I'm worried that might cause problems later when they review everything. Also, has anyone tried that Claimyr service that was mentioned? I've been trying to call DEO for days with no luck and I'm getting desperate to talk to an actual person about what's happening with my claim.

My brother got audited cuz he forgot to put his unemployment on his taxes last year so definitely don't skip it

If you're still unsure about doing it yourself, many local libraries and community centers offer free tax prep help through the VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). They're trained on unemployment reporting and can make sure everything gets filed correctly. I used VITA when I had unemployment income a couple years ago and they knew exactly how to handle the DEO 1099-G. Just another option if you want professional help without paying the big tax software fees.

This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation - was on regular unemployment benefits that ended in January, called DEO for guidance, and was told by a rep to file a completely new application. Now I'm stuck with the same "double dipping" flag and have been waiting 5 weeks with no payments. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that getting to an adjudicator (not just any rep) is crucial. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned, and I'll make sure to reference Florida Administrative Code 73B-11.013 when I finally get through. It's incredibly frustrating that DEO reps are giving advice that creates these problems, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions that actually work. Thanks everyone for the detailed advice and for Aisha coming back with the successful resolution - gives me hope I can get this mess sorted out soon!

This entire thread perfectly illustrates the nightmare that is Florida's unemployment system! I'm a new member here but have been lurking and reading stories like this for weeks while dealing with my own DEO issues. What strikes me most is how many people were given the EXACT same bad advice - to file a new claim instead of requesting an extension - and then got penalized for following that advice. It's like they're setting people up to fail. The fact that Aisha got this resolved in 30 minutes once she reached the right person really shows that these aren't complex issues - they're just stuck in a broken system with undertrained staff. I'm bookmarking this thread because the specific advice about asking for an adjudicator, having that Florida Administrative Code reference ready, and the Claimyr service could be game-changers for so many people. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who came back with updates and solutions. This is exactly the kind of real-world help people need when dealing with DEO's chaos!

Just following up - were you able to resolve this? If emailing didn't work, another option is to contact your state representative's office. They often have liaisons who can escalate DEO issues. I've seen people get results within 24-48 hours going this route when they were stuck for weeks trying on their own.

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar verification code issue right now and have been stuck for about 2 weeks. @Mei Lin so glad you got yours resolved! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service since the regular phone lines have been completely useless. It's ridiculous that we have to use third-party services just to reach our own state agency, but at this point I'll try anything. Has anyone else had success with Claimyr recently, or are there any other reliable ways to actually speak to a human at DEO? The email route seems hit or miss based on what I'm reading here.

I just went through this same process two weeks ago and was completely blindsided by the video call requirement! I had set aside maybe 20 minutes thinking it would be a quick automated upload, but ended up spending almost 3 hours total between the wait time and call. My queue time was around 2 hours 15 minutes which was absolutely brutal, but I stuck it out since I didn't want to start over. The referee was actually really nice though - very patient and professional. They had me show my driver's license from multiple angles, verify my full name and address, and confirm the last 4 digits of my SSN. The actual video portion took maybe 8-10 minutes once connected. What helped me was having good overhead lighting and making sure my phone was on silent so there wouldn't be any interruptions. My DEO account updated to verified status exactly 48 hours after the call completed. It's definitely frustrating that there's zero warning about potentially needing to do a video interview, but it seems like this is just their standard security protocol. At least now I know for next time to block out a whole afternoon if I ever have to do ID verification again!

I just completed my ID.me verification this morning and had the exact same experience! I was totally unprepared for the video call requirement - thought it would be a simple upload and done process. My wait time was about 2 hours which was pretty brutal, but I used that time to find better lighting and make sure my setup was ready. The referee was super professional and patient once I got connected. They had me show my driver's license from multiple angles, verify my address and last 4 digits of my SSN, and confirm my full name and DOB. The actual video portion only took about 5-6 minutes. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is completely normal when the automated facial recognition can't get a high enough confidence match. Really wish ID.me would give people a heads up that this might be required instead of springing it on you unexpectedly! My verification is still showing as pending, but hopefully it'll update within the next day or two like everyone else's has.