my freind says they doing this cuz to many ppl claiming at once on mondays and the system keeps crashing. whatevs deo always making things harder for no reason

Thanks everyone for the responses! I claimed my second week yesterday (Monday) like scheduled and it went through fine. The payment for my first week already hit my account this morning. Seems like this is just the new way things work now. Really wish DEO would communicate these changes instead of leaving us all confused and panicking!

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I HATE THE DEO!!!!!! They NEVER communicate anything properly! If they're doing maintenance, they should TELL PEOPLE before our payments don't show up. Some of us have bills automatically set up based on when these deposits usually arrive. The system is BROKEN and they don't care at all about claimants. I've been on unemployment for 4 months and every single time there's some new problem. Last month they randomly put me into adjudication for 3 weeks with ZERO explanation.

UPDATE: My payment just hit my account about 10 minutes ago! Looks like it was just delayed by about 14 hours. Check your accounts everyone!

my cousin had this problem too they sent the notice to old address lol

Update us on what happens! Many people have been in this situation, and it usually works out if you're proactive about contacting them before the hearing date.

I know others have mentioned it, but I want to emphasize: document EVERYTHING during this process. Take screenshots of all uploads, note the time/date of all calls, and keep copies of everything you submit. Florida's DUA verification process has been problematic for many claimants. Another tip: If you submit documents and don't see them reflected in your CONNECT account within 48 hours, call immediately. Sometimes documents get "lost" in their system, and you don't want to miss deadlines because of their technical issues.

In CONNECT, you can check document status under the "Determination, Pending Issue and Decision Summary" section. Any documents you've submitted should eventually show up there with a status. To answer your earlier question - no, documents don't need to be notarized for DUA claims. Regular copies are fine as long as they're legible. Just be sure your name and the relevant dates are clearly visible on all documents. One final recommendation: if you have any 1099 or self-employment income in addition to your regular job, be sure to document that too. DUA can potentially cover income losses from multiple sources affected by the disaster.

One final note - if you do end up having to file a new claim application, make sure to answer the question about whether you've filed for benefits in the last 12 months as "Yes." This helps link your new claim to your previous one in their system. Also, when you get to the employment history section, try to enter your work history EXACTLY as you did in your original claim (same employer names, dates, etc). This helps their system recognize it's the same person and can sometimes speed up processing.

UPDATE: I got through to DEO! Used that Claimyr service after failing to get through on my own this morning. The agent confirmed what many of you said - my claim wasn't actually terminated, but was flagged as "inactive" due to missing the filing window. She was able to reactivate my existing claim and set up my account so I could claim my missed weeks! No need to file a new application after all. Such a relief. Thanks everyone for your help and advice - would have been completely lost without this forum.

Update: The $600 payments just showed up in my payment history today! 4 days after the regular payments appeared. All is well and I'm so relieved. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

my sister had this exact thing happen but it turned out she wasn't eligible for the $600 bcuz she filed under the wrong program to begin with... might wanna double check which program ur actually approved for

Based on all your responses, it seems like you're taking the right steps now. One additional thing I'd recommend: Request a hearing specifically for "identity theft determination" rather than just appealing the overpayment notices. When you're able to speak with someone at DEO, make it clear that you're not disputing individual weeks but rather asserting that the entire claim is fraudulent. The ID theft form (DEO-CO) should be submitted with as much supporting documentation as possible: - Police report - Identity theft report from FTC (identitytheft.gov) - Signed affidavit - Any evidence showing you were employed during the claimed periods Keep us posted on your progress. Identity theft cases are unfortunately common with DEO, but they can be resolved with persistence.

the DEO is such a joke lol they probly wont even look at ur case for another year hahaha.... happened to my friend and it took 2 YEARS to fix!!! florida unemployment is THE WORST in the country no contest

Update: I tried calling the regular DEO number this morning and got disconnected 14 times in a row. This is absolutely ridiculous! I'm going to try that Claimyr service some of you mentioned. I need to get this claiming schedule issue fixed ASAP since I can't afford to wait until 9/11 to start the process. Will let you all know if it works. If anyone has any other suggestions for getting through to DEO, I'm all ears!

Final update: I used Claimyr and actually got through to a real person at DEO! The agent confirmed that the biweekly claiming schedule is normal and my first week is the "waiting week" that doesn't get paid. She also helped me understand the work search requirements better. For anyone else new to this process - make sure you're doing your 5 work searches EACH week, keep detailed records, and set calendar reminders for your claiming dates. The system is still terrible, but at least I understand it a bit better now.

idk about lawyers but make sure u keep claiming weeks while ur appeal is pending!!!! i didnt know this and lost out on 6 weeks of payments even tho i eventually won my appeal. u have to keep doing the work search and claiming every 2 weeks or they wont pay u retroactively

Oh wow, I didn't realize this! I thought since I was denied I shouldn't claim weeks anymore. Thanks for letting me know - I'll make sure to keep up with the work search requirements and claiming while waiting for the appeal.

The DEO SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!! They don't want to pay benefits so they make it IMPOSSIBLE to complete applications!!! I spent 9 WEEKS trying to get my application processed and only succeeded when I contacted my state representative's office. They have special liaisons who can cut through the red tape. Email your rep ASAP!!!!!

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what finally worked for me! I tried the Claimyr service that was recommended here, and I was connected to a DEO agent in about 35 minutes. The agent was able to see that my application was stuck because of an identity verification issue (my driver's license expiration date was entered incorrectly). She fixed it on the spot, and my application status changed from 'pending submission' to 'submitted' immediately! Now I just have to wait for the standard processing time. Thank you all for your suggestions - this forum saved my sanity!