


Ask the community...
By the way, if you do have a fact finding questionnaire in your inbox, complete it ASAP even if it's past the deadline. Sometimes their system will still accept late responses, especially if you call and explain that you never received notification. The key is to respond to SOMETHING rather than nothing at all. The system flags non-responsive claims for closure automatically.
That's a relief. I'm filling it out right now. It's asking about my work search activities from last month which I have documented but not in the exact format they want. Should I just do my best to remember the dates and details?
Yes, do your best with the work search info. They mainly want to see that you're making the required 5 work search contacts per week. Even if you get some details wrong, showing good faith effort to comply is what matters. Just be as accurate as you can and explain in the comments section if needed.
I wanted to add - if you're stuck in this situation, also try contacting your state representative's office. I had a similar issue where DEO was ignoring me for WEEKS and threatening to close my case, and my rep's office contacted them on my behalf. Had my issue resolved in 3 days after that. They have special liaisons at DEO who actually answer their phones!
That's a great idea and something I hadn't considered. How do I find out who my state representative is? I'm in Hillsborough County if that helps.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY YOU!!! don't expect any help from DEO. They terminated my PUA early claiming I didn't provide proper documentation when I DID and now I can't even get through to anyone. They owe me 3 weeks of payments I'll never see. Florida has THE WORST unemployment system in the entire country BY DESIGN.
Regarding work search requirements - if you do qualify for regular benefits, be prepared that Florida now requires 5 work search contacts per week (it was waived during much of the pandemic). You need to keep detailed records of where you applied, contact information, etc. The DEO can audit your work searches at any time. Also, you must use the Employ Florida website (employflorida.com) to register and create a profile within 7 days of filing your new claim. A lot of people miss this step and end up having their benefits held up.
5 per week? That's a lot more than before. Do online applications count? And does applying for gig work count or does it have to be traditional employment?
Online applications definitely count! Each job application can be one work search activity. Applying to gig work is trickier - technically they want you applying for jobs similar to your previous work, but many people report that applying to any legitimate job opportunity counts. The important thing is documenting everything - date, company name, position, how you applied, contact info, etc.
Based on your situation, I'd recommend trying these three steps before proceeding with the attorney (this is what worked for me with a similar disqualification issue): 1. Submit a formal appeal through CONNECT even without a specific determination letter - this creates a paper trail 2. Contact the DEO Reemployment Assistance Service Center directly at 833-FL-APPLY (833-352-7759) and specifically ask for a "claim escalation" to a supervisor - use those exact words 3. Send a detailed email to DEO.Appeals@deo.myflorida.com with your claimant ID, full name, last 4 of SSN, and a clear timeline of the issue The appeals email actually got me a call back within 3 days, which was faster than anything else I tried.
PLEASE update us on if the lawyer actually works!!! I bet we're not the only ones having this issue and if attorneys are the only way to get DEO to do their jobs, a lot of us need to know!
One important thing no one has mentioned: If you work less than full-time, you must still complete the five work search activities each week to maintain eligibility. The temp work doesn't count toward your work search requirements. Many people miss this and end up having issues with their claims. Also, keep a separate log of all your work search activities AND your temp work hours/pay in case DEO audits your claim later (which they often do).
I understand your anxiety about this. DEO's partial unemployment rules can be confusing. Let me clarify: You MUST report all earnings when you claim weeks, even small amounts. If you don't, it's considered fraud and they can make you repay all benefits plus penalties. However, taking temporary work shouldn't disqualify you completely. Regarding the work search requirements - technically if you work less than full-time in a week, you still need to complete work searches. But if you're "job attached" (meaning you have a return-to-work date within 8 weeks), you might be exempt. This is something you should confirm with a DEO representative to be absolutely certain for your specific situation.
Abigail Spencer
Has anyone else noticed that DEO seems to fast-track claims when they get negative publicity? My coworkers claim sat for months until his wife posted about it on Twitter and tagged a bunch of FL politicians. Magically approved 2 days later. The system is so broken.
0 coins
Miles Hammonds
•This is definitely a pattern. While DEO won't officially acknowledge it, claims that receive attention from elected officials or media do tend to be resolved more quickly. The real issue is the severe understaffing at DEO combined with an outdated CONNECT system that's prone to flagging legitimate claims for unnecessary review. If you're stuck, contact your state representative AND continue claiming weeks while keeping detailed records of all employment separations and work search activities.
0 coins
Isla Fischer
I'm a little confused about something... does being on the news affect how quickly they review your claim? My adjudication has been pending for 7 weeks now and I'm getting desperate. I've been doing the work search requirements faithfully every week. Should I be contacting the news too? Or maybe my state senator? I'm not sure how any of this works and the DEO website is so confusing!!!
0 coins
Anita George
•In my experience, yes - public pressure definitely helped. Here's what I'd recommend in this order: 1) Try calling DEO daily (I know it's nearly impossible to get through) 2) Email your state representative AND senator (Google "who is my Florida state representative") 3) If those don't work after a week or two, then consider contacting local news. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with DEO. Just be prepared to share your story publicly if you go the news route!
0 coins