CONNECT account locked for 'too many attempts' but I haven't logged in recently - help!

Yep, happened to me last month! DEO's system is GARBAGE and randomly locks accounts for no reason. I hadn't tried logging in for 2 weeks and suddenly was locked out. They claim it's for 'security' but it's really just their broken system. You'll need to call them to get it unlocked - good luck with that nightmare!

This is actually a known issue with the CONNECT system. It can happen if: 1. Your session timed out incorrectly on your last login 2. The system did automatic maintenance and flagged your account 3. Someone else tried accessing your account (possibly identity theft attempt) To fix it, you need to call 1-833-FL-APPLY and specifically ask for the security department to unlock your CONNECT account. Make sure you have your claimant ID and SSN ready.

I had this exact problem two weeks ago. After trying for 3 days to call DEO with no luck, I used Claimyr to get through to an agent in about 20 minutes. The service basically keeps calling for you until it gets through, then connects you. It costs money, but it saved me hours of frustration. I used their website claimyr.com and watched their demo video first: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. The agent was able to unlock my account in less than 5 minutes once I got through.

Same thing happened to me! I think the system automatically locks accounts after periods of inactivity as a security measure. I called the 1-833-FL-APPLY number probably 50 times before I finally got through. The rep told me they've been getting tons of these calls lately. Apparently there was some system update in March that's causing this issue for a lot of people.

yeah this is a stupid problem with DEO. anytime theres a 'security update' or whatever they just lock a bunch of ppl out randomly. try calling right when they open at 7:30am thats the only way i could ever get thru

My cousin works for a company that helps ppl with DEO claims and he told me this is happening because theres been a lot of fraud attempts lately. The system automatically locks accounts if it detects unusual patterns or if your account hasnt been used in awhile. Its annoying but better than having ur benefits stolen I guess?? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

UPDATE: I got my account unlocked finally! I ended up using that Claimyr service the other person mentioned and it actually worked. Got through to DEO in about 25 minutes (after trying for two days on my own with no luck). The agent said this is happening because of a security patch they installed recently and it's affecting accounts that haven't been accessed in 7+ days. She reset my security questions and unlocked the account right away.

I want to add some helpful information: If you get your account unlocked, make sure you immediately update your PIN and security questions. Also, set a calendar reminder to log into your CONNECT account at least once every 5-7 days (even if you don't need to claim that week) to prevent this from happening again. The system updates typically happen near the end of each month, so that's when accounts are most likely to get locked.

For anyone still having trouble getting through to DEO by phone, here's what worked for me: I called the 1-833-FL-APPLY number repeatedly starting at exactly 7:30 AM on a Tuesday. It took about 45 minutes of constant redialing, but I finally got through to a human. The key is persistence and timing - avoid Mondays/Fridays and don't give up after just a few tries. The agent was actually very helpful once I got connected and unlocked my account in under 10 minutes. They explained that this lockout issue is affecting thousands of accounts due to their recent security updates, so you're definitely not alone in this frustrating situation.