CONNECT system glitch preventing company selection during work search reporting - deadline in 2 days!
I'm in a complete panic right now!! I need to claim my weeks by this Friday (6/20) and I'm stuck at the "Detailed Earnings Information" screen. There's a dropdown menu to select my employer, but whenever I try to click on the right company, it shows for like 3 seconds and then automatically jumps to the bottom option!! I've tried a dozen times and it keeps doing this. When I try to manually enter the correct company info, the system says "employer already listed" but won't let me SELECT it from the dropdown! I've tried on different browsers, cleared my cache, everything. I'm terrified my benefits will be cut off if I don't complete this by Friday. The phone lines are ALWAYS busy - I've called 23 times today with no luck. Has anyone else dealt with this CONNECT glitch? Any workarounds??
15 comments
Join the conversation
Diez Ellis
I had this exact issue last month! The dropdown bug is happening to lots of people. Try this: use the TAB key to move through the fields instead of your mouse. When you get to the dropdown, use the arrow keys to navigate. Don't click anything with your mouse until you've selected the right employer with keyboard navigation. Then press ENTER to confirm. This worked for me after trying for hours with my mouse.
0 coins
Noland Curtis
•OMG THANK YOU!!! I just tried this and it worked!!! Had to press tab like 9 times to get to the dropdown but then could use the arrows. Why doesn't DEO fix these glitches?? You just saved me from missing my claiming deadline.
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
same thing happened 2 me last week... so frustrating!! I ended up just picking the wrong employer and then explaining in the comments section at the end of the form that the system wouldnt let me select the right one. still got paid tho
0 coins
Abby Marshall
•That's risky advice. If you select the wrong employer, it could trigger a fact-finding interview or delay payments while they sort it out. Better to fix the technical issue than create potential eligibility questions. The DEO system is buggy but accuracy matters for your claim.
0 coins
Sadie Benitez
This sounds like a browser compatibility issue with the CONNECT system. Try using Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer if possible - Florida's DEO website was built on older technology and sometimes has these weird glitches with Chrome and Firefox. Also, try doing it very early in the morning (like 5-6am) when the system has less traffic. That's when I complete all my work search stuff to avoid these frustrating problems.
0 coins
Noland Curtis
•I tried Firefox, Chrome AND Edge... same problem on all three :( The keyboard navigation suggestion from the first commenter worked though! And good tip about early morning - will definitely try that next time.
0 coins
Drew Hathaway
If you're struggling with CONNECT glitches and running into the claiming deadline, you might need to speak with an actual DEO agent to document the issue. I was in a similar situation with a different technical problem and couldn't get through on the phones for days. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a real person at DEO in about 20 minutes instead of calling for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. The agent was able to note my account about the technical issue so my benefits weren't affected while they fixed it on their end.
0 coins
Laila Prince
•is that service legit?? never heard of it before. seems sketchy that we have to pay a service just to talk to unemployment ppl that our taxes already pay for!!!
0 coins
Drew Hathaway
•It's definitely legit - I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying to get through for 3 days straight. They don't handle your claim or anything, they just connect your call to DEO and stay on the line until a real person answers. Saved me from missing my reporting deadline last month when I had a similar technical issue.
0 coins
Abby Marshall
For everyone dealing with these CONNECT glitches, document everything! Take screenshots of errors, note dates/times you tried to access the system, and keep a log of all phone call attempts. When you do get through to DEO, having this documentation will help support your case that you were attempting to comply with the requirements but faced technical barriers. This can be crucial if your benefits get delayed and you need to appeal.
0 coins
Isabel Vega
•This is really good advice. I had an issue similar to the OP's last year and almost got hit with an overpayment notice because they claimed I didn't report properly. The screenshots I had saved proved I tried multiple times to complete the form but kept getting error messages. Make sure to email those screenshots to yourself too so they're timestamped!
0 coins
Laila Prince
ive been on fl unemployment since march and the CONNECT system is GARBAGE!!! breaks all the time, kicks u out randomly, and half the agents dont even know how to fix the problems!!! its like they WANT us to mess up so they can deny benefits!!!
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
•for real!!! my cousin works in IT and says the system was built in like 2013 and never properly upgraded. they got all that covid money but didnt fix the actual website lol
0 coins
Noland Curtis
UPDATE: I got it working with the keyboard navigation trick! For anyone else having this issue: use TAB to get to the dropdown, arrow keys to select, and ENTER to confirm. DO NOT use your mouse at all during this process or it jumps to the wrong option again. Now I'm at the work search requirements section. Do I really need to list 5 job contacts for each week? That seems like a lot...
0 coins
Diez Ellis
•Yes, Florida requires 5 work search activities per week for regular unemployment (though some claimants may qualify for exemptions). Make sure you're keeping detailed records of all job contacts including company name, position, application date, contact method, and follow-ups. DEO randomly audits these and can request proof, so don't just make them up. Glad you got past the technical glitch!
0 coins