Can't get through to DEO by phone - any working numbers or tricks?

The phone system is a nightmare!!! I called the 1-833-FL-APPLY number 47 TIMES last week and got hung up on EVERY SINGLE TIME. Their system is designed to frustrate us so we'll give up. I finally got through by calling my local CareerSource office (find yours here: https://careersourceflorida.com/career-centers/) and they have direct lines to DEO. They set up a callback for me and I got a call from a DEO agent 2 days later. Worth trying!

lol good luck... been trying for 3 weeks myself. system is broken on purpose

I had the same issue for weeks and finally got through to someone who could help. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call the technical support line (833-352-7759) instead of the main line. They can't help with claim issues directly, but if you politely explain that you've been unable to reach anyone for weeks, sometimes they'll transfer you to a claims specialist. 2. Call right when they open at 7:30am (not 8:00am like many think). 3. If that fails, try calling on Wednesday afternoons - for some reason I've had better luck then. 4. Make sure you have your claimant ID number ready when you call. For your specific issue with missing payments that show as eligible, that sounds like it could be a payment method issue. Have you verified that your direct deposit information is correct in the system? Sometimes they switch people back to Way2Go cards without notification.

i went thru this last month... so frustrating!! what worked for me was emailing my state representative. google "florida state representative (your county)" and you'll find their contact info. they have liaison people who work with DEO directly. i emailed on thursday and by monday i got a call from a DEO supervisor who fixed my issue right away. worth a try!

I was in the exact same situation last month - couldn't get through for weeks despite calling at all different times. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to DEO on my first try. They basically reserve your spot in the phone queue and call you when a representative is available. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj Once I got through, I found out my payments weren't processing because of an employment verification issue that wasn't showing up in my CONNECT portal. Might be worth checking if something similar is happening with yours.

call right when they open at exactly 7:30 on the dot. thats how i got thru last month

Has anyone else noticed that DEO deliberately makes it hard to reach them so people give up on getting benefits they're entitled to? I've been dealing with the FL unemployment system for 3 years now (on and off) and it's ALWAYS like this. The phone system is intentionally designed to frustrate claimants. Florida has one of the lowest benefit payment rates in the country because their system is designed to deny people or make it so difficult they give up. I've had some luck by calling their fraud department number and then asking to be transferred to claims. Sometimes they'll do it. DON'T actually falsely report fraud obviously, but if you call that department, they actually answer phones.

Just to follow up on your specific issue with payments showing as eligible but not being deposited - this is usually due to one of three things: 1. Payment method issues (direct deposit info incorrect, Way2Go card not activated, etc.) 2. A hidden hold on your account that isn't displaying properly in CONNECT 3. A system glitch where the payment was processed but not properly recorded When you do reach someone, specifically ask them to check for any payment holds or flags on your account. Also ask if they can see when/if payments were issued. Sometimes payments were sent to the Way2Go card even when claimants requested direct deposit. If the payments are for weeks in January 2025, make sure you completed all work search requirements (5 work search activities per week) and reported them correctly. That's the most common reason for payment delays.

I've been in a similar situation and found success with a combination of strategies. First, try calling the 1-833-352-7759 technical support line right at 7:30 AM - they sometimes transfer you to claims if you explain you've been unable to reach anyone for weeks. If that doesn't work, definitely contact your state representative's office like others mentioned. You can find yours at myfloridahouse.gov or flsenate.gov. Their constituent services staff are usually very responsive to DEO issues. Also, since your payments show as eligible but aren't depositing, log into CONNECT and check your "Payment Method" section carefully. Sometimes the system reverts people back to Way2Go cards without notification, even when you selected direct deposit. If you see a Way2Go card listed, you might need to activate it or request a replacement if you never received one. One more tip - try calling on Wednesday afternoons around 2-3 PM. I've noticed less call volume then compared to Monday mornings when everyone is trying to reach them. Good luck!

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing a few months ago and it was absolutely maddening. After reading through all these responses, I'd definitely recommend trying multiple approaches at once: 1. Call that technical support line (833-352-7759) at exactly 7:30 AM - this seems to be the most consistent advice here 2. Contact your state rep's office immediately - don't wait. Even if you get through on the phone, having them as backup pressure can help 3. Check your payment method in CONNECT very carefully. I had the same issue where payments showed eligible but never came, and it turned out the system had switched me to Way2Go without telling me The CareerSource suggestion is solid too - they have direct connections and can sometimes get you callbacks faster than going through the main DEO lines. One thing I learned: document EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every time you call, what time, what happened, etc. If you do get through to someone or file a complaint, having that documentation helps show you've been making good faith efforts to resolve this. Don't give up! The system is designed to frustrate you into quitting, but you're entitled to those benefits. Keep pushing through all these channels until someone helps you.

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! After 6 weeks of calling with no luck, here's what finally worked for me: Try calling the DEO Reemployment Assistance Program line at 1-800-204-2418 right at 7:30 AM on weekdays. This is a different line than the main one everyone calls, and I've had better luck getting through. When you do get someone, explain that you've been trying for weeks and need to escalate your case. Also, definitely check if your payments went to a Way2Go card instead of direct deposit. Log into CONNECT and look under "Payment History" - if it shows payments were "issued" but you never received them, they probably went to a debit card you never got. You can request a replacement card through the Way2Go website. One more thing - if your payments are stuck in "pending" status, it might be because DEO is waiting for additional documentation that they never told you about. When you get through, ask specifically if there are any outstanding requests for information on your account. The system is absolutely broken and designed to wear you down, but don't give up! You're entitled to those benefits. Keep calling and trying different approaches until someone helps you.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Been trying for 3 weeks to get through and it's driving me crazy. Reading through all these suggestions has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were alternative phone numbers to try beyond the main 1-833-FL-APPLY line that just hangs up on everyone. I'm definitely going to try that technical support line (833-352-7759) tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM sharp, and also the Reemployment Assistance line (1-800-204-2418) that Austin mentioned. Having multiple numbers to cycle through seems like a much better strategy than just hammering the same useless main line over and over. The CareerSource suggestion is brilliant too - there's one near me that I never thought to contact. It makes perfect sense that they'd have direct connections to DEO. One question for those who've gotten through - when you finally reach someone, do they typically resolve your issue on that same call, or do they just create a "case" that takes more weeks to process? I'm worried I'll finally get through only to be told I need to wait another month for someone to look into it. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips here. It really helps to know we're not alone in this nightmare!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Been calling for 4 weeks straight with absolutely no luck getting through. It's so frustrating to see my claim status as "eligible" but no payments coming through. Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'm going to try a multi-pronged approach starting tomorrow: 1. Call that technical support line (833-352-7759) at exactly 7:30 AM 2. Try the Reemployment Assistance line (1-800-204-2418) if that doesn't work 3. Contact my local CareerSource office 4. Email my state representative's office I never knew about these alternative numbers and resources - this community is a lifesaver! The main 1-833-FL-APPLY line is completely useless. One thing I noticed when I logged into CONNECT last night after reading these comments - my payment method somehow got switched back to Way2Go card even though I distinctly remember setting up direct deposit. I never received any card in the mail, so that might be exactly what's happening with my missing payments. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies. It really helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with this broken system. Florida's unemployment process is absolutely designed to wear us down and make us give up, but we can't let them win! Will definitely update this thread once I finally break through and get some answers.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Week 6 of calling with zero success. The automated "all lines are full" message followed by immediate disconnect is infuriating. I've been calling the main 1-833-FL-APPLY number religiously at different times (early morning, lunch, late afternoon) and literally never gotten past that message. It's like they don't want us to actually reach anyone. After reading all these responses, I'm realizing I've been way too limited in my approach. I had no idea about the technical support line (833-352-7759) or the Reemployment Assistance line (1-800-204-2418). Going to try both of those tomorrow at 7:30 AM sharp. The CareerSource suggestion is genius too - there's one about 15 minutes from my house. I never thought they might have direct lines to DEO. My situation is almost identical to yours - payments showing as eligible in CONNECT but nothing hitting my bank account. I'm definitely going to check my payment method settings tonight after reading about so many people getting switched to Way2Go cards without notification. This thread has been incredibly helpful. It's sad that we have to crowdsource solutions to get basic government services, but I'm grateful everyone is sharing what's worked for them. The Florida unemployment system is clearly designed to frustrate people into giving up, but we can't let them win! I'll report back on which strategies actually work. Fingers crossed we can all finally break through this wall soon!

I'm in the exact same boat as you! Week 3 of calling that useless main number with nothing but automated hangups. Reading through all these responses has been a game changer - I had no idea there were so many alternative strategies. I'm definitely going to try that technical support line (833-352-7759) at 7:30 AM tomorrow. The fact that multiple people here have had success with it gives me hope. Also planning to contact my local CareerSource office as backup. One thing I want to add based on my experience - I've noticed that the CONNECT system sometimes doesn't update in real time, so issues that look resolved in the portal might not actually be fixed on the backend. When you do get through to someone, ask them to verify that what you're seeing in CONNECT matches what's actually in their system. Also, I started keeping a detailed log of every call attempt after seeing Mateo's suggestion above. Date, time, number called, outcome, etc. It's depressing to look at but will be useful documentation when I finally reach someone. Thanks to everyone sharing their strategies here. This community is doing what DEO should be doing - actually helping people navigate this nightmare system. We shouldn't have to crowdsource solutions to get benefits we're entitled to, but here we are. At least we're all in this fight together!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare! Been trying for 2 weeks straight to get through and it's absolutely maddening. The main line just hangs up on you immediately - it's like they don't even want to pretend they're providing customer service. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea there were alternative numbers like the technical support line (833-352-7759) and the Reemployment Assistance line (1-800-204-2418). I've been wasting all my time on that useless main 1-833-FL-APPLY number like an idiot. The CareerSource suggestion is brilliant too - never occurred to me that they might have direct connections to DEO. There's one about 10 minutes from my house that I'm definitely calling tomorrow. My situation is almost identical - payments showing eligible but nothing in my bank account. After reading about everyone's experiences with the Way2Go card switchover issue, I checked my CONNECT account tonight and sure enough, somehow my payment method got changed back to Way2Go even though I set up direct deposit. I never received any card in the mail, so that's probably exactly where my payments went. This community is doing what DEO should be doing - actually helping people get the benefits they're entitled to. It's pathetic that we have to crowdsource solutions because the official system is designed to frustrate us into giving up. I'm going to try the multi-pronged approach tomorrow: technical support line at 7:30 AM, then work through the other numbers, plus contact CareerSource and my state rep. Will definitely report back with results to help others!

I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Week 4 of calling that useless main line with nothing but immediate hangups. I've been getting so frustrated thinking I was doing something wrong, but clearly this is a systemic problem. I never knew about the technical support line (833-352-7759) or any of these other strategies. I've been stuck in the loop of calling 1-833-FL-APPLY over and over like a broken record. The fact that there are working alternatives that DEO doesn't advertise is so telling about how this system really operates. After reading everyone's experiences, I checked my CONNECT account and discovered the same Way2Go card issue - my payment method got switched without any notification and I never received a card. That explains everything! My payments probably went to a card sitting in some postal limbo. I'm planning to hit this from every angle tomorrow: technical support line at 7:30 AM sharp, then the other numbers people mentioned, plus contacting my local CareerSource and state rep's office. This community strategy of trying multiple approaches simultaneously seems to be the only way to break through. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions. It shouldn't take a community detective effort to get basic government services, but I'm so grateful for all the knowledge being shared here. We're literally doing DEO's job for them by helping each other navigate this nightmare! Will definitely update with my results to keep building this valuable resource for others dealing with the same battle.

I'm going through this exact nightmare too! Been calling for 3 weeks with zero success on that main line. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea about all these alternative strategies and numbers. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to try a comprehensive approach tomorrow: 1. Technical support line (833-352-7759) at exactly 7:30 AM 2. Reemployment Assistance line (1-800-204-2418) as backup 3. Contact my local CareerSource office 4. Reach out to my state representative's office After reading through these comments, I also checked my CONNECT account and discovered my payment method somehow switched to Way2Go card without notification - I never received any card either! That's probably exactly where my missing payments went. It's frustrating that we have to crowdsource solutions to get basic services we're entitled to, but this community is amazing. DEO's system is clearly designed to wear us down, but threads like this give us the tools to fight back effectively. I'll definitely report back with my results tomorrow to help keep building this knowledge base. Thank you everyone for sharing your strategies and experiences - we shouldn't have to figure this out alone but at least we're helping each other through it!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to get through for almost 3 weeks and that main 1-833-FL-APPLY line is absolutely useless - just hangs up immediately every single time. Reading through all these responses has been a huge eye-opener. I had no idea about the technical support line (833-352-7759) or the Reemployment Assistance line (1-800-204-2418). I've been wasting so much time calling the same dead-end number over and over. The CareerSource suggestion is brilliant too - there's one about 20 minutes from me that I never thought to contact. And the state representative idea makes total sense since they probably have direct connections to cut through the red tape. I just checked my CONNECT account after reading about everyone's Way2Go card issues and sure enough - my payment method somehow got switched back even though I definitely set up direct deposit. Never received any card in the mail either, so that's probably exactly where my missing payments went. Tomorrow I'm going to try the multi-pronged approach: technical support line at 7:30 AM sharp, then work through the backup numbers, plus contact CareerSource and my state rep's office. This community has given me actual hope for the first time in weeks! Thanks to everyone sharing their strategies and experiences. It's ridiculous that we have to crowdsource solutions to get benefits we're entitled to, but I'm so grateful for all the knowledge being shared here. Will definitely report back with my results to help keep building this resource!