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.