DEO CONNECT backdating success story - state payments received, waiting on federal

Thank you! That's really helpful. I chose direct deposit so I'll keep monitoring my bank account. Do they usually come in a single lump sum for all back weeks or week by week like the state portion?

10 days?! Ugh, that's longer than I hoped. Thanks for the info though - helps to set my expectations realistically.

Not OP, but I can tell you backdating requests are actually handled by a special team at DEO, not the regular agents. You need to specifically request that your case be escalated to the "backdating team" when you call. Also, have you tried using Claimyr to get through to an agent faster? I was in a similar position and used their service at claimyr.com - they got me connected to a real person at DEO in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj that shows how it works. The agent I spoke with immediately escalated my case to the right department.

This is really detailed, thank you! I'll check the payment history section. Didn't know about that specific path to find it. I'll give it 7 business days before I start worrying.

Adjudication is THE WORST. I was stuck there for 11 weeks last year and ended up having to contact my state representative to get movement. Call your local state rep's office and ask for help with your unemployment claim - they have special contacts at DEO who can push things through faster. Seriously saved my butt when I was about to lose my apartment.

I have regular UC but my DEO agent specifically told me I qualified for the federal portion because of my industry sector (hospitality). They said something about a targeted federal enhancement program for certain industries that were hit harder economically. Now I'm worried though - maybe I misunderstood what they meant?

You're likely referring to the Industry-Specific Relief Program (ISRP) that was implemented in early 2025. It does provide an additional $175 weekly benefit for claimants from qualifying industries including hospitality, tourism, and event planning. This isn't the same as the older FPUC program from the pandemic era, but it is a legitimate federal enhancement. Check your Monetary Determination letter in CONNECT - it should specifically mention ISRP eligibility if you qualify.

That happened to me too. It's because the system automatically flags accounts with backdating adjustments for fraud review. You need to complete another ID.me verification. Go to the DEO homepage, click on the ID.me link (don't try to log into CONNECT first), and run through the verification process again. It'll unlock within 48 hours usually.

Oh that's a good reminder! I wasn't sure if I needed to keep claiming since I'm employed now (just started a new job last week). My claim is just for those 5 weeks when I was laid off. Should I still log in and report that I'm working now?

Yes, definitely log in and report that you've returned to work! You need to officially close your claim by reporting your employment status. If you don't, the system might continue considering you as unemployed, which could potentially create an overpayment situation later. Go to the "Change/Update Contact Information" section and there should be an option to report return to work. This properly closes your claim in the system.