DEO account finally unlocked after 2 years only to be told I'm ineligible - need urgent help

You need to request a formal appeal of the eligibility determination ASAP - you only have 20 calendar days from when they made that decision. Log into CONNECT, go to the Determination, Pending Issue and Decision Summary page, find the determination that says you're ineligible, and click the Appeal Request link. This should be your absolute first priority before the appeal window closes.\n\nAfter that, you should call DEO directly to ask about your specific ineligibility reason. It could be several things - employment history gaps, insufficient wage credits in your base period, or they might be classifying your COVID hospitalization as making you \

Thank you for this! I'm going to log in and request the appeal right now. Do you know if I need any specific documentation for the appeal process? My worry is that since it's been so long, I don't have all my original employment records from 2-3 years ago.

I was in a similar situation (though not as extreme as yours). What finally worked for me was contacting my state representative's office. They have staff who specifically help constituents with DEO issues. I emailed mine with all my claim details, claimant ID, and timeline of events, and they had a DEO supervisor call me within a week. The supervisor manually reviewed my case and fixed the eligibility issue. Try searching \

I never even thought about contacting my state rep! That's a great idea. Did they need any special information when you contacted them? Also, did they help with getting any backpay for the weeks you couldn't claim because of DEO errors?

omg the EXACT same thing happened to me!!! first the stupid id.me thing then locked then unlocked then locked again!!! DEO is a NIGHTMARE!!! i ended up having to start all over with a brand new claim because they said my old one 'expired' even though it wasnt my fault!!! so frustrating

It's ridiculous how common these problems seem to be! Did starting a new claim actually work for you? I'm worried if I start over I'll lose any chance at backpay for all those weeks I couldn't claim because of their mistakes.

Your eligibility issue might be because of the time gap. After 2-3 years, your base period wages are likely outside the lookback period DEO uses to calculate eligibility. For most claims in 2025, they're looking at wages earned from roughly 2023-2024. If you haven't worked during that period, the system automatically determines you're ineligible.\n\nYou need to request a FORMAL HEARING where you can explain your extenuating circumstances with the 91-day hospitalization and the account access issues. Be sure to gather any medical documentation proving your hospitalization dates. Also collect all emails, screenshots, or records of your attempts to resolve the ID.me and account locking issues over these 2 years.\n\nThe hearing officer has discretion to consider special circumstances that the automated system doesn't.

This makes so much sense! Because I've been locked out for so long, I haven't been able to work, which means I don't have recent wages in their system. It's like a terrible cycle. I have my hospital discharge paperwork and screenshots of all the ID.me errors. Hopefully that's enough for the hearing.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to a DEO agent? I was stuck in a similar situation (though not for as long as you) and couldn't get through on the regular phone lines for weeks. I found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to an actual DEO agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj\n\nThe agent I spoke with was able to see notes on my account that weren't visible to me in CONNECT and explained exactly why my claim was flagged as ineligible. She also escalated my case to a supervisor who fixed the ID verification flags that kept locking me out. Might be worth trying since you have such a complicated case that really needs human intervention.

I've never heard of Claimyr before. At this point I'd try anything to talk to an actual human at DEO! Just watched the video and it seems pretty straightforward. I'm going to try this tomorrow morning when their call center opens. Thanks for the tip!

ur not alone the DEO system is BROKEN!!! i had 2 fight for 8 months just to get 1 payment. they dont care bout us regular ppl just collecting ther government paychecks while we suffering

8 months is bad enough, I can't believe I've been dealing with this for 2 YEARS. Did you ever get your backpay for all those months they kept you waiting?

The problem with your claim is likely that you've hit the

This is incredibly helpful! I never even thought about the benefit year end issue. I'll start putting together that timeline right away. Do you know if medical documentation of my hospitalization would help with the backdating request? I'm worried they'll say I was

Update on your next steps based on what others have said:\n\n1. File the appeal immediately (20-day deadline is strict)\n2. Contact your state representative's office with your case details\n3. Try Claimyr to reach a DEO agent directly\n4. Request a formal hearing\n5. Ask specifically about backdated claim adjustment\n\nThe key is taking action on ALL these fronts simultaneously. Don't wait for one approach to fail before trying another. The DEO system is swamped with similar cases, and the squeaky wheel gets the grease.\n\nAlso important: document EVERY communication. Note the date, time, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. This documentation will be crucial for your appeal hearing.

Thank you for summarizing all this! I've already filed the appeal after reading these comments and am contacting my state rep today. I'll use Claimyr tomorrow morning to try reaching an agent directly. Fingers crossed one of these approaches works!

One more crucial thing: If you get to a hearing, focus on the TECHNICAL ISSUES rather than how unfair the system is. Hearing officers are looking for specific regulatory reasons they can use to reverse a determination.\n\nFor example:\n- \

This is excellent advice. I tend to get emotional about this whole situation because it's been so stressful, but you're right - I need to focus on the technical and regulatory aspects. I'll practice making my points clearly before any hearing.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might help with your appeal and hearing preparation. Since you mentioned being hospitalized for 91 days with COVID, you should also look into whether Florida has any provisions for "good cause" exceptions to standard eligibility timelines due to medical emergencies. When I had a similar (though much shorter) medical issue that prevented me from filing claims, I found that DEO has internal policies about medical incapacity that aren't well-publicized. You'll want to specifically ask about Florida Administrative Code Rule 73B-11.011 which covers situations where claimants couldn't comply with requirements due to circumstances beyond their control. Also, make sure to get a detailed printout of your entire claim history from CONNECT before your hearing - including all the lock/unlock dates, failed ID.me attempts, and system error messages. The hearing officer needs to see the pattern of technical failures that prevented you from accessing benefits you were entitled to. One last tip: if you do get through to a DEO agent via Claimyr or your state rep, ask them to put detailed notes in your file explaining the system failures. These notes become part of your official record and can be referenced during appeals.