DEO claim stuck on 'pending' for 3+ weeks - can't reach anyone!

lol welcome to Florida DEO hell. this is basically standard procedure. my claim was pending for 6 weeks b4 it moved to adjudication. then another 2 weeks after that. its ridiculous.

Same thing happened with me!! Pending for almost a month! So frustrating!!

The 'pending' status usually means they're still processing your initial claim information. Have you checked if there are any "fact-finding" questionnaires or identity verification requirements in your CONNECT inbox? Sometimes these get added without notification and your claim won't move forward until you complete them. Also, make sure you're claiming your weeks on time even while the claim is pending. If your claim eventually gets approved, you'll only be paid for weeks you properly claimed.

I was in the EXACT same situation last month and it was driving me crazy. Called like 50+ times and couldn't get through. The regular DEO number is basically useless right now with how backed up they are. Finally I found out about this service called Claimyr that got me through to a DEO agent in about 20 minutes. It basically keeps dialing for you until it gets through, then calls you when it has a live person. I was super skeptical but it actually worked! The agent I talked to said my claim was stuck because of an employer response issue and she pushed it through to the next step that same day. Check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj Website is claimyr.com if you want to look into it. Seriously saved me weeks of waiting.

I think somethings wrong with the DEO right now. My sister filed in January and got approved in 2 weeks. I filed mid-February and have been stuck in pending for almost a month now. Maybe they have a big backlog right now?? Its so stressful when u need that money for bills.

I've been helping people with Florida unemployment claims for years, and here's what you need to know: 1) The "pending" status typically means one of three things: - Standard processing backlog (most common) - Waiting on employer response to your claim - System flag requiring manual review 2) Calling strategies that increase your chances: - Call the alternative number: 833-FL-APPLY (833-352-7759) - Try calling at 7:29am (just before they open) - Use the prompt for "Pin Reset" - those agents can often help with other issues - Try the Spanish line even if you don't speak Spanish (many agents are bilingual) 3) While waiting: - Continue claiming weeks on schedule - Check CONNECT daily for new correspondence - Make sure your work search records are complete (5 job contacts per week) - Document all your call attempts (dates, times) in case you need to prove you tried contacting them The good news is that once approved, you'll receive backpay for all claimed weeks, but I understand that doesn't help with immediate bills. The system is definitely overwhelmed right now.

The Florida unemployment system is DESIGNED to be difficult and frustrating!! They make it impossible to reach anyone on purpose so people give up. I spent TWO MONTHS trying to get my claim processed last year and only succeeded after contacting my state representative's office. Call your local state rep and tell them your situation - their office can often get through to DEO when regular people can't. This is all by design. Florida has one of the lowest rates of paying out unemployment benefits in the entire country. They're proud of this!!!! The system isn't broken - it's working EXACTLY how they want it to work. Making it so frustrating that people give up trying.

UPDATE: I finally got through this morning! Used the Pin Reset option like someone suggested and actually got a human after only being on hold for 25 minutes. The agent said my claim was pending because they were waiting on verification from my previous employer (who apparently never responded). She submitted an override to move my claim forward and said it should change from pending in the next 3-5 business days. Fingers crossed! Thank you all for your help and suggestions. This community has been more helpful than the actual unemployment office!