DEO complete failure with zero accountability - who's responsible for this disaster?

I feel your pain on this one. The DEO is basically a black hole where claims disappear. After dealing with them for my own nightmare claim (took 14 weeks to process!), I discovered Claimyr.com which actually got me connected to a real DEO agent without the usual 4-hour hold time or getting hung up on. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj As for accountability - there technically IS oversight, but it's all political appointees who never face any consequences. The Secretary of the DEO is appointed by the Governor, but good luck getting anyone to actually take responsibility. I sent formal complaints to my state rep, the Governor's office, and even tried contacting the Inspector General for DEO. Only thing that worked was getting a tenacious agent on the phone who actually cared.

WELCOME TO FLORIDA!!!! The DEO has been a complete disaster for YEARS and nobody cares!!! I lost my house in 2021 because my benefits were "under review" for 6 months!!! SIX MONTHS WITH NO INCOME!!! Did anyone get fired? NOPE. Did anyone apologize? NOPE. The entire system is DESIGNED TO FAIL so Florida can maintain its "low unemployment" numbers. It's not low unemployment - it's people GIVING UP on the broken system!!!

i just got thru this nightmare last month. took 11 wks total. what worked 4 me was emailing my state representative (google ur district + florida house rep). her office contacted DEO on my behalf & magically my claim was fixed in 3 days. they have special contacts regular ppl dont have. worth a try

The current Secretary of the Department of Economic Opportunity is Dane Eagle, appointed in September 2022. The DEO falls under the executive branch of Florida's government, so ultimately the governor has oversight responsibility. However, day-to-day operations are managed by department directors. If you're stuck in adjudication, there are a few steps to take: 1. File a formal complaint through the DEO website (though admittedly this rarely produces results) 2. Contact your state representative as others suggested 3. Request a "Request for Expedited Claims Processing" - this specific form can sometimes move things along 4. Document everything - names of representatives you speak with, dates, times, and what was said 5. If your hardship is severe (eviction, utilities disconnection), specifically mention that as there is supposedly a hardship expedite process The accountability issue is unfortunately a long-standing problem with Florida's unemployment system.

Hi there, I worked as a DEO contractor during the pandemic (not anymore thank goodness). The adjudication department is severely understaffed and most adjudicators handle 100+ cases simultaneously. Your case is literally in a digital pile waiting for someone to look at it. The best advice I can give you is to: 1) Call early morning (7:30am) when the queue is shortest 2) Specifically ask for a "status escalation due to financial hardship" 3) Use the exact phrase "I need to speak with a tier 2 agent regarding adjudication status" 4) If told they can't escalate, politely end call and try again (different agents have different access) The system is absolutely broken, but these specific approaches sometimes work. There's no single person responsible - it's a systemic failure with rotating leadership who inherit a mess and leave before fixing it.

my cousin works for the state (not deo) and says nobody wants deo jobs cuz pay is terrible and everyone hates you lol. they're always understaffed and the good people quit fast. system is from like 2013 and they spent millions to "upgrade" it but it's still garbage. kinda explains alot tbh

To directly address your question about accountability: The DEO is accountable to the Governor who appoints the Secretary. The current DEO Secretary is Dane Eagle. There is also the Office of Inspector General that provides oversight for DEO operations. However, the practical reality is that unemployment systems in Florida have been chronically underfunded and understaffed for years. The CONNECT system was implemented in 2013 at a cost of $77 million and has been plagued with problems from the beginning. Multiple state audits (in 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021) identified serious flaws, but recommendations were largely ignored. Your best recourse for immediate help is: 1. Contact your state representative and senator (both, not just one) 2. File a formal complaint with the DEO Inspector General 3. Document everything meticulously, including names of representatives 4. If you're facing imminent financial hardship (eviction, utility shutoff), specifically request expedited processing due to hardship I've been helping claimants navigate this system for years, and while it's frustrating, persistence through these channels can eventually yield results.

To follow up on my earlier comment - yes, the term "tier 2 agent" is recognized within their system, though some newer agents might need to ask a supervisor about it. Definitely mention the 9+ weeks wait as anything over 6 weeks can be classified as a "delayed claim" which has different handling procedures. For the Inspector General contact info another commenter mentioned, you can reach them at: inspector.general@deo.myflorida.com or call 1-850-245-7135. Be sure to include your claim ID, full name, and last 4 of SSN in any correspondence. Also, absolutely mention if you're facing eviction or utility disconnection - there genuinely is a hardship escalation process, though it's not well-publicized.

Let's be honest - NOBODY at DEO actually loses their job over poor performance. I filed FORMAL COMPLAINTS with names and dates of representatives who gave me completely wrong information that caused my benefits to be delayed for months. Know what happened? NOTHING!!! The entire "accountability" system is a JOKE designed to LOOK like they care while doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! The only thing that works is public shame and media attention. Contact every news station, newspaper, and social media channel. The moment a reporter starts asking questions, MIRACULOUSLY claims get resolved!!!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I've been taking notes on everything suggested. I've already emailed my state rep and senator this morning with all my claim details. I'm going to try calling at 7:30am tomorrow using the specific phrases about tier 2 agents and hardship escalation. I'm also going to email the Inspector General with my documentation. I've been keeping a log of all calls and conflicting information I've received, so at least I have that ready. I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service too since it sounds like it might actually get me through to someone who can help. Will update once I make any progress. Seems like there's plenty of responsibility to go around but nobody willing to take it...