DEO fact finding request email - no clear instructions on how to respond

Don't panic! 'Fact Finding' is actually a questionnaire they need you to complete to verify information about your employment separation. It should be accessible when you log into CONNECT, but sometimes the system glitches and doesn't display it properly. Try these steps:\n\n1. Log into CONNECT\n2. Go to the \

Thank you! I'll try looking in those specific sections. I was just clicking around randomly before. Is there a deadline for completing this 'fact finding' thing? I'm worried I'll miss it and get denied.

oh yea they always do that!!! they send emails saying to do something but then don't tell u what exactly lol. just call them and they'll tell u what they need. good luck getting through tho took me like 50 tries

Calling DEO direct is definitely an exercise in patience. If you're struggling to get through to a representative, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically hold your place in the phone queue so you don't have to keep redialing. Saved me hours of frustration when I had a similar fact finding issue that wasn't showing up properly in my account. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj

The FACT FINDING is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of your claim!!! Do NOT ignore it or you WILL be denied benefits. DEO uses this to determine if you were fired, quit, or laid off and whether you qualify. Sometimes the system doesn't show it right away - try logging out completely, clearing browser cache, and logging back in. Sometimes it takes 24 hours after the email for it to actually appear in the system too. The deadline is usually 7 days from when they send it but I've seen people get extensions if they call and explain technical issues.

This is a bit dramatic lol. Yes, fact finding is important but they don't automatically deny you if you miss the deadline. I missed mine by 2 days because their stupid system wasn't working and I still got approved. Just call them if you can't find the questionnaire.

i had same problem last month it was sooooo annoying!! the fact finding was hidden under

Thanks for the tip! I've been clicking around and finally found something under \

When I applied in January the same thing happened to me. I couldn't find the fact finding anywhere in CONNECT. Turns out they also send it to your email sometimes but it went to my spam folder! Check your spam/junk mail too just in case. The subject line was something like \

Good suggestion! Just checked spam and nothing there, but I did finally find it in my CONNECT account. The weird thing is they called it something completely different than \

Just to make sure you're prepared for the fact finding questions - they'll typically ask about:\n\n- Your last day of work\n- Why you're no longer employed (layoff, termination, quit, etc.)\n- If you quit, they'll want detailed reasons why\n- If you were fired, they'll ask about the circumstances\n- Contact information for your previous employer\n\nBe honest but concise. If you were laid off due to lack of work, just state that simply. If there were more complicated circumstances, stick to the facts without adding unnecessary details. Remember, your employer will likely respond to these same questions, so consistency with what actually happened is important.

This is super helpful, thank you! I was laid off (company downsizing) so hopefully that's straightforward. Should I upload any documentation like my layoff letter or final pay stub?

Yes, if you have a layoff letter, that's perfect documentation to upload! Anything in writing that confirms your separation reason will strengthen your claim. There should be a section within the fact finding questionnaire that allows document uploads. If not, you can usually upload documents separately in the \

anyone else notice DEO always does this on the weekends when nobody's around to help?? 🙄

EXACTLY!! The system is DESIGNED to be confusing! They make it hard on purpose so people give up and don't collect benefits. I've been dealing with them for 3 YEARS and it's always the same story. Send vague messages, hide important forms, then deny you when you miss deadlines for things you didn't even know existed!!

UPDATE: I found and completed the fact finding questionnaire! For anyone else who might have the same problem, it was hidden under \

Yay! Glad you found it! Now comes the fun part... waiting for them to process it 😬 Mine took about 2 weeks before I saw any updates.

Congrats on getting it completed! That's a huge relief. Just a heads up - after you submit the fact finding, DEO will likely contact your former employer to verify the information you provided. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to company downsizing, they'll probably confirm that with HR. This is totally normal and shouldn't cause any issues if everything matches up. The processing time can vary quite a bit - I've seen some people get determinations in a week, others wait a month. Try not to stress too much during the waiting period. You've done the hard part by finding and completing the questionnaire!

Great job getting through the fact finding process! For future reference, I've found that DEO's system works best with Chrome or Firefox browsers, and sometimes clearing your cache can help when forms don't load properly. Also, if you ever need to check the status of your claim or have questions about payments, the "View and Maintain Account Information" section is usually the most reliable place to find updates. Keep all your documentation handy (layoff letter, pay stubs, etc.) because they might ask for additional verification down the line. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but since you were laid off due to downsizing, that's typically one of the more straightforward cases for approval. Hang in there!

So glad you got through the fact finding process! Just wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this issue, sometimes the fact finding questionnaire doesn't appear immediately after you get the email notification. I had the same problem and panicked thinking I was missing something. Turns out DEO's system can take up to 24-48 hours to sync everything properly. Also, make sure to print or screenshot your completed submission confirmation - I learned this the hard way when I needed proof later that I had submitted it on time. The whole system is definitely not user-friendly, but once you know where everything is hidden, it gets a bit easier to navigate. Holly, you should be proud of yourself for persisting through all the confusion!

As someone who just went through this exact same nightmare last month, I totally feel your frustration! The DEO system is incredibly confusing for first-time users. One thing that helped me was using the mobile app instead of the website - sometimes the fact finding questionnaire shows up more reliably there. Also, if you're still having trouble finding it, try logging in at different times of day. I noticed their system seems to work better early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when fewer people are using it. The whole process is stressful enough without having to play hide and seek with important forms! Really glad you persevered and got it completed though - that's the biggest hurdle. Now just keep checking your account every few days for updates, and don't hesitate to call if anything seems weird. You've got this! 💪

Holly, you're definitely not alone in this frustration! The fact finding process is one of those things that seems designed to trip up new claimants. Since you mentioned you already found and completed it (congrats!), I wanted to add a few tips for anyone else who might stumble across this thread with the same issue: 1. If the fact finding doesn't show up right away, try different browsers - Internet Explorer surprisingly works better than newer browsers sometimes 2. Look for it under "Pending Issues" or "Outstanding Items" - DEO loves to use different terminology than what they mention in their emails 3. The questionnaire usually asks about your separation reason, last day worked, and whether you're available for work - pretty standard stuff but be thorough in your answers The waiting period after submission is honestly the worst part because there's nothing you can do but wait for DEO to process it. Since you were laid off due to downsizing, that's typically one of the clearest cases for approval, so try not to stress too much. Keep checking your account every few days for updates, and don't be surprised if the process takes 2-4 weeks. The system is slow, but it eventually gets there. You handled a really confusing situation well!

I'm so glad you were able to find and complete the fact finding questionnaire, Holly! Your experience really highlights how unnecessarily complicated DEO makes this process for first-time claimants. It's honestly ridiculous that you have to become a detective just to respond to a basic request. For anyone else reading this who might face the same issue, here's what I learned from my own experience: sometimes the fact finding appears under "Determinations" instead of where you'd logically expect it. Also, if you're using a work computer or public wifi, that can sometimes cause display issues with CONNECT forms. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to company downsizing, that should be pretty straightforward for approval. DEO typically processes layoff cases faster than terminations or voluntary quits since there's less investigation needed. Just keep an eye on your account over the next few weeks - you should see status updates as they verify information with your former employer. The whole system definitely needs an overhaul, but you navigated it successfully despite all the obstacles they threw at you. That's actually pretty impressive for someone completely new to the process!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got the vague "fact finding" email yesterday and have been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to respond to. Reading through everyone's experiences makes me feel so much less alone in this frustration. @Holly, huge props for sticking with it and getting it completed! Your persistence really paid off. The fact that you found it hidden under a completely different name than what they mentioned in the email is just典型DEO behavior - making things unnecessarily complicated. For anyone else struggling with this, I'm going to try the mobile app approach that @Luca mentioned, plus the early morning login tip. It's honestly wild that we need these kinds of workarounds just to access basic government services, but I'm grateful for all the practical advice shared here. One question - for those who completed fact finding for layoffs, did you notice any specific wording they preferred? I want to make sure I describe my situation clearly without overthinking it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread should be pinned somewhere for future reference!

This entire thread has been a lifesaver! I'm bookmarking this for future reference because it's basically become the unofficial "DEO Fact Finding Survival Guide" that should exist but doesn't. @Holly - congratulations on getting through what sounds like an incredibly frustrating maze! Your willingness to share the process step-by-step is going to help so many people who face this same confusing situation. What strikes me most about all these responses is how many different workarounds people have discovered - mobile app vs desktop, different browsers, early morning logins, checking multiple sections with different names. It really shows how broken the system is when users have to become IT specialists just to file basic paperwork. For anyone new to this thread: the consistent advice seems to be 1) don't panic when the fact finding doesn't appear immediately, 2) try multiple browsers and login times, 3) look in sections with completely different names than mentioned in the email, 4) keep responses simple and factual, and 5) save/screenshot everything for your records. It's honestly ridiculous that we need community forums to figure out how to use government services, but I'm grateful for everyone who took the time to share their hard-won knowledge here. This is what mutual aid looks like in practice!

This thread is pure gold! I'm currently in the same boat - got the cryptic "fact finding" email two days ago and have been going in circles trying to figure out what they actually want me to respond to. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been more helpful than anything on DEO's actual website. @Holly - massive respect for not giving up when the system was being so unhelpful! Your journey from confusion to completion gives me hope that I can figure this out too. It's absolutely ridiculous that something called "fact finding" gets hidden under completely different section names. I'm definitely going to try the mobile app approach and early morning login strategy that several people mentioned. The browser compatibility tips are also super useful - I've been struggling with Safari so I'll switch to Chrome or Firefox. One thing that really stands out reading all these responses is how DEO seems to systematically make this process harder than it needs to be. Whether it's intentional or just poor system design, the result is the same - people get stressed and confused when they're already dealing with job loss. Thank you to everyone who shared their workarounds and tips! This community support is what gets people through DEO's maze. I'll report back once I hopefully track down my own elusive fact finding questionnaire! 🤞