DEO giving me the runaround since February - considering legal options?

I was in a similar situation last year, stuck in adjudication for 4 months. Before considering legal options, have you tried reaching out to your state representative? I emailed my rep with my claimant ID, last 4 of SSN, and a brief explanation of my situation. Their office contacted DEO directly and my claim was resolved within 2 weeks. It's worth trying before going the legal route which can be expensive and time-consuming.

legal aid wont help with this stuff trust me i tried already they only do evictions and family court stuff mostly but not deo problems i been waiting 3 months myself and just keep getting the runaround

Before going the legal route, have you tried escalating within DEO? Here's what I recommend: 1. Email RA.CustomerService@deo.myflorida.com with your claimant ID and detailed timeline of your claim issues 2. Contact the DEO Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) and specifically ask to speak with a claims supervisor (not just a regular agent) 3. Request a formal determination letter so you have something concrete to appeal 4. Make sure you're still claiming your weeks even while this is being resolved If you've truly done all of this with no resolution for 5 months, then yes, reaching out to legal help might be your best option. Florida Legal Services has an employment rights project that includes unemployment issues.

Have you tried Claimyr? After struggling to reach DEO for weeks, I finally used their service and got through to a live agent in about 20 minutes. They basically call DEO for you and connect you when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. My adjudication issue wasn't fixed immediately, but at least I could speak to someone who could tell me exactly what was going on with my claim.

DEO IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST!!!!! I had to get my state senator involved after 7 MONTHS of waiting!!! They suddenly "found" my documents that had been "missing" the whole time. The system is DESIGNED to make you give up!!! Don't let them win! Keep fighting and document EVERYTHING - dates, times, who you talked to, what they said. This will help if you do end up needing legal assistance. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people!!!

I work as a career counselor and regularly assist clients with DEO issues. If your claim has been in adjudication since February, there's likely a specific issue causing the hold. The most common reasons are: 1. Employment separation discrepancy (your reason for leaving doesn't match employer's statement) 2. Income verification issues (especially if you had multiple employers) 3. Work search requirement compliance questions 4. Availability for work concerns Knowing exactly which issue is causing your adjudication could help you address it more effectively. Have you received any fact-finding questionnaires in your CONNECT inbox? These are often sent but can be easy to miss if you're not checking regularly.

Update to my earlier comment - since you mentioned employer dispute might be the issue, this is definitely a case where contacting your state representative can help. When employers contest claims, it often triggers a much longer review process. The state rep's office can sometimes get DEO to prioritize these reviews. Be sure to include any documentation you have about the layoff when you contact them.

my cousin had same issue and finally got a lawyer after 8 months... the lawyer sent one letter and suddenly deo fixed everything and he got all his back pay. sometimes they just need to see ur serious

One final piece of advice: Request a copy of your claim file through a formal public records request. Under Florida law, you're entitled to see your complete file, which might reveal why your claim is stuck. Email DEO.PublicRecords@deo.myflorida.com with your request. Specifically ask for all notes, fact-finding results, and determination drafts related to your claim. This information can be incredibly valuable if you do end up needing legal assistance.