DEO nightmare - 8 weeks in adjudication with no progress despite phone call

omg same boat... i have 6 weeks pending adjudication bc my employer is disputing my claim saying i quit when i was actually laid off... DEO is the WORST!!!

The escalation process CAN work, but there's a specific way to approach it. When you call back, make sure you emphasize that you're experiencing financial hardship (potential eviction, utility shutoffs, etc). The DEO agents have a specific hardship code they can use for true emergencies that can expedite adjudication. Also, be very clear about how many weeks are pending - 8 weeks is well beyond their normal processing time and should qualify for expedited review. One other thing - have you checked your CONNECT inbox to see if there are any fact-finding questionnaires you need to complete? Sometimes claims get stuck because they're waiting on additional information from you, but the system doesn't make it obvious.

3 days to escalate after waiting 8 HOURS on the phone?!? That's crazy! DEO is so broken. When my claim was stuck last year I had 5 weeks in adjudication and never got it resolved by phone no matter how many times I called. Good luck!!

I was in your exact situation last month. Had 7 weeks stuck in adjudication after my employer incorrectly reported my separation reason. The regular DEO call center agents can't do much besides basic status checks and general advice - they don't have the authority to actually process adjudication cases. What worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected with a DEO agent. They have a system that navigates the phone tree and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is about to pick up. I was skeptical at first but it worked perfectly - got through in about 40 minutes instead of waiting 8+ hours. The agent I reached was able to immediately escalate my case to a supervisor who cleared the adjudication in 48 hours. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj During the call, be sure to request a "Level 2 escalation" specifically and mention the financial hardship. This puts your case in front of someone with actual decision-making authority.

I've been through the FL unemployment system 3 times in the last few years and it's ALWAYS a nightmare. The system is DESIGNED to be difficult and frustrating so people give up. Did you know Florida has one of the LOWEST rates of approved unemployment claims in the entire country??!! They make it hard ON PURPOSE. Even if they "escalate" your claim, it can still take weeks. The whole "call back in 3 days" thing is just to get you off the phone. They told me the same thing FOUR TIMES over a two-week period before I finally got someone who actually helped.

If ur having trouble with DEO try contacting ur state representative!! It really works. Mine was stuck for 11 weeks and i emaild my state rep and they fixed it in 4 days. Just google "florida state representative (your county)" and ull find who to contact. They have staff who deal with DEO issues all the time.

Have you been claiming your weeks even though they're in adjudication? You need to keep claiming every two weeks even if you're not getting paid yet! I forgot to do this when mine was stuck and lost those weeks completely even after adjudication was resolved!

Based on your situation, here's what you should do next: 1. Call back as instructed, but ask specifically for a Level 2 escalation due to financial hardship (be prepared to explain the risk of eviction) 2. While waiting for resolution, contact your local CareerSource Florida office. They often have emergency assistance funds for people waiting on unemployment benefits. 3. Request that the adjudicator review your case based on its age (8 weeks is well beyond standard processing time) 4. Check if your claim has a "pending issue" flag in CONNECT - if it does, ask what specific issue is causing the delay 5. If you don't see progress within 5 business days after escalation, contact your state representative as someone else suggested Don't give up! The system is frustrating but persistent follow-up typically yields results.

anybody else notice how they always tell you to call back in exactly 3 days?? its never 2 days or 4 days always exactly 3. i think its just a script they read to get rid of people tbh

An update on my earlier comment - while Claimyr helped me get through quickly, I should clarify that even with the Level 2 escalation, it took about 5 business days for my adjudication to be completed. The key difference was that I got confirmation the escalation was actually submitted (got a reference number) and was able to check the status without spending another full day on the phone. Also, double-check the reason your claim is in adjudication if you can. Mine was stuck because of an employer dispute over separation reason (they coded it as "quit" when I was laid off). If that's your situation too, you might want to upload any documentation you have that proves your side (termination notice, texts from manager, etc.) to your CONNECT account.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the DEO system is absolutely brutal! I went through something similar last year where I had 9 weeks stuck in adjudication. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. When you call back in 3 days, don't just accept "we'll escalate it" - ask for the escalation reference number and the name of the supervisor it's being escalated to. Get specifics! 2. Document everything - dates you called, agent names if they give them, reference numbers, what they told you. This becomes crucial if you need to escalate further. 3. Since you have your termination letter showing you were laid off, upload it to CONNECT ASAP. Sometimes adjudication gets stuck simply because they're waiting for documentation that proves your separation reason. 4. Try calling first thing at 7:30am when they open - I found early morning calls had shorter wait times than calling later in the day. The financial hardship angle that others mentioned really does work. Be specific about your rent situation and mention you're at risk of eviction. They have emergency protocols for people in your situation. Hang in there - it's frustrating but most people do eventually get their claims resolved. The system is designed to wear you down but don't give up!