Denied DEO benefits after quitting for medical reasons - any success with appeals without hearings?

Ughhh the DEO is SO unfair with medical situations!!! They denied me too when I had to quit bc of severe back pain that my job wouldn't accommodate. I DID have a hearing for my appeal and it was actually not as scary as it sounds. The judge person (adjudicator?) was pretty nice and just wanted to understand my situation better. I did win my appeal but only after the hearing where my doctor actually spoke on the phone too. I don't think I've heard of anyone winning without a hearing for medical quits but maybe someone else has?

Unfortunately, Florida's DEO typically requires a hearing for medical quit cases, even with doctor documentation. The key issue is the 'reasonable efforts to preserve employment' standard, which is strictly enforced. During your hearing, focus on these three points: 1) Your doctor specifically instructed immediate resignation, 2) Why accommodations would have been inadequate for your specific medical condition, and 3) How you attempted to discuss your condition with your employer before quitting (if applicable). Bring any additional medical documentation showing the severity and timing of your condition. Appeals judges are often more understanding than the initial claim processors, especially with compelling medical evidence.

I had almost the identical situation last year with my migraines! Had to quit my job at a warehouse because the fluorescent lighting was a major trigger. Was denied for the same reason. I did have to go through with a hearing, but it wasn't that bad - just a phone call where I explained my situation. Make sure you get your doctor to write a statement specifically saying that immediate resignation was medically necessary. That's what made the difference for me.

Your case is challenging but winnable. I've been through this system many times, and while it's rare to win a medical quit appeal without a hearing, it does happen occasionally. Two things that can help: 1) Get a letter from your doctor that specifically states continuing to work would have caused 'significant harm' to your health (that exact phrase matters), and 2) Be prepared to explain why you couldn't have requested reduced hours or a position change instead of quitting entirely. If your hearing does get scheduled, try using Claimyr.com to reach a DEO agent beforehand to understand what documentation the hearing officer will need. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj that explains how their service works. It saved me hours of busy signals when I was preparing for my appeal.

THEY ALWAYS USE THAT SAME EXCUSE!! 'Failed to make reasonable efforts to preserve employment.' I've seen it a million times! The system is DESIGNED to deny people with legitimate medical reasons for quitting. Even if you had asked for accommodations they would have denied you claiming the accommodations were reasonable and you should have accepted them. It's a no-win situation! The appeals process is slightly better than the initial claims department but still heavily biased against claimants. I've yet to see anyone win a medical resignation case without a hearing - they force everyone through that extra hoop just to wear people down so they'll give up.

just wanted to update that i remembered something important - when you have your hearing make sure to emphasize that your doctor SPECIFICALLY told you to quit immediately. that was the deciding factor in my case. the judge asked me like three times if my doctor specifically instructed me to leave that job environment for my health and when i said yes and had documentation proving it they ruled in my favor. but yeah i dont think you can avoid the hearing part sorry :

Quick update on the 'reasonable efforts' standard in Florida: Recent DEO appeal decisions have shown that if your doctor explicitly advised immediate resignation for medical necessity, this can sometimes override the requirement to request accommodations first. Your appeal should emphasize this point, using phrases like 'medically contraindicated to continue working' and 'immediate separation was medically necessary.' Also, check your CONNECT portal daily for any fact-finding questionnaires - missing these can result in automatic denial of your appeal.

i was denied to for quiting my job but it wasnt medical. didnt get approved on appeal either so cant help sorry

Have you received a hearing date yet? If not, you still have time to submit additional evidence. I recommend sending a more detailed letter from your doctor using the Appeals Document Upload feature in CONNECT. The letter should specifically state: 1) Your condition was directly worsened by specific workplace conditions, 2) Immediate cessation of work was medically necessary, and 3) Why reasonable accommodations would not have been sufficient. Include medical records showing your condition worsened while employed there. This approach has helped several clients I've worked with, and occasionally results in a favorable decision without a hearing, though that's uncommon.