Desperate for DEO agent: How to actually reach a human at Florida unemployment?

lol good luck. been trying since January myself. DEO doesn't answer phones cuz they dont wanna help anybody.

The trick is persistence and timing. I found that calling on Tuesday or Wednesday around 10:30am has slightly better odds. Don't call Monday (busiest) or Friday (they start closing tickets for the weekend). Also, when the automated system asks why you're calling, say "payment issue" rather than "claim status" - the payment queue seems to have more actual humans. Make sure you have your claimant ID ready, your PIN, and the exact dates of any issues you need to discuss. If you do get through, take detailed notes of who you spoke with (get their ID number!) and what they told you. The CONNECT system doesn't always update immediately after they make changes.

OMG I was in the EXACT same situation last month!!! My account was stuck in adjudication for 9 weeks and I couldn't get through AT ALL. I tried everything - calling right when they opened, emailing every address I could find, even tried contacting my state rep (who never responded). What finally worked was using a service called Claimyr. It basically puts you at the front of the DEO call queue so you actually get through to a human. I was skeptical but desperate, and it actually worked - got through to an agent in about 20 minutes after weeks of trying on my own. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj The agent I spoke with was able to see that my adjudication was stuck because of a system error on THEIR end - something they never would have fixed if I hadn't gotten through.

It is legit. I was super skeptical too but after wasting literally HOURS trying to get through myself, it was worth it. The alternative was waiting another 2 months for my claim to maybe get processed while bills kept piling up. They don't work for DEO - they just have some system that helps you get through the phone tree.

There are several approaches you can try: 1. Call the alternative DEO numbers: Try 833-352-7759 or 850-245-7105 instead of the main number. Sometimes these have slightly different call routing. 2. Contact your state representative or senator's office. They have special channels to DEO and can often get responses when regular citizens can't. Find yours here: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative 3. Email specific DEO staff. Try DEO.Feedback@deo.myflorida.com with a detailed subject line that includes your claimant ID and the specific issue (like "Adjudication Pending Since Feb 2025 - Claimant ID #12345678") 4. If your issue is identity verification related, email Identityverification@deo.myflorida.com 5. For truly urgent situations (eviction imminent), note that in your communications and also reach out to local legal aid services who may be able to help expedite. Be sure to document everything - dates you called, who you spoke with, what they said. This will be important if you need to escalate further.

THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE!!!!! The DEO is absolutely the WORST government agency in Florida and that's saying something!! They make it IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone because they DON'T WANT TO PAY OUT BENEFITS that we are ENTITLED TO!!! I spent 4 months - FOUR MONTHS!!! - trying to get my adjudication resolved last year. You know what finally worked? I filed a complaint with the Department of Labor and suddenly, MAGICALLY, my claim was processed two days later. Go to https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/unemployment-insurance-payment-accuracy/how-to-file-a-complaint and file a formal complaint. That's the only thing these people respond to.

I don't think they offer callbacks, unfortunately. Florida's system is notoriously outdated compared to other states. One other thing that sometimes works is reaching out through their social media accounts. The Florida DEO has a Twitter/X account (@FLDEO) and sometimes their social media team can escalate issues when you message them publicly. Worth a try if you're still stuck.

Update: I tried the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above, and I FINALLY got through to a real person at DEO this morning! The agent was able to see that my claim had a "wage verification issue" that wasn't even showing up in my CONNECT account. She cleared it and said my payments should process in 48-72 hours. After weeks of trying, it's such a relief to finally get some answers. Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

my cousin works for the unemployment office (not in florida) and she says they're always understaffed especially after covid when they laid off all the temp workers. so its not just florida its everywhere just fyi

Just wanted to give a final update - my payments did come through! They arrived in my account this morning, exactly 3 business days after I spoke with the DEO agent. Such a huge relief after weeks of stress. If anyone else is in the same situation, definitely try some of the suggestions in this thread. Being persistent eventually paid off!