How long can DEO legally hold my benefits after submitting all required documents?

going thru the same thing!!! been waiting 5 WEEKS with everything submitted correctly and still nothing. DEO is a JOKE. they just sit on our $$ while we starve. called 47 times last week and couldn't get thru to anyone. system is designed to make us give up!

Unfortunately there's no set legal timeframe for DEO to process benefits after receiving your documentation. Florida law only states they must make a 'prompt' determination, which is frustratingly vague. However, standard processing is typically 3-4 weeks for regular claims with no issues. If you've verified your identity through ID.me and all fact finding questions are marked complete in CONNECT, you might have an adjudication issue that needs resolution. A few things that might help: 1. Check your CONNECT inbox daily for any correspondence requiring response 2. Look under 'Determination, Pending Issues and Decision Summary' tab to see if there's a specific hold 3. Request a callback through the system (though these are rarely returned in my experience) 4. Contact your state representative's office as they can sometimes expedite claims

my cousin had the same thing last month and they held her money for like 6 weeks for no reason at all. DEO said it was 'under review' but wouldn't say why. she kept calling every day and finally got through to someone who fixed it. honestly think they just delay on purpose hoping ppl will give up.

The 'Adjudication in Progress' status means your claim has been flagged for review by a DEO adjudicator. This usually happens when there's a question about your eligibility that needs human verification - common reasons include employment separation issues, availability for work questions, or income verification. Unfortunately, adjudication can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks right now. The system is still backed up from all the COVID-era claims plus they're understaffed. You absolutely need to speak with an actual adjudicator to resolve this - regular call center agents can't help with adjudication issues. I was in adjudication hell for 7 weeks earlier this year. What finally worked was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live agent who could transfer me to an adjudicator. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj Once I got through to an actual adjudicator, they resolved my issue in minutes and released my payments within 48 hours. The biggest problem is just getting past the phone system to reach someone with authority to help.

just checking - did u make sure to claim your weeks even while waiting for adjudication? ive seen people forget this part and it causes even more delays

To answer your original question more directly - while there's no firm legal deadline, DEO generally shouldn't hold properly documented claims for more than 4-6 weeks total. If you're approaching that timeframe, it's definitely time to escalate. Adjudication specifically means they're reviewing some aspect of your eligibility. Common issues include: - Questions about why you left your previous job - Discrepancies in reported wages - Work search verification - Availability for work concerns - Employer protest of your claim The frustrating part is that CONNECT often doesn't tell you which specific issue is causing the hold. Your best bet is to speak with an adjudicator directly, not just a regular call center agent. Regular agents can only see that you're in adjudication but can't actually resolve it. If you're facing financial hardship while waiting, you can request what's called a 'hardship escalation' - be very specific about immediate financial consequences you're facing (eviction, utility disconnection, etc.).

Have you checked if your former employer is contesting your claim? That happened to me and put me in adjudication for almost 2 months! My boss claimed I quit voluntarily when I was actually laid off. Worth calling your old workplace HR department to ask if they responded to the DEO's request for separation information.

Just wanted to add - if you're dealing with genuine financial hardship, mention specifically that you're requesting a "hardship escalation" when you do manage to reach someone. Use those exact words. DEO has an internal process to prioritize claims where people are facing eviction, utility disconnection, etc. Be ready to explain exactly what hardship you're facing (about to miss car payment, rent due date, etc). This can sometimes get your claim flagged for expedited handling. Also, for what it's worth, I tried the standard calling method for 3 weeks with no success before finding Claimyr. Got through on my first try after that. Worth considering if your situation is becoming desperate.

this is why im moving out of florida lol the unemployment system is literally designed to make it as difficult as possible

Update: I finally got through to DEO this morning after trying for hours! Turns out there was an issue with my employment separation reason. My employer had coded it as "quit" instead of "layoff due to lack of work" which triggered the adjudication. The agent was able to update it after I explained the situation and provided the layoff letter. She said my payments should be released within 48-72 hours. Fingers crossed! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. This whole process has been so stressful.