How to get my DEO claim backdated to when I first lost my job?

Thank you! Did you have to provide any proof when you called about backdating? I'm not sure what documentation I should have ready.

Oh no that's discouraging :( Did they give you a specific reason for the denial?

While I understand your frustration, backdating requests do still get approved when there's good cause. The key is documenting everything and being persistent. @OP make sure you have your employment termination date documented, and any evidence showing why you delayed filing (like emails showing active job searching during that period).

Same happened to my cousin! She waited 8 weeks for them to process her backdate request and they only approved half the weeks she asked for. Better than nothing I guess...

That agent gave you completely incorrect information! You can NEVER claim past weeks as current weeks - that's considered misrepresentation. The proper procedure is always a formal backdate request that must be reviewed and approved. Sorry you got bad advice.

This is really helpful, thank you! I have some emails from potential employers who initially seemed interested but then ghosted me. Would those help my case? I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning.

did u have to pay for that claimyr thing?? seems sketchy tbh

Yeah there is a fee, but considering I was trying to get approved for thousands in backpay benefits, it was worth it to me. You can watch their demo video to see how it works before deciding: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj

That's great news! Focusing on your active job search was exactly the right approach. The fact that you have documentation of that activity significantly improves your chances. Keep us posted on the outcome!

THEY'LL STILL PROBABLY DENY YOU!! Sorry but I've seen this so many times. They'll make you wait 6+ weeks then send some generic denial. Make sure you're ready to appeal immediately if they deny it!!

Thank you for the advice! I definitely learned my lesson about filing right away. I just assumed the unemployment system would be more understanding about backdating, especially since I was legitimately unemployed during that time.

That's a perfect example of what qualifies as "good cause" - a documented technical issue or disaster that prevented filing. Much stronger than just waiting to file.

I'm also dealing with a similar timeline issue! From what I've gathered here, having those email chains and rejection letters could actually help your case more than you think. The key seems to be framing it as "I was actively job searching" rather than "I thought I'd find work quickly." Regarding calling DEO - I've been trying the regular line for 3 days straight with no luck. Keep getting busy signals or dropped after hours of waiting. Several people here mentioned Claimyr worked for them, and honestly at this point I'm considering it too. When you're potentially looking at months of back benefits, the service fee might be worth it vs spending weeks trying to get through on your own. @CyberNinja how long did you end up waiting on hold when you finally got through? And did they ask for specific documentation during that initial call or just to submit it later with the backdate request?

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through after (calling first thing in the morning around 8:03 AM ,)I only waited about 12 minutes on hold which was surprisingly fast! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in their system. She told me I d'get a form mailed to me within 5-7 business days where I could submit all my supporting documents. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like exactly the type of evidence that could help! The agent I spoke with emphasized that showing continuous job "search activity during the" gap period is key. Even if they don t approve'the full time period, having that documentation might get you at least partial approval like some others mentioned here. One tip - when you do get through to someone, ask them to note in your file exactly what constitutes your good cause "reason so" there s a'record of what you discussed. The agent told me this helps when the adjudication team reviews your case later.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2.5 hours! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just collected my information and created the backdate request in the system. Then she told me I d'get a form mailed to me within 7-10 business days to complete and return with all my supporting documents. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains with recruiters and rejection letters sound like exactly the kind of evidence that could help! The agent I spoke with emphasized that they want to see you were available for "work and actively seeking employment during the" gap period. Those communications prove both points. Definitely frame it as active job searching rather than just waiting around expecting something to come through.

@Dana Doyle I actually waited about 2.5 hours on hold when I finally got through! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in their system. Then she told me I d'get a form mailed to me within 5-7 business days to complete and return with all my supporting documents. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like exactly what you need! The agent I spoke with emphasized that showing continued attachment "to the labor force during the" gap period is key. So those communications with recruiters and documented job applications definitely count as evidence that you were actively seeking work rather than just waiting around. One tip - when you do get through to someone, ask them to note in your file exactly what documents you re planning'to submit. That way there s a'record of what the agent advised you to include.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2.5 hours! The agent didn t'ask me to have documentation ready during the call itself - she just took my information and created the backdate request in their system. Then she told me I d'get a form in the mail or (email, I forget which where) I could submit all my supporting evidence. The job search emails and rejection letters you both have should definitely help! The agent specifically told me they want to see evidence of work "search activities during" the gap period. She said things like job applications, interviews scheduled, networking emails, even unemployment workshop attendance all count as evidence that you were actively seeking work rather than just waiting around. One tip - when you do get through to someone, ask them to email you a confirmation with your backdate request number. That way you have proof the request was actually submitted in case there are any issues later.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2 hours total got (disconnected twice before that .)The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took my information and created the backdate request in the system. Then she told me I d'need to submit supporting documents within 10 days through the CONNECT portal. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains with recruiters and rejection letters are definitely better evidence than what I had! The agent specifically told me that showing continued work "search efforts during the" gap period strengthens the case significantly. Make sure to organize them chronologically to show consistent activity throughout February-April. One tip the agent gave me: if you have any documentation showing you were told by someone employer, friend, (etc. that you) should wait to file or that you weren t eligible'yet, that could also help establish good cause. Even text messages or informal conversations count if you can document them somehow.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through took (about 2.5 hours on hold ,)the agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself. She just had me explain my situation and then created the backdate request in the system. She told me I d'get a notice in my CONNECT inbox within a few days asking me to upload supporting documents - which is where I submitted my job search emails and application records. The waiting is definitely brutal with the regular phone line. I got lucky and called right at 7:30 AM on a Tuesday, but even then it was a long wait. If you re'looking at potential thousands in benefits like @Marcelle Drum mentioned, the math on paying for help to get through faster might make sense. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready before you call regardless of which route you take!

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 45 minutes before speaking to an agent. She didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in their system. Then she told me I d'need to submit supporting documents within 10 days through CONNECT or by fax. The agent was actually pretty helpful in suggesting I frame it around active job searching rather than just waiting "to find work. She" said having those email chains and rejection letters would definitely strengthen my case since it shows I was genuinely unemployed and looking for work during that period. Honestly, if you ve'been trying for 3 days with no luck on the regular line, it might be worth considering the paid service. I got lucky getting through when I did, but I know others who tried for weeks with no success.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2 hours and 45 minutes! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in their system. Then she told me I d'receive instructions by mail about what documents to submit within 7-10 business days. @Marcelle Drum Those email chains and rejection letters sound like exactly what you need! The agent I spoke with specifically mentioned that documented job search activities during the gap period really strengthen your case. Make sure you organize them chronologically to show consistent effort throughout February and March. One tip the agent gave me - if you have any saved job applications from sites like Indeed or LinkedIn, screenshot those too since they show timestamps of when you were actively applying.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2 hours and 15 minutes! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just helped me submit the initial backdate request and told me what types of evidence would strengthen my case. Then I had to email the supporting documents job (search records, rejection letters, etc. to) a specific address she provided. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like exactly what they re looking'for! The agent I spoke with said they want to see proof you were available and "actively seeking work during the" gap period. Those communications with recruiters and documented rejections show you weren t just'sitting around waiting - you were genuinely trying to find employment. One tip the agent gave me: organize your evidence chronologically and write a brief summary explaining each document. It makes the reviewer s job'easier and shows you were consistently job searching throughout that period.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2.5 hours! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in the system. Then she told me I d'need to submit all my supporting documents job (search emails, applications, etc. through) the CONNECT portal within 10 days. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains with recruiters and rejection letters are exactly the type of evidence that can help! The agent I spoke with said they want to see that you were available and "actively seeking work during the" gap period. Make sure to organize everything chronologically and include dates. Even if your initial reason for delaying was thinking you d find'work quickly, you can still frame it around your active job search efforts. Honestly, after trying the regular phone line for days with no success, I can see why people use services like Claimyr. The time you save might be worth the fee, especially when you re dealing'with potential back benefits worth thousands of dollars.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2.5 hours after waiting in the queue for another hour! The agent asked me to describe my situation first, then walked me through what documentation would strengthen my case. She didn t'require me to submit everything during the call - instead she created the backdate request in their system and gave me a confirmation number. Then I had to mail in my supporting documents job (search emails, rejection letters, etc. within) 10 days. The agent was actually pretty helpful once I got connected. She explained that having documented job search activity during the gap period was definitely better than just saying I "thought I d'find work. So" definitely emphasize that active search angle rather than just the expectation of quick employment. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like exactly what they re looking'for as evidence! Much better documentation than what I had initially.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through after (trying for days ,)I was on hold for about 45 minutes before speaking to an agent. She didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - just had me explain my situation and why I filed late. She created the backdate request ticket right then and told me I d'get a letter with instructions on what documents to submit. The agent actually suggested I emphasize my job search activities rather than just saying I "thought I d'find work quickly which" really helped frame it better. Having those email chains and rejection letters will definitely strengthen your case! Make sure to organize them by date to show continuous search activity during your gap period. @Marcelle Drum I d say'your email chains with recruiters and rejection letters are exactly the type of evidence that could help. The more you can document that you were actively pursuing employment rather than just waiting around, the better your chances.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through to DEO, I was on hold for about 2.5 hours! The agent was actually really helpful though. She didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in their system. Then she told me I had 10 days to submit supporting documents through CONNECT like (uploading my job search emails, rejection letters, etc. .)@Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like solid evidence! The agent I spoke with said they want to see you were available and "actively seeking work during the" gap period, which is exactly what those documents show. Just make sure you have dates on everything to prove the timeline. Honestly, if you ve been'trying the regular line for 3 days with no success, it might be worth considering the paid service. I got lucky getting through, but I know others who tried for weeks with no luck.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2.5 hours! The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the actual call - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in their system. Then she told me I d'get a letter in the mail with instructions on what documents to submit and where to send them. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like solid evidence actually! That shows you were actively engaged in job searching rather than just passively waiting. The agent I spoke with specifically said they want to see proof of active work "search activities during the" gap period. Make sure to organize everything chronologically so it s clear'you were consistently looking throughout those months. One tip - if you do decide to try the regular phone line, call right at 7:30 AM when they open. I had better luck getting in the queue early in the morning vs trying later in the day.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through to DEO took (about 2 hours on hold! ,)the agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself. She just created the backdate request in their system and gave me a confirmation number. Then she explained I d'need to submit my supporting documents through CONNECT within 10 days - things like job search records, emails with potential employers, etc. The agent was actually pretty helpful once I got connected. She suggested organizing my evidence chronologically and including a brief written statement explaining my job search activities during each week I m'requesting to be backdated. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters sound like good evidence! The agent told me they want to see that you were available for "work and actively seeking employment during the" gap period. Documentation showing you were engaged with recruiters and applying to positions definitely supports that.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 45 minutes after waiting in the queue for over 2 hours. The agent didn t'ask for documentation during the call - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in the system. She told me I d'need to submit supporting documents within 10 days through CONNECT or by fax. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters are exactly the type of evidence that can help! The agent specifically told me they want to see proof of work search "activities during the" gap period. Even if your initial reason for delaying doesn t qualify'as good cause, showing you were actively seeking employment strengthens your case. Make sure to organize everything chronologically and include dates of applications, interviews, follow-ups, etc. Honestly, if you can afford the Claimyr fee and you re looking'at potentially thousands in backpay, it might be worth it just to avoid the frustration of trying to get through. I got lucky on my call, but I know people who tried for weeks with no success.

@Dana Doyle When I finally got through, I was on hold for about 2 hours before reaching an agent. She didn t'ask for documentation during the call itself - just had me explain my situation and then created the backdate request in their system. She told me I d'need to submit supporting documents within 10 days through CONNECT or by mail. @Marcelle Drum Your email chains and rejection letters are definitely better evidence than what I had! The agent specifically mentioned that showing active job "search efforts strengthens your" case significantly. Make sure to organize them by date to show consistent activity during your gap period. Honestly, if you ve been'trying for 3+ days with no success, you might want to consider the paid service. I got lucky on my timing, but most people I know who got through recently used something like Claimyr. The math works out if you re looking'at potentially thousands in back benefits vs a service fee.

@Dana Doyle I waited on hold for about 2.5 hours when I finally got through! The agent asked me to describe my situation first, then she walked me through what documentation would strengthen my case. She didn t'require me to have everything ready during that initial call - she said I could submit supporting documents through the CONNECT system after she created the backdate request ticket. Your email chains with recruiters and rejection letters sound like exactly what they re'looking for to show active job searching. The agent told me they want to see evidence that you were available "and actively seeking work during" the gap period, not just waiting around hoping something would fall into your lap. @Marcelle Drum definitely gather all those communications before you call. Even if some are informal like LinkedIn (messages , anything)showing you were putting effort into finding work during those weeks could help your case.

@Dana I waited about 2.5 hours on hold when I finally got through! The agent didn't ask for documentation during the call itself - she just took down my information and created the backdate request in the system. Then she told me I'd receive instructions by mail about what documents to submit within 10 days. @Marcelle Your email chains and rejection letters sound like exactly the type of evidence that could help! The agent I spoke with emphasized that showing "continuous job search activity" during the gap period is key. Even if they don't approve all the weeks, having that documentation gives you a much better shot than going in with no evidence at all. The regular DEO line is still a nightmare - I got lucky on my 4th day of calling. If you decide to try Claimyr, at least you'll know you can actually speak to someone. Just make sure you have all your employment dates and documentation ready before you call either way!