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Just discovered EmployFlorida registration requirement holding up my DEO payments since March

I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my claim has been stuck with a 'pending issue' since filing on 3/26. After DOZENS of calls over the past 2 months (seriously, I called at least 3-4 times every day), I finally got through to an actual human at DEO yesterday. Guess what the mysterious 'pending issue' was? Apparently I was supposed to register on employflorida.com! The rep asked about vocational training and other stuff I had NO CLUE about. Not once during the entire application process did anyone tell me I needed to register on a completely different website to get my benefits! Is this new? Did everyone else know about this requirement? The CONNECT system never gave me any indication this was what was holding up my payments for over 7 weeks! Just sharing so others don't waste two months waiting like I did.

Chloe Robinson

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Yup, that's standard. You always have to register with EmployFlorida. It's been a requirement for years, but they do a terrible job of making it clear. I remember when I filed in 2023, there was like ONE tiny mention of it buried in page 7 of some document they expect you to read. The CONNECT system should really have big flashing letters saying "GO REGISTER WITH EMPLOYFLORIDA OR YOU WON'T GET PAID!!!"

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Omar Hassan

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Seriously?! Why wouldn't they make this obvious?? I read everything they sent me. Did you have to do the skills assessment stuff too? The rep mentioned something about that but then got distracted and never finished explaining.

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Diego Chavez

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This is definitely not new - registering with EmployFlorida has been a requirement for regular unemployment benefits in Florida for many years. It's part of proving you're available for and seeking work. You need to: 1. Create a complete profile on EmployFlorida.com 2. Upload or create a resume 3. Complete the initial skills assessment 4. Use the system to document your 5 required work searches per week Once you complete this, contact DEO again and ask them to check if your EmployFlorida registration is properly linked to your CONNECT account. Sometimes there's a system error where they don't properly communicate.

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Omar Hassan

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Thank you for this detailed info! I had no idea about the skills assessment or resume requirements. Going to do all of this right now. Really appreciate the clear steps.

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NeonNebula

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OMG THIS HAPPENED TO ME TOO!!! My claim was stuck for 5 weeks and it was because of the EmployFlorida thing! I was so mad because nowhere in CONNECT did it tell me to do this!! When I finally found out and registered, my payments started processing within 3 days. The whole system is designed to make people give up I swear.

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Omar Hassan

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That gives me hope! Did you have to call them again after registering, or did the system automatically update?

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NeonNebula

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I had to call them after registering to let them know. The system doesn't automatically update right away.

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To add a bit more detail: The EmployFlorida registration requirement is actually mentioned during the CONNECT application process, but it's easy to miss. It's in the acknowledgment section where there are about 10-12 checkboxes. One of them states you'll register with EmployFlorida, but most people click through without reading carefully. Once you complete your EmployFlorida registration, you should: 1. Take a screenshot of your completed profile 2. Call DEO to notify them (good luck getting through) 3. Ask the rep to verify the link between systems 4. Request they clear the pending issue flag If you're having trouble reaching DEO by phone, I recently used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. Definitely worth it to avoid weeks more waiting.

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Omar Hassan

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Thank you for the detailed explanation! I honestly don't remember seeing this in any checkbox section, but maybe I missed it. I'll try calling again after I finish the registration process. If I can't get through, I might try that service - waiting another 7 weeks isn't an option.

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Sean Kelly

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the deo is always pulling this kinda stuff. they WANT us to miss steps so they dont have to pay. i bet that employflorida thing is buried somewhere in the fine print. my sister had same issue last yr and missed 2 months of payments. she had to fax them (yes FAX in 2025!!) proof she registered before they fixed it. system is rigged!!!

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Zara Mirza

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faxing?? who even has access to a fax machine anymore?? this is ridiculous

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Luca Russo

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Same exact thing happened to me! I ended up having to drive to a CareerSource office in person to get help with the EmployFlorida registration. The lady there told me they see people with this problem literally every day. She said almost 40% of the people who come in are there because their benefits are held up due to EmployFlorida registration issues. It's like DEO and EmployFlorida don't even talk to each other.

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Omar Hassan

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That's a good idea, I didn't think about going to CareerSource. There's one about 20 minutes from me. Maybe I'll try that if I can't get this sorted online. Thanks for the suggestion!

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Zara Mirza

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wait do u have to register with employflorida if ur on temporary layoff? my boss said ill be back in 6 weeks so idk if this applies to me

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Diego Chavez

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Yes, you still need to register with EmployFlorida even if you're on temporary layoff. However, if your employer filed a "mass claim" or you're on official "standby" status (which must be approved by DEO), you might be exempt from the weekly work search requirements. You still need the EmployFlorida registration though! Check your CONNECT account to see if you have "standby" status or call your employer to confirm if they filed a mass claim.

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Chloe Robinson

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After I registered with EmployFlorida I still had to wait like 3 weeks before someone at DEO manually cleared the hold on my account. Just registering doesn't automatically fix it in my experience. You really have to stay on top of them!

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Omar Hassan

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That's frustrating! I'll make sure to follow up after registering. Thanks for the heads up!

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For anyone else with this issue - make sure you complete ALL parts of the EmployFlorida registration: 1. Basic profile with contact info 2. Work history (similar to your CONNECT application) 3. Skills assessment (at least the initial one) 4. Background information section 5. Resume upload or creation Missing any of these can result in your registration being considered incomplete, which won't resolve the pending issue in CONNECT.

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