Need DEO claims department direct phone number - keep getting transferred to wrong departments

Oh man, I feel your pain!! The DEO phone system is RIGGED to prevent us from geting actual help. I spent 2 whole weeks trying to reach claims before I got through. What worked for me was calling exactly at 7:30am when they open and hitting option 5 immediately. Even then, expect to be on hold for like 1-2 hours. Sometimes the system just hangs up on you after waiting all that time which is INFURIATING!!! The whole system is broken on purpose to discourage people from getting benefits they earned.

I've been through this frustrating process several times and found a reliable solution. The DEO's phone routing system is overwhelmed, which is why you keep getting transferred incorrectly. I started using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect directly with DEO agents who can actually help with claims. It basically handles the waiting and connects you directly to a claims specialist. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj I was skeptical at first, but after spending days trying to reach someone on my own with no success, it was worth it to finally get my adjudication issue resolved. The key is that it gets you to actual claims agents who can see your file and make changes, not just the general helpdesk people.

There's no special direct number for the claims department that I'm aware of. The 800-204-2418 number is the correct one, but connecting to the right department is the challenge. Here are some strategies that have worked for claimants I've helped: 1. Call precisely at 7:29am, right before they officially open at 7:30am 2. When prompted, select option 5, then option 2, then option 4 (this routing sometimes bypasses general queue) 3. If you get the wrong department, politely ask if they can transfer you directly to claims 4. Try on Wednesday or Thursday - for some reason these days seem to have slightly shorter wait times 5. Make sure your claim shows "active" in CONNECT before calling Also, have you tried sending a message through the CONNECT portal? Sometimes that can trigger a callback, though it may take 5-7 business days.

i had the same issue last month, kept geting shuffled to wrong ppl. finally got thru by calling at 430pm right before they close. for some reason afternoon calls work better 4 me than mornings. everybody calls first thing so system gets jammed up. also my cousin who works at deo (not in claims tho) said they're super understaffed right now cuz of budget cuts

The Florida DEO system is deliberately underfunded and understaffed! It's been this way since Rick Scott redesigned the unemployment system to be as difficult as possible. I've been through this nightmare twice and both times I had to contact my state representative's office to get help. Email your local state rep with your claimant ID and a brief explanation of your issue. Their staff has special contacts at DEO who can escalate claims. Took about 1 week to get a response but they actually fixed my adjudication hold! Google "find my Florida state representative" to get contact info.

When you call are you using a cell phone or landline? I noticed when I used my cell phone I kept getting disconnected or transferred wrong, but when I used my mom's landline I got through to claims after only 3 tries. Might be coincidence but worth trying if you have access to a landline.

To clarify some misinformation in this thread: The type of phone you use shouldn't affect which department you reach. The DEO's routing system is based on the options you select and agent availability, not caller ID or phone type. What does sometimes help is calling from the exact phone number listed in your CONNECT profile. This can help with verification when you do reach an agent. Also, stay on the line even if it seems like you're being transferred incorrectly - sometimes there's a series of transfers before reaching claims. For adjudication issues specifically, be sure to have your claim ID number, the week(s) in question, and any fact-finding document numbers ready when you call. This helps the agent quickly locate your specific issue.

anyone else notice that the connect website and phone systems are extra glitchy on mondays? i swear they do it on purpose cuz they know more people try to call on mondays

I went through the exact same nightmare last month! Here's what finally worked for me: I called at 2:47 PM on a Thursday (weird time, I know) and when I got to the menu, I pressed option 5 then waited about 10 seconds before pressing anything else. Sometimes pressing buttons too fast confuses their ancient phone system. When the next menu came up, I selected option 1 then option 3. Got transferred to claims on the first try! The wait was still about 45 minutes but at least I was in the right queue. Also make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the dates of the weeks you're asking about written down before you call. The agent was able to see my adjudication issue immediately and explained it was just waiting for employer verification. Got it resolved that same day. Don't give up - you WILL get through eventually!

I'm dealing with the same exact problem right now! Been trying to reach claims for over a week about my pending adjudication and keep getting bounced around to different departments. The most frustrating part is when they tell you "sorry, wrong department" after you've already waited 30+ minutes on hold. Reading through these responses, I'm definitely going to try the early morning approach at 7:30am and the option 5-2-4 sequence that Lucas mentioned. Also going to give the afternoon calling strategy a shot since that seems to work for some people. Has anyone had success with the live chat feature on the CONNECT website, or is that just as useless as the phone system? I noticed it's available during business hours but wondering if they can actually help with adjudication issues or if they just tell you to call. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not the only one going through this nightmare!