No response from DEO for 2 months - visited CareerSource but still waiting on payments

CareerSource is useless for this tbh. I went there twice and they couldn't do ANYTHING for me when my claim was stuck. Just told me the same garbage about keeping trying to call DEO. Two months is actually not that long compared to some people...I waited 4 months last year!!!

The career centers can help with some basic stuff, but they don't have access to the adjudication system which is probably what you need. When you have a claim stuck in 'determination needed' status, that means there's an issue requiring adjudication. Common reasons include: separation issues (why you left your job), work search verification problems, or income verification. Have you checked your CONNECT inbox for fact-finding questions? Sometimes they send questions that need responses before they can process your claim. If there's nothing there, then you definitely need to speak with a DEO claims adjudicator directly. I'd recommend trying to call right when they open at 7:30am. That's usually the best time to get through.

same thing happened to me during christmas! waited 9 weeks with the stupid 'determination needed' thing. finally called my state rep's office and magically my claim got approved 3 days later. coincidence? i think not lol

I had this problem too!!! My job laid me off and i filed right away with all the correct information and STILL had to wait 2.5 months for payments... the system is BEYOND broken. The DEO people literally dont care at all about us regular people who need help. Im convinced they just let claims sit there on purpose to save money.

I've been through this exact situation and finally found a solution that worked. After 6 weeks of getting nowhere with regular DEO calls, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual DEO agent. They got me past all the busy signals and disconnects. The agent was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim (it was a verification issue my employer hadn't responded to) and they escalated it for me. Got paid the following week for all my back weeks. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj Definitely worth checking out if you're desperate to speak with someone. Regular calling is just a waste of time with how overwhelmed their phone system is.

Not long at all - maybe 15 minutes on hold after they connected me. Much better than the hours of redialing I was doing before. Make sure you have your claimant ID ready when you call. Good luck!

CareerSource offices can help with some aspects of unemployment, but their ability to resolve adjudication issues or payment delays is very limited. They primarily assist with job search activities, resume building, and sometimes basic CONNECT navigation issues. For a claim stuck in determination status for 2+ months, you need to reach an actual DEO claims specialist. Here are the steps I recommend: 1. Keep calling the main DEO number (800-204-2418) during non-peak hours (Wednesday/Thursday afternoons tend to be better) 2. Send a detailed message through the CONNECT portal using the "Contact Us" form - specifically request escalation due to financial hardship 3. Email your state representative (as someone mentioned) 4. If you can afford it, use a call connection service like the one mentioned Important: Even though you're starting a new job, you're still eligible for back payments for the weeks you were eligible and certified for. Make sure you continue to claim all eligible weeks while trying to resolve this. The DEO is legally required to pay benefits for eligible weeks regardless of your current employment status. Don't give up - persistence is unfortunately the key with the Florida unemployment system.

ur wasting ur time with career source they cant do anything for u... DEO is the worst ive ever seen any government agency run... absolutely TERRIBLE!!!!!

I think waiting times are getting longer because the legislature cut DEO's budget again. My claim took 10 weeks to process last year. What worked for me was going to my state senator's office in person (not just calling) and filling out their constituent services form. Had to provide my claimant ID, the dates I applied, and a brief description of my situation. My claim was suddenly "resolved" two weeks later with no explanation. Worth a try if you're desperate.

Update????? Did you get your issue fixed yet??? I'm in same boat and wondering if any of these suggestions worked for you

That's great news about getting through with Claimyr! I'm in a similar situation - been waiting 6 weeks with "determination needed" status and no communication from DEO. My local CareerSource office basically told me the same thing everyone else is saying here - they can't help with adjudication issues. I'm going to try both the Claimyr service and contacting my state rep's office. The fact that you got an actual explanation (employer response issue) gives me hope that there might be a real reason mine is stuck too, not just lost in the system. Keep us posted on whether you actually see movement in those 14 days! And congrats on the new job - at least you'll have income coming in while waiting for the back pay.

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now! Been waiting 8 weeks with "determination needed" status and absolutely no communication from DEO. Called probably 50+ times and either get disconnected or stuck in endless hold loops. My CareerSource office was completely useless too - they basically admitted they can't access any of the systems that matter. Reading through these comments is both depressing and helpful. Sounds like the Claimyr service and contacting state representatives are the only things that actually work. I'm definitely going to try both approaches this week. @Diego Vargas really hoping your 14-day timeline works out! Please keep us updated. It's insane that we have to use third-party services and political connections just to get basic government benefits we're entitled to. The whole system is completely broken. For anyone else in this situation - don't give up! Seems like persistence and finding the right workarounds eventually pay off, even if it takes months longer than it should.