Weeks on HOLD for 2+ months after layoff - how to contact DEO for payment release?

I was in the exact same situation last month - every week on HOLD for no apparent reason. I tried calling the regular DEO number about 50 times with no luck. Then I found Claimyr.com which got me connected to a DEO agent in under an hour! They basically call DEO for you and hold your place in line, then call you when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj The agent found that there was an 'employment verification issue' that needed to be cleared up - something my employer didn't respond to properly. Once she fixed it in the system, all my payments were released within 3 days.

im in week 6 of waiting lol welcome to Florida unemployment hell

There's most likely an adjudication issue that DEO needs to resolve. This typically happens when there's a question about your separation reason (layoff vs firing vs quitting), unreported income, or your identity verification. Here's what I recommend: 1. Check your Determination/Pending Issues tab in CONNECT to see exactly what's causing the hold 2. If you don't see anything specific there, you absolutely need to speak with a DEO agent 3. Try calling right when they open at 7:30 AM (Florida time) 4. Keep checking your CONNECT inbox daily for any fact-finding questionnaires 5. Make sure you completed your ID.me verification if you haven't already Unfortunately, waiting rarely solves these issues - something specific needs to be addressed before payments release. I've heard of holds lasting 12+ weeks without intervention.

DONT WAIT!!!! The system is BROKEN BY DESIGN! I had 11 weeks on hold and when I finally got through they said it was something stupid about my work search records even though I entered everything correctly. They literally won't fix it unless you talk to someone!!!

You likely have a pending adjudication issue that needs to be resolved. This is extremely common with layoffs where DEO needs to verify the circumstances of your separation from employment. The system is designed to hold payments until this verification is complete. If you want to be proactive: 1) Check if your employer responded to the DEO's request for information about your separation 2) Look for any fact-finding questionnaires in your CONNECT inbox 3) Call your local CareerSource office - they sometimes have direct lines to DEO 4) Reach out to your state representative's office. They often have caseworkers who can escalate unemployment issues The current average wait time for adjudication is 4-8 weeks in Florida, but without intervention, it can take much longer.

My husband had this happen and we ended up emailing our state representative! They have staff that deal with DEO issues and got it fixed in like a week after months of nothing happening. Google your FL state rep and find their constituent services email.

Update: I tried the Claimyr service this morning and actually got through to a DEO agent! She found the problem right away - there was a "wage verification hold" because my employer reported different quarterly wages than what I entered on my application. She released the hold and said I should see my payments in 3-5 business days. Will update again when/if the money arrives. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people not to just wait it out - these system holds rarely fix themselves. The wage verification issue is super common, especially when employers don't report quarterly wages accurately or there's a discrepancy between what you remember earning and what's in their system. It's frustrating that such a simple fix requires jumping through so many hoops, but at least you'll finally get your back pay. Hopefully this gives others hope that there IS usually a specific reason for the hold that can be fixed once you get the right person on the phone.

This is exactly why I tell everyone - don't give up! I went through something similar last year where my claim was stuck for 8 weeks. Turned out to be an issue with my previous employer not responding to DEO's inquiry about my separation. The crazy part is once I finally got through to someone, they said the employer deadline had passed weeks ago and they could have released my payments immediately if I had just called sooner. The system doesn't automatically move these cases forward - you really do need human intervention. For anyone else reading this who's stuck in the same boat, Omar's success story shows it's worth trying every avenue: Claimyr, state reps, calling at opening time, etc. Don't assume waiting will fix it because it usually won't.

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - if you're really struggling to get through by phone, try visiting your local CareerSource office in person. I know it's not convenient, but when I was stuck with weeks on hold, the staff there were able to call DEO directly while I waited and got me connected to someone who could actually help. They have dedicated lines that aren't available to the general public. It took about 2 hours of waiting at the office, but it was better than weeks of failed phone attempts. Some locations also have DEO liaisons who visit certain days of the week. Might be worth calling ahead to ask about their schedule. The system is definitely broken, but there are ways around it if you're persistent enough!