Work search requirements submitted but no payment after 2 months - DEO holding benefits?

This happened to me too! Had to wait 13 weeks b4 getting my 1st payment. DEO is sooooo slow this year its crazy

There's likely an issue with your claim that's causing the hold. Even though your status shows 'active,' check if there's a 'pending issue' or 'adjudication' under the 'Determination, Pending Issue and Decision Summary' section in CONNECT. Common reasons for payment holds include income verification, separation reason investigation, or work search validation. The DEO is required to process claims within 21 days, but with their current backlog, many claims are taking 6-8 weeks or longer if there are any issues requiring manual review.

The DEO is seriously THE WORST!!! I had the exact same problem last month and couldn't get any answers for weeks!!!! They needed to verify why I was separated from my job but never told me until I finally got through to someone. Maybe check your inbox in CONNECT? Sometimes they send fact-finding questionnaires there that you need to complete before they'll release payments.

It sounds like your claim is stuck in adjudication for the separation reason. This is actually pretty common, especially for downsizing/layoff situations where they need to verify with your employer that you didn't quit or get fired for misconduct. Here's what you need to do: 1. Check if there's a fact-finding questionnaire in your CONNECT account (even if not in your inbox, check the main dashboard) 2. Call your former employer to make sure they responded to the DEO's request for information 3. Keep claiming your weeks even without payment so you'll get backpaid when resolved 4. Try calling DEO at exactly 7:29am (right before they open) to have a better chance of getting through It's frustrating but fixable. They should backpay you for all weeks once the issue is resolved.

my sister had this probem too. she kept filing her weeks for like 9 weeks with no pay then suddenly got the whole amount at once. i think they r just super backlogged this year but u shouldnt give up

If your claim has been in adjudication for 2+ months with no communication, you need to be more proactive. I've been through this exact situation. Try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a DEO agent - it's the only way I finally got my adjudication resolved after weeks of busy signals. Their service gets you past the phone system and into the queue with an agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj Once you get someone on the phone, ask specifically about the separation adjudication and what documents they need. Sometimes they're waiting for something specific but the system doesn't tell you what. Keep detailed notes of every conversation including agent names and ID numbers.

u should just go to the careeersource office in person. my cousin did that and they helped him fix his claim in like one day

have u tried emailing them? sometimes thats faster than calling

Update on my earlier comment - since you confirmed you have an adjudication issue related to separation reason, you should definitely try to speak with a DEO agent directly. The service another commenter mentioned (Claimyr) worked for me when I had a similar issue. The key is getting an agent to look at your specific case and see what's causing the hold. Also, make sure you're still claiming your weeks every two weeks even without payment. Once resolved, you'll get retroactive payments for all weeks properly claimed. The most common reason for separation adjudication delays is that your employer either hasn't responded to DEO's inquiry or disputed the reason for separation.

did u properly submit ur work searches in connect?? alot of people mess that part up and dont realize it. make sure u put in all 5 each week and put complete addresses and contact info

If you're able to get through to a DEO representative, ask them to check these specific things: 1. Is there a specific document they're waiting on from you or your employer 2. Is there a fact-finding questionnaire you need to complete that might not be showing properly in your CONNECT account 3. Request that they escalate your claim to a supervisor due to the extended timeframe (over 8 weeks is definitely excessive) Documenting everything is crucial. If you get different answers from different representatives, ask for their ID numbers and keep detailed notes. Sometimes just mentioning that you're documenting all communication can help get things moving faster.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at DEO this morning! Turns out my former employer disputed my layoff and claimed I was fired for performance issues (which is completely untrue). The DEO agent escalated my claim and said I should receive a determination within 5 business days. She also said once approved, all my back weeks will be paid in one lump sum. Thank you all for the advice - especially about Claimyr, which got me through to an actual person in about 20 minutes after weeks of trying.