As someone who just went through a similar situation last month, I can confirm that the multi-step approach really works. I had to extend my return date by 8 weeks due to a workplace injury, and I was terrified my benefits would get cut off. I did exactly what others have suggested here: filed the change request in CONNECT, got written documentation from HR, and then used a callback service to speak with a DEO representative. The whole process took about 10 days to fully process, but my benefits continued without interruption. One thing I'd add - when you do get through to an agent, ask them to read back the notes they're adding to your file so you know exactly what was recorded. This saved me when there was a small discrepancy later. Also, screenshot everything you submit online and keep copies of all employer correspondence. The peace of mind is worth the extra documentation effort!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in HR and frequently deals with employees on temporary layoffs. From the employer side, we often have to adjust return dates due to changing business conditions, and we understand that employees need to update their unemployment benefits accordingly. When providing written documentation to your employees about date changes, we typically include: 1) Original layoff date and expected return date, 2) New expected return date with reason for change, 3) Company contact information for verification, and 4) A statement that this is temporary layoff extension, not termination. For anyone in this situation, don't hesitate to ask your HR department for this documentation - we're used to these requests and it's in everyone's interest to have clear records. Also, many employers will proactively send this documentation to the state, but it's always better to handle it yourself rather than assume your employer will take care of it.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with the exact same issue - 6 weeks on hold with absolutely no explanation despite being approved for benefits. @Sean Flanagan your update about finally getting resolved gives me so much hope! The fact that it was an unassigned employer appeal sitting in limbo for 10 weeks is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nightmare I suspected. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to contact my state representative first thing Monday morning and also look into Claimyr. I had no idea about that DEO Executive Escalation line at (833) 352-7759 that @Daniel Rivera mentioned - definitely trying that too. It's absolutely insane that we have to become our own investigators and try multiple government agencies just to get benefits we're legally entitled to. For anyone else stuck in this nightmare, I've been keeping detailed screenshots of my CONNECT account showing the hold status for every week, plus a log of every attempted phone call to DEO (which have been completely useless). Also been doing extra work searches beyond the required 5 just to be safe. The determination letter clearly shows I'm eligible but the system just keeps showing $0.00 for each week. Thank you everyone for sharing what actually works instead of the typical "just wait for processing" response. This community has been more helpful than months of trying to reach DEO directly!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now - my benefits have been stuck on hold for 4 weeks with absolutely zero explanation despite being approved with a determination letter showing $285/week. Like everyone else here, I've completed all requirements (ID.me verification, fact-finding questionnaires, work searches) but my CONNECT account just shows $0.00 for every week. Reading through all these experiences has been both helpful and infuriating - it's clear this is a systemic problem with DEO's broken system. @Sean Flanagan your success story gives me real hope! The fact that it was an unassigned employer appeal sitting in limbo is exactly what I suspected might be happening. Based on everyone's advice, I'm planning to contact my state representative tomorrow and also try that Executive Escalation line at (833) 352-7759 that @Daniel Rivera mentioned. If those don't work quickly, I'll look into Claimyr too. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become our own investigators and contact multiple agencies just to get benefits we're legally entitled to. I've been documenting everything - screenshots of the hold status, call logs, dates of every interaction - because it's clear we need a paper trail when we finally reach someone who can actually help. Thank you everyone for sharing what actually works instead of DEO's useless "just keep waiting" responses. This community has been more helpful than months of trying to navigate their broken system alone!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got approved about 10 days ago and still no Way2Go card in sight. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could check card status on the Way2Go website without having the physical card first. Just tried creating an account using my SSN and DOB like several people mentioned, and it shows my card was mailed 6 days ago. At least now I know it's actually been sent instead of just wondering if something went wrong on their end! Based on all the advice here, I'm planning to call Way2Go early tomorrow morning around 8 AM to check on the status. If it doesn't show up by Friday, I'll definitely ask about the expedited replacement option since $15 is nothing compared to the stress of not being able to access my approved benefits. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become investigators just to track down our own unemployment money, but I'm so grateful everyone is sharing their real experiences here. This community has been way more informative than anything I've gotten from DEO directly! Definitely switching to direct deposit the moment I get this card situation resolved. Thanks everyone for making this frustrating process feel less isolating - it's comforting to know we're all navigating this broken system together!

I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation! Been approved for about 2 weeks now and still no Way2Go card. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I was starting to think I was going crazy or that something was seriously wrong with my case. Just tried the Way2Go website login trick using my SSN and DOB that @Harper Thompson mentioned, and it actually worked! Shows my card was mailed 8 days ago, which is both reassuring and nerve-wracking since it should have arrived by now. At least I finally have some actual information instead of just guessing. Based on everyone's success stories, I'm definitely going to try calling Way2Go at 8 AM tomorrow morning. The idea of waiting on hold for hours is just not sustainable when you're already stressed about bills piling up. If my card doesn't show up by the end of this week, I'll ask about that expedited replacement option - $15 is totally worth it to finally access my approved benefits. It's absolutely insane that we have to become experts at navigating this broken system just to get our own money, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions. You've all been more helpful than any DEO rep I've talked to! Definitely switching to direct deposit the second I get this card mess sorted out. Thanks everyone for making this stressful process feel less isolating - it's comforting to know we're all figuring this out together!

I'm in the exact same situation right now! My payment just switched to "processed" this morning and I'm anxiously waiting to see when it hits my account. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - it sounds like most people with Chase see their deposits between 2:30-3:30 AM the business day after processing. I had no idea about the extra verification delays on first payments or the Way2Go card issue, so thanks everyone for sharing those details! Just set up mobile alerts and called my bank to let them know to expect unemployment deposits. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you have rent due, but this thread has really helped calm my anxiety about the whole process. Hopefully we'll both wake up to good news soon!

I've been dealing with DEO payments for about a year now and can definitely relate to that first payment anxiety! With Chase specifically, I've found their timing to be very reliable - deposits almost always hit between 2:45-3:15 AM the business day after CONNECT shows "processed." Since yours switched to processed yesterday, you should see it in your account tomorrow morning. Just remember that first payments often have an extra 24-48 hour verification delay that DEO doesn't advertise, so don't panic if it takes until Thursday. A few quick tips: Make sure to set up mobile alerts in your Chase app so you get notified immediately when it hits (usually around 3 AM). Also, double-check in CONNECT that your payment method still shows "Direct Deposit" and not "Way2Go Card" - sometimes they switch first payments to the card without telling you. If you haven't already, consider calling Chase to let them know you're expecting unemployment deposits. This prevents any potential holds on the funds when they come through. The waiting is definitely stressful when bills are due, but your timeline sounds completely normal. You're almost through the hardest part!

Hey Zainab! I just went through something similar a couple months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. First off, yeah the $600 thing has been gone for years - that was the FPUC during COVID. Florida's current max is around $275/week depending on your wages. For your July weeks, you should still be okay if you file soon! I was able to claim weeks that were about 12 days past their end date without having to call DEO. The system will either show them as "Not Requested" (good) or "Disqualified" (need to call). One thing that really helped me was using the CONNECT mobile app instead of the website when I kept getting errors. Sometimes it's more stable, especially if you're having browser issues. And definitely try that 7am login time everyone's mentioning - made a huge difference for me. Also, since you mentioned keeping track of work searches, make sure you have the employer contact info and dates ready. DEO wants pretty specific details for each of your 5 weekly contacts. I got audited last year and they wanted to see everything! Good luck getting it sorted out - this community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the DEO headaches!

Hey there! Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through the DEO process. Everyone's given you great advice already, but I'll add that when you do log into CONNECT tomorrow morning, don't be surprised if the site seems slow even during off-peak hours - it's just how the system runs unfortunately. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to take screenshots of each step as you're filing your weeks. If something goes wrong or your claim gets stuck later, having those screenshots can be really helpful when you're trying to explain to a DEO agent what happened. I learned this after my first claim got messed up and I had no proof of what I'd actually submitted. Also, regarding those July 2025 weeks - since we're still in early August, you should definitely still be within the filing window. Just make sure you file for the correct week ending dates and double-check everything before submitting. The system doesn't let you easily go back and fix mistakes. Good luck with your claim! This community really is the best resource for figuring out all the DEO quirks that aren't explained anywhere official. Hope you can get those weeks claimed without any hassles!