I'm new to this community and just started dealing with the "hold in excess" status about 3 days ago. I had no idea what it meant and was getting really anxious until I found this thread! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It seems like so many of these cases are false overpayment flags where the system incorrectly thinks there were duplicate payments. Tom, thank you for sharing those video shortcuts - I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:30 AM sharp tomorrow morning using your method. All the success stories here give me hope that this can actually be resolved with persistence. I love how supportive everyone has been in sharing detailed experiences and strategies. I'm going to follow the advice about sending regular CONNECT messages every 3-4 days and asking to be escalated directly to the technical review team if I get through to someone. The official DEO system is so unhelpful, but this community has given me a real roadmap to follow. I'll make sure to update everyone on my progress - hopefully I'll have a success story to share soon too! Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for people navigating this broken system.

I'm new to this community and just encountered the "hold in excess" status on my claim yesterday. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening and reassuring - I had no idea what this status meant and was starting to panic! It's clear from everyone's shared experiences that this is unfortunately a widespread issue, but also that it can be resolved with persistence. Tom, I'm definitely going to try your video method first thing tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. The detailed success stories from Brooklyn, Zara, Ezra, and others have given me a real game plan to follow. It sounds like the false overpayment flag is incredibly common, which makes sense since I've never received any duplicate payments either. I really appreciate how supportive and detailed everyone has been in sharing their experiences. The official DEO system provides absolutely no helpful information about what this status means or how to resolve it, so this community has been invaluable. I'm going to start sending those CONNECT messages every 3-4 days like suggested and remember to ask for escalation to the technical review team if I get through. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource! I'll definitely update everyone once I make progress with my claim. This community support makes such a stressful situation feel much more manageable.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I've gone ahead and applied today. The CONNECT system is definitely confusing but I made sure to indicate I'll be receiving severance. I'll make sure to report it properly when claiming weeks and keep up with those work searches. Fingers crossed the process goes smoothly once my severance ends!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you're reporting your severance during the weekly claims, make sure you report it in the week you actually RECEIVE the payment, not when it was "earned." So if your company pays severance biweekly or monthly, only report it in the weeks when the actual payment hits your bank account. This tripped me up initially because I was trying to divide my lump sum severance across multiple weeks, but that's not how DEO wants it reported. Also, keep copies of all your severance documentation (pay stubs, HR letters, etc.) because they might ask for proof later during the claim review process.

I went through this transition about 3 months ago and it's definitely overwhelming at first! The Employ Florida registration is absolutely required - there's no way around it unfortunately. Here's what worked for me: - Do it on a desktop/laptop with good internet (mobile is frustrating) - Have all your employment history organized before you start - The resume builder is the most time-consuming part - plan for at least 45 minutes on that section alone - Save your work after completing each major section - Don't stress about making it perfect - you can always go back and edit later The good news is once you're done, your extended benefits should continue without interruption. I got my first payment about a week after completing everything. Just remember you'll need to keep logging into both CONNECT and Employ Florida regularly to stay compliant. It's annoying bureaucracy but totally manageable if you set aside enough time and don't rush through it. You've got this!

I'm currently going through this same transition and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was really confused when I first got the notification about needing to register with Employ Florida. The DEO instructions made it sound optional, but clearly it's mandatory. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to: - Use my laptop with Chrome browser - Block out a full afternoon when I won't be interrupted - Have my work history and an updated resume ready before I start - Save frequently and take screenshots as backup - Break it into sections over a couple days if needed One thing I'm still wondering about - has anyone had issues with the system not recognizing their completion even after getting confirmation emails? I want to make sure I follow up properly if there are any sync issues between Employ Florida and DEO like some people mentioned. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! It's so much easier to approach this knowing what to expect.

To all those having trouble reaching a human at Florida Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss

Not 3X" WBA typically means you'haven t earned at least 3 times your Weekly Benefit (Amount) WBA in wages during your base period. For Florida unemployment eligibility, you need to have earned wages totaling at least 3 times your calculated weekly benefit amount during the base (period usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you)filed . If'you re seeing this message, it might mean your wage history'doesn t meet this monetary requirement.'I d recommend calling DEO to review your wage records and clarify your specificsituation.

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm currently job searching after being on unemployment for several months, and I had no idea that potential employers might ask for this kind of documentation. Reading through everyone's experiences has really prepared me for what to expect. I'm definitely saving the DEO FEIN number (59-3451366) and bookmarking this whole conversation. It's amazing to learn about the WOTC program too - I had heard about tax incentives for hiring certain groups but never knew the details. Makes me feel more confident about my job prospects knowing that there are actual programs in place to encourage employers to give opportunities to people transitioning off unemployment. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the clarification about TIN vs FEIN - that could have easily caused confusion down the road!

Wow, this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm about to start the job application process after being on unemployment for the past 8 months, and I had absolutely no clue that employers might request this kind of documentation. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially @e97069fb8802's journey from confusion to resolution - has given me so much confidence about what to expect. The DEO FEIN (59-3451366) is now saved in my notes, and learning about the WOTC program completely changed my perspective on these requests. Instead of seeing them as red tape, I now understand they're actually part of programs designed to help people like us get back to work. It's incredibly reassuring to know that when an employer asks for this info, it means they're actively participating in initiatives that incentivize hiring people transitioning off unemployment. This community is absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and making this process so much less intimidating!