This is why I HATE the DEO system. They NEVER update anything properly and leave misleading info everywhere. I wasted 6 weeks waiting for benefits I was never going to get because of outdated questions in CONNECT. They should be sued for this garbage.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As others have mentioned, the DEO really needs to clean up their system - it's incredibly misleading to have outdated COVID questions still active. For what it's worth, you might also want to check if you qualify for any local emergency assistance programs in your area. Many counties in Florida have small business relief funds or emergency assistance programs that help self-employed individuals during tough times. Your local United Way (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with resources in your specific area. Also, since you're in the wedding industry, have you looked into any photographer or creative industry associations that might offer emergency grants or assistance? Sometimes professional organizations have resources that aren't widely advertised. Hang in there!

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's amazing how much collective wisdom there is here about navigating the CONNECT system. For anyone new to unemployment benefits like I am, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) Set multiple reminders for claiming dates, 2) Wait 24-48 hours after reactivation before panicking, 3) Take screenshots for documentation, 4) Call DEO right at 7:30 AM if you need to speak with someone, and 5) Have all your info ready before calling. It's reassuring to see that the system, while frustrating, usually does work out for people who miss by just a few days. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this kind of peer support makes dealing with government bureaucracy so much less stressful!

This thread is incredibly valuable! As someone who went through a similar panic when I missed my claiming window by 5 days last year, I can definitely confirm that the 24-48 hour wait after reactivation is crucial. In my case, I was frantically calling DEO for hours before someone on a forum like this told me to just wait it out. Sure enough, the weeks appeared automatically after about 36 hours. One additional tip I'd add: if you're prone to forgetting dates like I am, consider linking your claiming schedule to something you already do regularly - like payday at a previous job, or a monthly bill due date. I now claim my weeks the same day my rent is due, so I never forget either one! Also, the CONNECT mobile app does send push notifications if you enable them, which can be a helpful backup reminder system. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - it's posts like these that helped me through my own stressful situation, and it's awesome seeing the community pay it forward!

Congrats on finally getting through that nightmare! 10 weeks is brutal. I'm currently on week 6 of adjudication myself and this thread is giving me hope. From what I'm seeing here, it sounds like most people get their payments within a week once adjudication clears, but definitely keep checking those individual week statuses like Ashley mentioned. The fact that you already have some weeks showing 'Payable' is a really good sign! Fingers crossed you get that money soon - being behind on bills while waiting for DEO to get their act together is the worst.

Congrats Luis! 10 weeks is absolutely insane - I can't believe they put people through that. I went through something similar last year and it's such a relief when that adjudication finally lifts. From my experience and what I've seen with others, you should definitely get those payments within the next few days since you already have weeks showing 'Payable'. That's usually the last step before the money actually gets released. The fact that they're processing in batches like Ellie mentioned is totally normal - mine came through in chunks too. Just keep refreshing that payment history page obsessively like the rest of us do! 😅 Really hoping you get that money by Friday. DEO puts people through hell but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel.

So glad you got your payment! I've been dealing with the same issue this week and your thread really helped calm my nerves. Filed Monday, still waiting but after reading everyone's experiences I'm feeling more confident it'll come through soon. The DEO really needs to improve their communication about these holiday delays - would save everyone so much stress and phone wait time if they just posted notices about expected processing delays!

This is exactly why I always try to budget for an extra week cushion around any federal holiday! The DEO system seems to get completely backed up every time there's a long weekend. I learned this the hard way last year during Labor Day when my payment was delayed 6 days. Now I just assume any holiday will add 3-5 days to processing time. It's frustrating that they don't communicate this better, but at least threads like this help us all know what to expect. For anyone new to the system - definitely plan your finances around these predictable delays!

I went through this exact same situation last month! When you get to the work search section in CONNECT, there should be a question that asks something like "Were you required to conduct work search activities this week?" or similar wording. Since you have the waiver, you'll answer "No" and then it will ask you to select a reason. Look for an option like "Work search requirements waived" or "Exempt from work search requirements." The system will then let you skip entering any job contacts. Just make sure you keep that waiver letter handy in case they ever audit your claim later. The whole process should only take a few extra seconds once you find the right dropdown option. Good luck with your first claim tomorrow!

Just wanted to add my experience - I had a work search waiver for about 8 weeks last year due to a temporary layoff situation similar to yours. The CONNECT system definitely has that dropdown option everyone mentioned, but sometimes it takes a few seconds to load all the options. If you don't see the waiver option right away, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in. Also, pro tip: even though your work search is waived, I'd still recommend jotting down any informal job-related activities you do (like updating your resume, checking job boards, networking calls) just in case. The DEO can be unpredictable about retroactively requesting documentation. Better to have something on hand than scramble later if they change their minds about your waiver status. Hope your claim goes smoothly tomorrow! The first time is always nerve-wracking but once you get through it once, the process becomes much more routine.