I'm dealing with this exact nightmare right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My claim has been on hold for over 3 weeks because CONNECT shows I'm "not registered" with Workforce Florida, even though I've been fully registered since January and have completed all requirements - workshops, job searches, resume uploads, everything. What's absolutely maddening is that I went to CareerSource twice and both times they confirmed I'm 100% active and compliant in their system. The second counselor I spoke with actually said "this happens all the time" and showed me on her screen that my registration is in perfect standing. She said the sync between CONNECT and Employ Florida has been broken for months but DEO keeps treating it like isolated incidents. I've tried uploading documentation multiple times - screenshots from Employ Florida, printed verification letters from CareerSource, service history reports - but nothing changes the status in CONNECT. It's like their systems exist in completely different realities. Based on all the incredible advice in this thread, I'm going to try the multi-pronged approach: Claimyr to actually reach a human, contacting my state representative for constituent services, filing an ombudsman complaint, and posting on social media for public pressure. The specific tips about asking for "EF integration permissions" and requesting the "Work Registration Override" form are extremely helpful - thank you @Hunter Brighton! This clearly isn't a "technical glitch" - it's a systematic failure that's preventing legitimate claimants from getting benefits they're legally entitled to. How many people are losing their homes while waiting for DEO to fix what's obviously a widespread problem? We need to keep documenting these cases and pushing for real accountability! Will definitely update if any of these strategies work. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

This thread is incredible - I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare and was starting to think I was going crazy! My claim has been on hold for 2.5 weeks because CONNECT shows I'm "not registered" with Workforce Florida, despite being fully registered since late January and completing all required activities. Like everyone else here, CareerSource confirmed I'm 100% active in their system. The counselor pulled up my account and showed me everything is in perfect order - workshops completed, resume uploaded, job searches documented. She said this sync issue is "really common" but there's nothing they can do on their end to fix CONNECT's database. I've uploaded screenshots, printed verifications, and service history reports but the status never changes. It's beyond frustrating to have two government systems that can't communicate with each other while people are struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. Based on all the amazing strategies shared here, I'm going to try the comprehensive approach: Claimyr service for phone access, state representative contact, ombudsman complaint, and social media pressure on the governor's pages. The specific tips about asking for "EF integration permissions" and the "Work Registration Override" form are incredibly valuable - thank you @Hunter Brighton for sharing that insider knowledge! It's clear this isn't isolated "technical glitches" but a widespread system failure affecting hundreds of legitimate claimants. We shouldn't have to become activists just to access benefits we're entitled to, but it seems like coordinated pressure is the only thing that gets results. Will definitely update if I make any progress. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also a new claimant who just got caught off guard by the work search requirement. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm setting up my tracking spreadsheet tonight and will start my 5 weekly activities immediately. The fact that CareerSource workshops, LinkedIn networking, and temp agency registrations count as activities makes this seem much more doable than I initially thought. I'm planning to call DEO tomorrow too to ask about that "good faith" exception for my missed first week. It's honestly frustrating that they don't explain these requirements clearly upfront, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their knowledge here. This community is saving people from potentially losing thousands in benefits! For anyone else reading this - start your work searches NOW and document everything. Don't make the same mistake we did!

This whole thread has been a wake-up call for me! I just started my unemployment claim process this week and had absolutely no idea about the 5 work search activities requirement. I was planning to take a few days to decompress after my layoff before really diving into job hunting, but clearly that's not an option with DEO's strict requirements. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially the stories about overpayments and audits - has me motivated to get my act together immediately. I'm setting up a tracking spreadsheet tonight with all the columns people mentioned (date, company, position, contact method, etc.) and will start applying to jobs first thing tomorrow morning. The tips about CareerSource workshops and LinkedIn networking counting as activities are game-changers since I really do need help polishing my job search skills anyway. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - you've probably saved me from a very expensive mistake!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the countdown to your last payment week is terrifying, I know. But honestly, after reading through all the incredible advice in this thread, I'm actually feeling hopeful for you! This community has basically created the ultimate survival guide for Florida's brutal 12-week system. Your action plan for tomorrow is solid: CareerSource first (ask specifically about RESEA program and training benefits), then temp agencies for immediate placement, call 2-1-1 for emergency assistance, and start applying for SNAP/other programs now since they take weeks. The remote customer service companies everyone mentioned could be perfect - many can get you started within days. One thing I'd add: when you revamp your resume tonight with keywords from job postings, also create a "quick apply" version that's mobile-friendly since many of these immediate-hire positions (temp agencies, gig work, etc.) are often applied for on phones. You went from having no plan this morning to having like 20 different concrete strategies. The combination of your proactive attitude, customer service experience, and all these resources puts you in a much stronger position than you probably realize. This is scary but temporary - you're going to get through it! Keep us posted on how tomorrow goes. With everything you're armed with now, I have a feeling you'll find multiple opportunities opening up. This community is rooting for you!

I'm really heartbroken reading about your situation, but also incredibly inspired by this community's response! As someone who's been through Florida's brutal unemployment system myself, I know exactly how terrifying it is when you're down to that last week of benefits. One resource I haven't seen mentioned yet that was a lifesaver for me: check with your local Salvation Army and Catholic Charities offices. They often have emergency rental assistance funds that can be approved much faster than county programs - sometimes within 48-72 hours. They also frequently have connections to employers who specifically want to hire people getting back on their feet. Also, since you mentioned customer service experience, look into insurance companies like Progressive, GEICO, and State Farm - they're constantly hiring for claims processing and customer service roles, and many offer same-week starts with paid training. The pay is usually better than retail too. The advice about tailoring your resume with ATS keywords is spot-on - that could be exactly why you're not getting callbacks despite 60+ applications. Tonight, pick 5-10 jobs you really want and customize your resume for each one using their exact terminology. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day of calls, but with CareerSource training programs, temp agencies, emergency assistance through 2-1-1, and all these job search strategies, you have an incredible toolkit now. You're being so smart by planning ahead instead of waiting until the money runs out. Keep us posted - this whole community is rooting for you!

I'm having the exact same problem! This is my first week trying to file and I was completely panicking thinking I'd somehow messed up my account setup. Been trying since 7am with no luck - just getting error after error. It's actually really comforting (though still super frustrating) to see that this is a widespread issue and not something I did wrong. I was about to drive to the local CareerSource office thinking maybe I needed help in person! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and the helpful tips about screenshots and trying different browsers. Definitely going to bookmark this community - seems like having other people who understand the system is invaluable when you're new to all this. Fingers crossed it's back up soon!

I'm dealing with the same issue! This is actually my first time experiencing a CONNECT outage since I just started filing claims two weeks ago. I've been trying to log in since about 7:45am and keep getting that "Service Unavailable" error. I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my account or that I'd missed some important step in the process. It's both frustrating and relieving to see that this is affecting everyone - at least I know it's not something I did wrong! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. I had no idea these outages were this common or that there were strategies like taking screenshots and trying different browsers. Definitely going to start doing that going forward. I tried calling the phone line but couldn't get through after an hour of waiting. Going to keep checking back throughout the day and hope it comes back up soon. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips - this community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating all the quirks of the Florida unemployment system!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my balance is almost gone but my benefit year doesn't end until August. From what I've learned after calling around and researching, Florida really does only give you that initial lump sum amount and that's it. No extensions, no refills. It's pretty harsh compared to other states. One thing I'd suggest is checking if you qualify for any other assistance programs through ACCESS Florida while you're job hunting - things like SNAP benefits or emergency assistance. Also, make sure you're using all the free job search resources like Indeed, LinkedIn, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's job portal. The hospitality industry here does have a lot of turnover so new positions open up frequently. Keep your head up and definitely keep filing those weekly claims even with $0 - better to stay in the system just in case anything changes!

I went through this exact same situation when I moved here from Colorado last year! Florida's unemployment system is definitely a shock compared to other states. One thing that really helped me was setting up job alerts on multiple platforms (Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter) so I was getting notifications immediately when new hospitality positions were posted. Since you mentioned you have interviews lined up, that's a great sign! The Florida job market can be tough but hospitality management roles do come up regularly, especially with the tourism industry here. Also, if you're open to it, some of the major hotel chains and resorts offer decent signing bonuses right now due to staffing shortages. Keep filing those weekly claims even after your balance hits zero - it maintains your active status in the system and shows continuous unemployment if you need it for any future applications or assistance programs. You've got this!