I work at a credit union and see this unfortunately happen to our members all the time. A few additional tips that might help: 1. Contact your apartment complex management office - many have hardship programs or can work out payment plans when you show proof of the theft (police report + USPS theft report) 2. Check if your renters insurance covers stolen mail - some policies do and can provide temporary assistance 3. When you get DEO on the phone, ask them to put a "priority flag" on your case since it's preventing you from paying rent. Sometimes this can speed up the 2-3 week timeline 4. Consider opening a new bank account at a different bank before setting up direct deposit - if someone has your stolen check, they might have enough info to attempt other fraud The Informed Delivery screenshot is definitely your strongest piece of evidence. Make sure to save multiple copies of it. I've seen DEO require it multiple times during the reissuance process. Stay strong - I know it's terrifying but this does get resolved. The system is frustrating but there are people who will help you navigate it.

I went through this exact nightmare 6 months ago! Here's what actually worked after weeks of frustration: The key is persistence and having the right documentation. Since you have the Informed Delivery screenshot, you're already ahead of where I was. Here's my step-by-step process that finally worked: 1. File the USPS theft report online (uspis.gov) - you'll get a case number within 24 hours 2. File a police report with your local PD - even if they seem uninterested, you need the report number for DEO 3. Call DEO at 8am sharp on Monday morning using the 1-800-204-2418 number - select option 1, then 5, then 2 for payment issues 4. When you get through (it took me 47 attempts), ask for the "Check Reissuance Specialist" - regular agents often don't know the full process The magic phrase that got me priority service: "This is my first unemployment payment, I have proof it was stolen via USPS Informed Delivery, and I'm facing homelessness." They have a separate queue for first-payment theft cases. You'll need to complete an affidavit (they'll email it) and fax it back with copies of your police report and USPS theft report. My replacement check was issued in 8 business days instead of the usual 3-4 weeks. Also - while waiting, apply for emergency rental assistance through your county's ERAP program. Many counties in Florida can provide immediate assistance for theft victims with proper documentation. Don't give up - you WILL get your money, it just takes knowing exactly how to navigate their system!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get this resolved? I'm curious if any of our suggestions helped. I've been seeing more posts about account locks lately and wonder if DEO is having a system-wide security issue they're not telling us about.

Wow, this is really concerning! I'm glad you got it resolved but it's scary that this is happening to so many people. I've been having some weird issues with my CONNECT account too - not lockouts but sometimes when I log in it says my last login was at a time I wasn't even online. Now I'm wondering if someone has been trying to access mine too. For anyone else dealing with this, it sounds like the key steps are: 1. Call the fraud department at 1-800-342-9909 (not regular customer service) 2. File the identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov 3. Consider switching to Way2Go card instead of direct deposit 4. Enable 2-factor authentication on your email I'm definitely going to be more vigilant about checking my account now. Thanks for sharing your experience and glad it worked out!

Just to clarify some information shared in this thread: 1) Regular Reemployment Assistance in Florida is capped at 12 weeks (can extend to 23 weeks if state unemployment exceeds 10.5%, which it currently doesn't) 2) Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available in some hurricane-affected counties but has specific eligibility requirements 3) The Florida Workforce Training Initiative is launching soon through CareerSource offices 4) All pandemic-specific federal programs (PUA, PEUC, FPUC) have permanently ended If you've exhausted regular benefits, I'd recommend: - Connect with CareerSource for free job search assistance and training opportunities - Check eligibility for other assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid) through ACCESS Florida - Look into the new Workforce Training Initiative if you're interested in changing career fields - Keep claiming weeks in CONNECT (even with zero benefits) if you want to maintain an active claim status Hope this helps!

I'm in a similar situation - exhausted my benefits last month and have been scrambling to figure out what's available. Based on what I've learned from calling around, here's what I found: The CareerSource offices really are your best bet right now. They have job placement services, resume help, and some emergency assistance programs that vary by county. I went to the one in Pinellas and they were actually pretty helpful - got me signed up for some skills assessments and connected me with a few local employers who are actively hiring. Also check if your county has any local assistance programs. Some have utility assistance, food programs, or even short-term rental help while you're job searching. It's not unemployment, but it can help bridge the gap. The job market is tough right now but don't give up. I've had three interviews in the past two weeks after being more strategic about where I'm applying. Sometimes it helps to look at smaller companies that might not post on the big job boards.

To answer your previous question about timeframes - yes, interstate claims typically take 4-6 weeks longer than regular claims. You'll need to be vigilant about checking your CONNECT account for fact-finding questionnaires and adjudication notices. They won't always call you - many communications happen through the CONNECT portal. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date so you don't miss any communications. And as others have mentioned, continue claiming your weeks even while waiting for the interstate verification process. You'll be paid retroactively for eligible weeks once approved.

I went through this exact situation when I moved from Texas to Florida in 2023! Here's what I learned: First, definitely report your NJ unemployment in the "Other Income" section as others mentioned. Second, Florida DEO will likely need to request wage records from ALL your previous employers during your base period, not just from Florida. This includes any employers you had while receiving NJ benefits. One thing I wish someone had told me - download and save ALL your documentation from New Jersey before their system locks you out (which can happen after a certain period). I needed my NJ wage statements later for verification and couldn't access them anymore. Also, if you worked for any federal employers or military, that gets handled differently through the UCFE/UCX programs. The interstate process is slow but it works. Just stay on top of your weekly certifications and respond quickly to any requests for information. Good luck with your claim!

Quick update - just checked DEO's Twitter and they posted that maintenance finished early. The system should be back up now. Give it a try again!

This is exactly why I keep telling people to bookmark the DEO's status page and follow their social media accounts. System outages happen more often than they should, but at least when you know about scheduled maintenance you can plan around it. Also pro tip - if you're ever stuck during an outage, you can call the automated line at 1-833-FL-APPLY and sometimes claim your weeks over the phone as a backup option. The wait times are still terrible but it's better than being completely locked out!