Hey Charlie! I went through the exact same confusion when I first started claiming in Florida. One thing that helped me was creating a calendar reminder to check CONNECT every Monday and Wednesday during my potential reporting windows. Also, if you have a smartphone, try accessing CONNECT through your phone's browser instead of desktop - sometimes the mobile version shows different menu options or loads faster. And definitely keep a simple spreadsheet with your work search activities (date, company, position, how you applied) - it makes claiming so much easier when you have everything organized ahead of time. The system really is poorly designed, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes more manageable. Hang in there!

Charlie, I totally feel your frustration! I went through this exact same confusion when I first got approved. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: After you get your monetary determination, there's usually a 1-2 week delay before your claiming window opens. The "Claim Weekly Benefits" link will literally appear on your CONNECT homepage when it's your time - you're not missing anything hidden in the menus. While you're waiting, make sure you're doing your 5 work searches per week and documenting them (company name, position, date applied, how you applied). I use a simple notes app on my phone to track these as I go. Also, double-check that you've completed your Employ Florida registration if you haven't already - that's required before you can claim. The waiting is the worst part, but once that link appears, the actual claiming process is pretty straightforward. You'll be claiming two weeks at a time, and your first week will be unpaid (waiting week). Don't stress - you haven't missed anything yet!

I feel your frustration! I've been dealing with similar issues trying to reach unemployment services. One thing that's helped me is calling multiple times throughout the day - sometimes you get lucky and hit a less busy period. Also, if your bank has a local branch, try going in person even if they initially tell you to call. Sometimes being physically present makes them more willing to help or at least escalate your issue. Keep a detailed log of your attempts too - dates, times, how long you waited - it can be useful if you need to file a complaint later. Hang in there! 💪

I've been in the exact same situation and it's incredibly frustrating! One trick that finally worked for me was calling right at 8:00 AM on the dot when they open - I literally had my finger hovering over the call button and hit it the second the clock hit 8. Also, try the "callback" option if they have one - some banks will hold your place in line and call you back instead of making you wait on hold. If all else fails, try reaching out through their mobile app's chat feature or secure messaging. Sometimes those channels have shorter wait times than the phone lines. Don't give up - I know it's exhausting but you'll eventually get through! 🤞

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation a few months ago. After I got my new job, I was paranoid about doing everything correctly with DEO, so I actually called them to confirm the process (took forever to get through, of course). The rep told me exactly what everyone here is saying - just stop claiming weeks after your final accurate claim and that's it. No need to notify them separately or formally close anything. Your claim will show as "inactive" in the system but stays available for the full benefit year if needed. The key is making sure you're 100% honest about your work and earnings on that last claim to avoid any overpayment issues down the road. DEO is notorious for coming after people months later if there are discrepancies. Sounds like you handled it correctly though - congrats on the new job and hopefully you won't need to deal with DEO again anytime soon!

Congrats on landing the new job after 4 months! That's awesome news. You're doing everything right - just stop claiming weeks after accurately reporting that final week and you're all set. No formal closure needed with DEO. I went through this same situation last year and was worried about the same things you mentioned. The system will show your claim as inactive but it stays open for the full benefit year from when you originally filed, which is actually helpful if anything unexpected happens with your new role. The most important thing is that you were honest about your earnings on that last claim - that prevents any overpayment headaches later. DEO's website really doesn't explain this process clearly at all, which is why so many people get confused about it. You handled it correctly though, so you should be good to go. Best of luck with the new retail management position!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to CONNECT issues! I've been dealing with similar password reset problems for the past few weeks. What's really helped me is keeping a bookmark to the direct password reset page (connect.myflorida.com/Claimant/Core/Login.ASPX) instead of going through the main login page - sometimes the "Forgot Password" link on the main page doesn't work properly but the direct URL does. Also, if you're still having trouble, try clearing ALL your browser data (not just cache) including cookies and saved passwords. The CONNECT system seems very sensitive to stored login data. I had to do this three times before it finally let me reset my password successfully. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through!

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with my own CONNECT nightmares, I wanted to share another potential solution that worked for me last week. If the password reset email isn't coming through, check your spam/junk folder first (I know, obvious, but sometimes we forget!). But more importantly, I discovered that CONNECT sends emails from "[email protected]" and many email providers automatically block or filter these. I had to manually add this address to my email's safe sender list, then request the password reset again. The email came through within 10 minutes after that! Also, make sure you're using the email address that's EXACTLY as it appears in your CONNECT profile - even an extra space or different capitalization can cause the system to not recognize it. It's ridiculous how finicky this system is, but hopefully this helps someone avoid the runaround with phone calls and office visits!

I went through the exact same nightmare last month! Here's what finally worked for me: I called at 2:47 PM on a Thursday (weird time, I know) and when I got to the menu, I pressed option 5 then waited about 10 seconds before pressing anything else. Sometimes pressing buttons too fast confuses their ancient phone system. When the next menu came up, I selected option 1 then option 3. Got transferred to claims on the first try! The wait was still about 45 minutes but at least I was in the right queue. Also make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the dates of the weeks you're asking about written down before you call. The agent was able to see my adjudication issue immediately and explained it was just waiting for employer verification. Got it resolved that same day. Don't give up - you WILL get through eventually!

I'm dealing with the same exact problem right now! Been trying to reach claims for over a week about my pending adjudication and keep getting bounced around to different departments. The most frustrating part is when they tell you "sorry, wrong department" after you've already waited 30+ minutes on hold. Reading through these responses, I'm definitely going to try the early morning approach at 7:30am and the option 5-2-4 sequence that Lucas mentioned. Also going to give the afternoon calling strategy a shot since that seems to work for some people. Has anyone had success with the live chat feature on the CONNECT website, or is that just as useless as the phone system? I noticed it's available during business hours but wondering if they can actually help with adjudication issues or if they just tell you to call. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not the only one going through this nightmare!