I just had my RESEA appointment at CareerSource WPB yesterday and wanted to share my experience to help anyone else who might be nervous about this! The whole process was actually really supportive and helpful. I arrived about 20 minutes early (good thing because parking really is terrible - had to park two blocks away). My counselor was super friendly and professional. We went through my work search records week by week - I had everything organized in a folder with printouts of online applications, confirmation emails, and notes from phone calls. She was impressed with my documentation and said it was clear I was making genuine efforts. The best part was that she helped me completely revamp my resume - pointed out skills I had undersold and reformatted it to look much more professional. She also showed me some job search websites specific to Palm Beach County that I didn't know about, and we actually found three positions that looked like good matches for my background. The appointment took about 85 minutes total. Bring a pen, your ID, organized work search records, and your resume (preferably on a USB drive too). Don't stress about it - they really are there to help you succeed in finding employment, not to trip you up! Just make sure you don't miss it because I heard that can definitely cause benefit issues.

I just wanted to add my recent experience from the CareerSource WPB office! Had my RESEA appointment there about 10 days ago and it was honestly much more helpful than I expected. The counselor was really knowledgeable about local employers and helped me tailor my resume for specific industries in the area. One thing I'd recommend is bringing a list of questions about your job search - they have access to labor market data and can give you insights about which fields are hiring and what salary ranges to expect. My counselor also connected me with a free workshop on interviewing skills that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. The appointment ran about 75 minutes and parking was indeed challenging - I ended up using a metered spot about 4 blocks away, so bring quarters! Overall though, I left feeling much more confident about my job search strategy. They really do want to see you succeed and get back to work.

Dylan, congratulations on your first payment! I see everyone has given you great advice already. Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's been through this process recently. The waiting week confusion is totally normal - I think every first-time filer gets confused about this. You're correct that you won't get paid for that first week (6/30-7/4 in your case), and yes, you just move forward from here. Don't stress about it! One thing I wish someone had told me early on: set up a simple system NOW to track everything. I use a basic notebook where I write down: - Each work search with full details (date, company, contact method, result) - Screenshots of my biweekly claims - Any correspondence with DEO - My claim schedule dates It seems like overkill at first, but trust me, if you ever get selected for an audit or have any issues, you'll be SO glad you kept detailed records from day one. The people who run into trouble are usually the ones who tried to recreate their records months later. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions here! This community has been super helpful, and there's no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to navigating Florida's unemployment system. We've all been where you are now. You're off to a great start - just stay organized and you'll be fine!

Dylan, congratulations on getting your first payment! That's always such a relief when you're dealing with Florida's unemployment system for the first time. Everyone has given you excellent advice already, but I wanted to add one small tip that helped me when I was starting out: if you're ever unsure about anything related to your claim, check the "Messages" section in CONNECT regularly. Sometimes DEO sends important notifications through the system that don't always trigger email alerts. Also, regarding your work search activities - since you're just getting started, consider registering with your local CareerSource center if you haven't already. They offer free resources like resume help, job search assistance, and networking events. Plus, attending their workshops counts as valid work search activities, and they can provide documentation if you need it for an audit later. The learning curve is steep at first, but once you get into the routine of claiming every two weeks and keeping track of your work searches, it becomes much more manageable. You're asking all the right questions, which shows you're taking this seriously - that's going to serve you well throughout the process. Keep doing what you're doing, stay organized, and don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up. This community is really helpful for navigating all the quirks of the Florida DEO system!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks and I tried emailing about 8 different agent addresses I found from old posts - every single one bounced back. It's so frustrating that they changed everything without any notice to claimants who are already struggling. I'm definitely going to try the [email protected] email that everyone mentioned. Can someone clarify what exactly should go in the subject line? Should it be something like "Claimant ID [my number] - Adjudication Issue" or more specific than that? Also super interested in trying Claimyr since the phone system has been impossible. I've called probably 50+ times over the past few weeks and either get a busy signal or sit on hold for 3+ hours before getting disconnected. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to an actual human who can help. Thanks for sharing all this info - this community is literally the only place I've found useful guidance on navigating this broken system!

I went through this exact same nightmare in January! All the old agent emails bouncing back is so typical of DEO - they constantly change their systems without telling anyone. Here's what finally worked for me after 8 weeks in adjudication hell: 1. The [email protected] email is legit - but you HAVE to be super specific in your subject line. I used "Claimant ID [number] - 8 Week Adjudication Delay - Separation Verification Needed" and got a response in 48 hours. 2. In your email body, include: full name, claimant ID, last 4 of SSN, phone number, and exactly what your pending issue shows in CONNECT (like "Separation - Discharge" or whatever yours says). 3. When I was at my breaking point with the phone system, I used Claimyr to actually get through to a human. Honestly was skeptical but it worked - got connected to an agent in about 12 minutes who could see my whole case history. They have a demo that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj The key is persistence and knowing exactly what's holding up your claim. Once I found out my specific pending issue, I could target my documentation and got it resolved within a week. Hang in there - this system is designed to make you give up but you CAN get through it!

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The "monetary eligible" status had me so confused - I thought it meant I was approved and would start getting payments right away. Turns out it just means you earned enough wages in your base period to potentially qualify, but adjudication is where they actually decide if you'll get paid. Mine was stuck in adjudication for "Able and Available" for about 4 weeks because I mentioned having to work around my kids' school schedule. What finally got it moving was uploading a really detailed statement explaining my exact availability, that I had childcare arranged during work hours, and that I could start work immediately. The waiting is absolutely terrible when you're worried about bills, but definitely keep claiming your weeks! I got backpay for all the weeks I claimed while waiting, which was a huge relief when it finally came through. One tip that really helped me - check that "Determination, Pending Issue and Decision Summary" section in CONNECT to see exactly what's flagging your claim. Once you know the specific issue, you can address it directly instead of just guessing what they want to see. Hang in there! The system is frustrating but it does eventually work out. This community has been amazing for getting real advice from people who've actually been through it instead of trying to decode DEO's confusing website! 💪

I'm so glad I found this thread! Just filed my claim last week and got the dreaded "monetary eligible" status with adjudication pending. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea about the difference between monetary eligibility and actual approval, or that there was a hidden section where you can see the specific reason for delays! My adjudication is flagged for "Able and Available" because I mentioned I'm doing some freelance work on weekends. But it's completely flexible and wouldn't interfere with full-time employment at all! Going to upload a detailed statement right away explaining my Monday-Friday availability and that freelance work can be adjusted around any job schedule. @Danielle Mays really hoping your timeline worked out! It's so encouraging to see people actually get through to DEO agents and get real answers instead of just automated messages. Definitely going to try that Claimyr service if I can't get through the regular way. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and specific tips - this community is providing way better guidance than DEO's confusing website. The waiting is stressful enough without having to guess what's happening with your claim! Fingers crossed for quick resolutions for all of us stuck in adjudication limbo! 🤞

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just got approved on Monday and claimed my first week yesterday, and like everyone else here, I'm completely lost about when to expect payment. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I've learned more useful information in the last few minutes than I did from hours of trying to figure things out on the CONNECT system. The waiting week policy is such a shock! I had no idea that was even a thing. When you're already struggling financially and finally get that approval notification, finding out you still have to wait even longer for actual money feels pretty devastating. I wish DEO would make this crystal clear upfront instead of leaving people to discover it by accident. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm definitely calling Way2Go tomorrow morning to check if my card has shipped and request expedited delivery. The $15 fee seems totally worth it when bills are piling up. I'm also going to look into local assistance programs while I wait - that's such smart advice that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and practical tips! It's honestly frustrating that we have to rely on community knowledge to understand basic information about our own benefits, but I'm so grateful this support exists. DEO really needs to step up their communication game!

I'm in the exact same situation! Just got approved yesterday and this whole thread has been a lifesaver. I had absolutely no idea about the waiting week policy - that's such crucial information that should be clearly explained upfront, not something you have to stumble upon by accident. When you're already stressed about bills and finally get that approval, finding out there's yet another delay feels pretty crushing. I'm definitely calling Way2Go tomorrow morning to check on my card status and pay for expedited shipping. Based on everyone's experiences here, being proactive seems to be the key rather than just waiting and hoping. The $15 fee is totally worth it when rent is due next week. It's honestly mind-boggling that DEO doesn't provide basic timeline information anywhere in their system. We shouldn't have to piece together critical details about our own benefits from community forums, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their real experiences here. This thread has been more helpful than anything on the official website! Thanks to everyone who took the time to help newcomers navigate this confusing process.