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I see you mentioned having an adjudication pending. That's actually a bigger immediate concern than the benefit amount. The adjudication process can drag on for weeks if you don't actively follow up. If you need to reach DEO about the adjudication issue, I really can't recommend Claimyr enough - it's the only reason I got my adjudication resolved in a reasonable timeframe. When I called using their service, I asked the DEO rep specifically what documentation they needed to clear the adjudication, then uploaded it right away to my CONNECT account AND followed up again three days later. Being proactive made all the difference. Otherwise, you could be waiting months before receiving any benefits at all, regardless of the amount.
You're right - getting any benefits is better than nothing at this point. I'll try Claimyr to get through to DEO. Do they need specific documentation for a company relocation? I have my severance letter that clearly states the reason for layoff was the facility closing and operations moving to Mexico.
That severance letter stating the facility closure and relocation is exactly the kind of documentation you should upload to support your claim. Go to your CONNECT dashboard, click on the "Document Upload" section, and submit it as support for your adjudication issue. Select document type "Proof of Employment Separation" when uploading. After uploading, call DEO to confirm they received it and ask if anything else is needed. The severance letter should help speed up your adjudication process since it clearly documents a qualifying job separation. Make sure to continue claiming your weeks while the adjudication is pending - if approved, you'll receive back payments for weeks properly claimed.
Thank you so much for this specific advice! I just uploaded my severance letter as you suggested. Now I'll try to get through to DEO to confirm they received it. I've been claiming my weeks religiously every two weeks, so hopefully I'll get backpay once this is resolved. Still frustrated about the low maximum benefit, but at least I'll have something coming in while job hunting.
hey has neone tried using turbotax to check if they did it rite? my friend said u can go back in and look at ur old return 2 see if u missed anything
One final update that might help others: The IRS announced they're specifically taking longer with returns that include unemployment benefits because of potential tax credit implications. It doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong. For anyone receiving DEO benefits this year (2025), I strongly recommend having at least 10% withheld for federal taxes (you can set this in your CONNECT account under tax withholding preferences). This won't prevent the IRS scrutiny, but it will reduce the chance of owing taxes next year. Also, many people don't realize that unemployment benefits can affect other tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Sometimes the IRS delay is because they're recalculating these credits based on your unemployment income.
Has anyone else noticed that DEO seems to be especially bad with federal payment issues specifically? I had no problems with my regular benefits but the federal portion was a NIGHTMARE to get sorted out. It's like they're two completely different systems that don't talk to each other properly.
YES!!! regular florida benefits = no problem. federal stuff = total disaster. took me 11 weeks to get my federal backpay. ridiculous!
You're absolutely right about this. The systems are indeed separate. The federal supplements are administered through Florida's system, but they follow different rules and funding sources. The CONNECT system wasn't originally designed to handle these federal supplements, which is why they often require manual processing and verification. This is also why speaking to someone in the Benefits Payment Control unit is so important - they have specialized training on reconciling the two systems.
UPDATE: I tried the 833-352-7759 number this morning at exactly 7:30am, and after about 35 minutes on hold, I finally got through to someone! I asked specifically for the Benefits Payment Control unit for federal payment issues as suggested here. They transferred me, and I had to wait another 20 minutes, but finally spoke to someone who could actually help! They found that my federal payments were held up because of a "program integrity hold" that no one had ever told me about. Apparently, they needed additional verification of my employment history from 2024. I've now uploaded the documents they requested, and they said the federal payments should be processed within 5-7 business days. Thank you everyone for your suggestions! Will update again when/if I actually receive the payments.
That's great news! The "program integrity hold" is actually quite common with federal payment components. It's part of the enhanced verification measures implemented in late 2024. Make sure you follow up if you don't see the payments within 7 business days. Sometimes you need to call back and specifically request a "payment release review" after the documentation has been reviewed. Glad you made progress!
does anyone know if they're gonna extend the $600 past july??? my bills dont stop just cuz the govt decides to stop helping!!
They SHOULD extend it but with this government who knows!!!! You should be calling your representatives EVERY DAY to demand they extend it! The economy hasn't recovered and we're STILL in a pandemic!!!
There's currently no legislation passed to extend the $600 FPUC payments beyond July 25th. However, it's always possible that Congress could pass something new before the deadline. For now, I'd recommend planning your budget assuming the payments will end as scheduled on July 25th, and then it'll be a nice surprise if they do get extended.
My cousin in California said they get a different amount. Is Florida's $600 different from other states?
The FPUC payment of $600 is the same fixed amount nationwide - it's a federal program. However, the regular unemployment benefit amount varies significantly between states. Florida's regular UC benefits max out at $275/week (one of the lowest in the country), while California's can go up to $450/week. So your total weekly payment (regular benefits + $600) would be different between states, but the FPUC portion is always $600.
Yara Khalil
Why is everyone saying they won appeals?? Almost NOBODY wins against DEO - their whole process is designed to deny benefits and keep their numbers low. They literally don't care if their system causes problems, they'll still blame you!!
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Keisha Brown
•That's not entirely accurate. Appeals are actually handled by independent judges through the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, not DEO directly. About 40% of appeals are successful, so it's definitely worth trying, especially when it's a system issue.
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LunarEclipse
Thank you all for the input! I'm going to file the appeal online today and start gathering my evidence. Will try to get those system logs like @profile2 suggested and have all my job search activities documented clearly. Feeling a bit more optimistic now. I'll update this thread once I have my hearing scheduled!
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