Frustrated out-of-work Floridians tell DEO: Fix the unemployment benefits website

Nelson Cuevas

April 2, 2020 at 6:00 am

I TRY FOR ALMOST ALL LONG DAY YESTERDAY FOR COMPLETED THE APLICACION AND ALWAYS SAID ERROR ERROR THE SAME MESSAGE EARLEY TODAY. IS FRUSTRATE…

NELSONCUEVAS

David Wayne McArthur
April 2, 2020 at 4:10 pm

my friend cannot even get the site to log him in. just a goto loop back to the first page! This is sheer incompetence! There is no excuse! Fire the lot of them, and get some people in there that can do the job.
- Kerri
  April 5, 2020 at 5:10 pm
  
  So aggravating, i filed an application and it kept saying under review (which is fine) and now all of a sudden it says it cant verify my credentials . and when i call, im on hold for hours just for the call me to dropped. I need to know whats going on with my case..i have no money at all because of COVID-19, Job completely shut down..this is absolute non-sense.
  - Kelly
    April 6, 2020 at 2:11 pm
    
    same exact thing happened to me, my application kept saying pending and then all of the sudden when I tried to login to check again it said that my login credentials could not be verified and won’t let me back into the system. Hoping this has more to do with a logging in/website issue rather than my actual application or personal credentials. It did say logon credentials could not be verified. But yes, I know that I was supposed to get on today to make a claim for the past week or 2 or somethings and now cannot get logged in to do so! Super frustrating!
    - Ilene T Grier
      April 7, 2020 at 1:07 am
      
      Same here. Got through on Mar 27th to file my claim. Woke up the next day to check on it and low and behold My identity could not be verified. Been calling and emailing for a week now.
    - arale norimaki
      April 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm
      
      don’t forget about
      
      florida unemployment can’t verify social security number
      
      despite the state temporarily waiving the
      requirement to prove that an applicant is searching for a new job, the
      website doesn’t allow you to skip that section without entering
      information. Questions about being impacted by COVID-19 come at the end
      of the online application, when they should come at the beginning,
    - Kimberly A Dombroski
      April 8, 2020 at 9:29 am
      
      Here is today’s soccer after being on hold for an hour I finally got a person, she proceeded to tell me that her computer is not working and she can’t help me I mean what the fuc. then she promises to not put me on hold because that’s exactly what happened to me yesterday they put me on hold and then the call got dropped. She said there is a woman named Vanessa and she would connent me directly to because her computer is fine. I have now been on hold for Vanessa for over 30 minutes and all recording stopped complete silence but it seems like I’m still connected. I have no idea what to do.
    - Brandi D.
      April 9, 2020 at 9:02 pm
      
      I have tried calling atleast 50 times a day regarding my claim that has said processing and pending since the weekend of 3/20/2020. I have emailed them as well to verify my identity and employer id and have not gotten through either way. This is very frustrating for a mother with no job to provide for her family.
  - Rikki Bessken
    April 10, 2020 at 10:12 am
    
    This is absolutely rediculous. I have 3 little babies at home that I can’t even provide for at the moment. I filed for unemployment March 21. It actually said I didn’t even qualify for my first claim! I’ve been laid off since March 15. It has said pending ever since. Absolutely impossible to verify my identity. This system Florida has going is a crock. They don’t expect to pay anyone, nor do they want to! They don’t respond to emails or the phone lines. I’ve tried hundreds of times to contact them.
    - janette
      April 13, 2020 at 9:25 am
      
      It is Easter Sunday April 12, 2020 I have been furloughed now since March 20th 2020, my last day to work was on March 17th 2020. It has been 23 days since I applied for my unemployment benefits in my state of Florida which I was instructed to do so by my hotel employer. With great frustration being constantly kicked off the states website receiving error messages after error message 8 hours later it seemed like I got the application done.
      
      Well not exactly, see I have been checking daily, I have had the website ask for proof of identity, listed is a previous employer from 13 years ago which now is being questioned by the unemployment dept. about my employment status, meanwhile I input all my current employers information from my W-2 which was in fact the employer who furloughed me on March 20, 2020. This website also has my monetary status as pending for over 3 weeks. It also has my claim status as active.
      
      The big question here is why haven’t I received my benefits, why have New Yorkers already received their third check and here in Florida our workers have not even received our first check. Looking further into this dysfunctional, fiasco called the DEO I find this problem has been going on for YEARS.
      
      State auditors warned Gov. Ron DeSantis last year that Florida’s unemployment website was still suffering major problems, including glitches, error messages and other problems that thousands of Floridians are now experiencing.
      
      In a damning 2019 report, auditors found that they had flagged all of the problems with the website in previous audits going back to 2015 — yet state officials had not made a serious attempt to fix them.
      
      THIS REVEALS TO THE VOTERS IN FLORIDA THAT WE MUST DEEPLY CONSIDER WHO WE PLACE IN OFFICE, BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER GREATLY TO OUR FUTURE AS WELL AS OUR DAY TO DAY. IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT CARE ABOUT US THE WORKERS, WORKERS HAVE NOT BEEN ON THEIR MINDS, WORKERS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND IN THIS PANDEMIC. WORKERS ARE HUNGRY, WORKERS NEED TO PAY OUR BILLS. THIS IS UNAMERICAN AND INEXCUSABLE.
      
      THIS SITUATION IN FLORIDA WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT DEPT. IS AS INSIDIOUS AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ITSELF.
      
      THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS WORK FOR US. THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM TAKING OUR TAX MONEY, YET THEY CANNOT GET THE SIMPLE JOB DONE. THEY ARE TO BUSY WITH OTHER MATTERS, TO DEAL WITH WORKERS CONCERNS. I AM CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY KEN LAWSON FOR HIS INCOMPETENCE, LEADING TO THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF OUR FELLOW FLORIDIANS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
      
      FLORIDA VOTERS DO NOT PUT THESE PEOPLE IN OFFICE. REMEMBER YOUR TIME OF NEED AND REMEMBER THE LAGGING, SHAMELESS, LAME EXCUSES, FOR THIS STATE CABINET TO FINALLY COME TO ACTION AND PAY OUR WORKERS BENEFITS IN AN ALREADY UNACCEPTABLE UNTIMELY FASHION.
      GOD BLESS AND HELP US ALL ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES DURING THIS HORRIFIC MOMENT IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY.
      PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER.
      
      Hi Floridians, I am a furloughed hotel worker who is just as frustrated as you are. I have started a call for current DEO head Ken Lawson to immediately resign from his position. Our politicians have failed us in Florida and it is so important that we the people are heard, many people are suffering please join my call follow link and sign my petition add comments or add your own petition. But Floridians please do not stay quiet speak up and share your experience, suggestion, and ideas with others Floridians who are going through this also.
      
      http://chng.it/6c6hqQRNbt
    - janette
      April 13, 2020 at 9:38 am
      
      Hello Rikki, I am really sorry about what you and your family are going through, I myself am going through a similar situation. Please click on my link and sign my petition we must not allow our elected officials get away with this, remember we elect theses incompetent selfish people and these people need to be removed from there high paying positions. As we starve, default on our bills and suffer these individuals are still receiving their paychecks, excellent medical and retirement benefits from our taxes. They work for us we need to be heard.
      
      Please check my link and join this movement to change the way our elected officials handle their responsibilities as well as the consequences when they do not.
      
      http://chng.it/6c6hqQRNbt
- Teresa
  April 5, 2020 at 7:37 pm
  
  I have tried also to reset my pin with no success… Emailed and no response… I have called so many times to ALWAYS get same message… All lines are busy try again later… WE NEED HELP!!!
  - Lisa houston
    April 6, 2020 at 2:26 pm
    
    What is the e-mail
  - Helping out
    April 6, 2020 at 3:40 pm
    
    Reach out to me I have number you can use to reset pin and actuallytalk to someone. Text me at 6092414852
    - ANGELA FLANDERS
      April 7, 2020 at 8:25 am
      
      @HELPING OUT can you post that number?
    - Jake
      April 8, 2020 at 10:15 am
      
      What is number to call??
  - Governor dumbF***
    April 7, 2020 at 9:24 pm
    
    Even if you’re like me and was able to register, when you go to request benefits for payments you get kicked out. This is a 12 ft Sh****sandwich. You’ll be lucky if you ever get any money. Thanks Rick Scott and Trump Clone Desantis !! Inglorious B***turds
    - Nicole
      April 8, 2020 at 7:22 am
      
      I applied about a month ago. And its STILL PENDING!! These greedy fucks screwed US ALL!!!
  - Kim
    April 7, 2020 at 11:00 pm
    
    My husband is having the SAME issue and I cannot even get an email to go through! It kicks it back saying contact system administrator. SO frustrating! Without a pin reset, we cannot file his either. Says his security answers from forever ago are incorrect, which is a lie because his moms maiden name hasn’t changed nor the city he was born! UGH! I hope someone gets the issues fixed!
  - Marcia
    April 9, 2020 at 10:49 am
    
    1-407-965-2567 pin change
- arale normaki
  April 7, 2020 at 2:22 pm
  
  yeah they fix all right
  
  Error: The system has experienced an unexpected technical error. Please close your internet browser, then reopen it and log back in to CONNECT through your normal process. You may need to try this once or twice to be successful and we appreciate your patience. If this error continues to appear please contact the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) at 1-800-204-2418.
  
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  Please contact the website owners to inform them of this problem.
  
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  Description: An application error occurred on the server. The current custom error settings for this application prevent the details of the application error from being viewed remotely (for security reasons). It could, however, be viewed by browsers running on the local server machine.
  
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- janette
  April 12, 2020 at 11:39 pm
  
  http://chng.it/PPbs5nYV
  please check link and sign petition asking for Ken Lawson DEO head for immediate resignation.
Arthur C Phillips
April 2, 2020 at 5:46 pm

I have been waiting 3 weeks for my unemployment. When I get on the app it say request payment nothing happens and still no money now.
Lillian Diaz
April 2, 2020 at 10:08 pm

I can’t reset my pin either! And can’t get through over the phone. And no response to my emails. It is a mess and extremely frustrating.
- ANGELA FLANDERS
  April 2, 2020 at 10:47 pm
  
  Yes, I have been calling for two weeks unsuccessful. I was on hold today for 1 hr 15 min and the call dropped. I have emailed twice with absolutely no response. It’s so frustrating just praying God opens up the phone lines we need help.
  - Kimberly l Beauregard
    April 6, 2020 at 5:55 pm
    
    I have emailed and called for the last 4 days because the system says i have a claim and a pin number. I have not had a claim since 2014. What can I do. I can’t go out of my house because I have asthma. I want to email the unemployment forms. Where can I email them to?
    - ANGELA FLANDERS
      April 7, 2020 at 8:29 am
      
      where did you get the unemployment forms?
- Anna Decio
  April 3, 2020 at 2:10 pm
  
  I have called unemployment hundreds of times trying to reach someone to find out how to file a new claim I have exhausted my unemployment last year and I was told that I would be eligible under the corona virus I got laid off due to the coronavirus and I’m trying to reach out I’m not able to get on there to do a new claim and I need help I have no money coming in please someone fix the unemployment so we can all apply thank yo I. I was on hold for two days in a row for 4 hours and then it disconnected me after 4 hours and I have called continuously every single day to try to reach someone to get help. Please thank you I appreciate it someone can help us we all in die of stress here.
A. Atkins
April 3, 2020 at 12:12 am

I have a few suggestions that I feel would alleviate the high call volume.
1. Provide paper applications that can be completed via Adobe and then emailed to the DOE agents.
2. Provide a Virtual Chat Operator to help those in need. I believe that my account is lock which has me in a lock out status. I too have called a phone number 800-204-2818 and someone from that office clearly picked up the receiver and just hung up without regard of answering it.

I would love to know how these 6.6 Million people where able to file without begin kicked out!

Why do people who has poor customer service chose jobs that require customer service interaction.

Read an article published by Orlando Sentinel that under R. Scott administration regarding DEO website it will explain why we are experiencing such discord.

I hope that my suggestions are implement soon.
- Yanai
  April 3, 2020 at 10:52 am
  
  I agree with you, there are many ways to quickly resolve the high call volume. how is it that I can set up a fully functional website in a week with only one programmer and the government, with all the resources and money, can’t even fix and existing one?
  They don’t even need to hire more people if the website were working properly.
  They just don’t care… they have enough money to pay their obligations.
- Kasey Muise
  April 4, 2020 at 3:08 pm
  
  AGREED!!
  
  Paper applications are absolutely necessary at this point! I have absolutely no reasonable expectation that the 450th time I try to submit my claim, it will be any different than the previous 449 time. THERE IS NO GETTING PAST THE PIN # DEAD END NIGHTMARE
  - BETTYANN
    April 5, 2020 at 11:33 am
    
    THE APPLICATION FORM PROVIDED IS PARTIALLY FILLABLE.. YOU CANNOT FILL IN YOUR NAME YOU MUST WRITE IT IN..LOL ANOTHER DELAY AND EXCUSE. A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COULD HAVE DONE BETTER
    PLEASE REGISTER YOUR HARD COPY APPLICATION RETURN RECEIPT WHEN MAILING.. VERY IMPORTANT
    I NOTICED THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW YOUR WEIGHT TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.. IS THIS A SICK JOKE?
    ALSO…VERY VERY IMPORTANT.. THEY ARE FORCING THE LOCKED OUT APPLICANTS TO USE THEIR VENDOR FOR PAYMENT. THIS IS ILLEGAL AS THE APPLICANTS THEY ALLOW THROUGH TO APPLY ONLINE HAD THE OPTION OF HAVING DIRECT DEPOSIT. I WILL BE DECLINING THIS OPTION BY WRITING ACROSS THE FORM THAT I REJECT ANY AND ALL DEBIT CARD OPTIONS AND REFUSE TO PAY THEIR FEES. I WISH THE SAME DIRECT DEPOSIT OPTION OFFERED TO THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES MAKING APPLICATION FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. THIS IS BLATANT DISCRIMINATION. THEN PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR BANKING INFORMATION FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT.
    - Kim
      April 6, 2020 at 8:55 am
      
      I claimed my first week on the 23rd March,I have been relentlessly trying to get back on and claim my next week’s and it’s telling me my credentials don’t match my login information and to call a certain number this number has been unreachable or solid week what happens to the first week that I claimed being it’s a free week apparently I get nothing correct?
  - Maria L Raxon
    April 9, 2020 at 12:57 pm
    
    There are paper applications now
    - Peter
      April 9, 2020 at 1:09 pm
      
      There are paper applications and it doesn’t match up exactly what is being filled out online. This will just be another reason the State uses to decline a claim. The State of Florida has a history of only paying out 16% of claims over the years. They find any excuse to void claims and then can allocate the money not claimed to be used as they wish. Ex-Governor Scott made millions screwing over healthcare companies and he was the person in control that set up the current unemployment system. If people don’t remember come election day, this never ends and the State of Florida will always a state that exists to make their politicians rich while ensuring the people in the state never prosper. And if you’d like to see how states work that actually help people, research Massachusetts, New York, California, Vermont, and most Democratic-run states.
- Donna
  April 4, 2020 at 3:31 pm
  
  Other people who have been able to file are working in states that have alternate ways to apply for unemployment insurance. Take Iowa, for example. Iowans can go the their Workforce Development site and get all of the information they need about Unemployment Insurance WITHOUT HAVING TO LOGIN. It’s right there on the home page. And they can also apply through the Workforce Development site.
  I read that Orlando Sentinel story that you reference, and I believe it is true that Florida deliberately makes filing for unemployment assistance such a miserable experience so that people give up…which has the direct effect of keeping the Florida unemployment numbers artificially low. Shame on the Florida government that they think so little of anyone who is struggling to survive.
  Personally, I have been trying to get my unemployment claim completed for something like 20 hours now. Yesterday was devoted to getting the PIN, and today, I keep getting bumped out of the system either because they ‘can’t verify my SSN’ or because ‘the system has experienced an unexpected technical error’. Too bad we can’t save the information that has already been input…but, no, the claimant must go back, start over, and pray that this time, it will reach the point of filing the claim. It’s a bit like a game of Snakes and Ladders—except, this isn’t a game; I have a family to support! Oh, and then the website has advice for the claimant that if you don’t complete this before midnight—you’ll have to start over next week. Wow.
  Has anyone else noticed that the website doesn’t appear to have been updated since 2014?!?
  And the phone system…well, I don’t think I’ll ever get through that…half the time, it won’t even ring, and when it does open the line, a recorded message tells you that we’re busy, far too busy to even take a request for a callback. Truly, I believe that you are too busy. Get help from other Florida government offices! This is an economic meltdown situation, and deserves our government’s full attention. I can feel the panic starting to set in as people realize that they won’t be able to pay the household bills for April. Mayday! SOS! Help!
  - Juliana
    April 7, 2020 at 12:20 am
    
    Same here, pray it’s will able to process to the submit point and never happen after 2 days of trying” request benefit”. I guess I will have to give up due the emotional stress and just dispute safety warning for any available job.
  - ANGELA FLANDERS
    April 7, 2020 at 8:36 am
    
    Hi Donna,
    
    How did you get a pin reset? I was just wondering how if you did. Thanks
  - Lisa Dunkley
    April 10, 2020 at 2:10 am
    
    Exactly or buy food for our family.
- celia
  April 4, 2020 at 5:37 pm
  
  I agree with you. is very frustrating and upsetting.People are worry about their finances and is not our fault.I have been calling for one week nonstop and l do not know what to do anymore. It should not been so hard to fix a pin numberThanks celia
- Cvelunza
  April 6, 2020 at 9:59 pm
  
  I have emailed the unemployed DEO at least 20 times with no response I have calling fir the last two weeks and cannot speak to anyone when you connect the recording tells you they have too many calls to try again later I have been trying with two phones at s time and been doing this fir hours every day fir the last weeks I can’t even file my unemployment application online cause if the damn pin why can’t the state just get rid of that requirement now with so many trying to get thru
- Ilene T Grier
  April 7, 2020 at 1:10 am
  
  I filed at 11 pm at night and it still took an hour
Thomas
April 3, 2020 at 8:37 am

The system is not even worthy of a third world country. Its a disgrace.
- Cuong k czuprynski
  April 4, 2020 at 10:18 am
  
  in the third country you have to pay to get help .
  What i don’t like is apply for it , but now i have NO CHOICE , one man shop i have to pay rent , ins. etc.
- Patti Weaver
  April 15, 2020 at 1:35 pm
  
  I’ve filed my claim finally, but had to go back in to request my weeks. The site keeps asking for the employers I’ve had. I have all the correct information and it still keeps asking for more information on multiple employers! I’ve typed a list of my employers and faxed, emailed, and snail mailed it. I don’t know if I’ll get anything. Last year I left a “very hostile work environment.” I had a hearing with a specific adjudicator who approved my benefits, as the the doctor failed to appear. Two months later, I received a letter that there would be another hearing because the doctor “was otherwise indisposed” at the time of the initial hearing. So the SAME ADJUDICATOR finds for the doctor because he had his staff, obviously talking to him and feeding him answers! We could hear it and the doctor was warned to stop, but you could hear the staff scribbling answers on paper! It was very unprofessional and unfair. The DEO now wants me to pay them $2000. I’m not sure if they can keep my unemployment payments, or because of the Coronavirus pandemic, they have to send it to me I guess I’ll find out at some point. Very disappointed with this state and it’s system!
Marty white
April 3, 2020 at 9:02 am

This place sucks during hurricane Michael I supplied documentation five times to these people and they still give me the bare minimum they screwed me out of $4000 and now they’re trying to screw me out of my 600 a week it’s not gonna happen again we work six months a year to make enough money to survive for the winter we cannot make or $1500 a week we will not survive the winter . If you don’t fix this issue we are coming for you and yours
Marcia E Fair
April 4, 2020 at 11:44 am

http://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/rapaperapplication
John Seger
April 4, 2020 at 5:57 pm

I filed 15 days ago and my case still says pending. I have no money for food or gas. I feel hopeless band fear society is going to react with anarchy. It seriously e feeling like the end of the world. Nobody is helping us.
- Mike
  April 6, 2020 at 10:56 am
  
  I filed on 3/20 and still pending.. Got a txt that there was a document in my connect inbox.. but nothing was there.. this is too much. I’m a single dad with three kids now unemployed and I’m not supposed to even leave the house.. wtf?
  - Laura
    April 9, 2020 at 5:05 pm
    
    I know the feeling I filed on the 22nd got the same message via text message but nothing in the inbox I do have a husband that is a RT at the hospital so at least I do have some income coming in I’ll pray for you and God help the idiots that are run in Florida I hope the golden rules true
norhan
April 6, 2020 at 8:48 am

I have been calling for 3 weeks straight waking up at 7:30 till 6:00pm trying to get a hold of someone, weekends wake up at 8 am till 2 pm. This is crazy, at this point we shouldn’t need a pin number anymore because our info is already on file with no pin. It makes no sense at all. I’ve tried everything.

I called out of state unemployment and i was able to get ahold of someone but they are unable to help me due that i live and work in florida. i dont know what else to do.
ginger snowden
April 6, 2020 at 6:45 pm

I have tried for 2 weeks now to claim my hours only to be almost done and then the system cut off, i don;t know what to do next but this can put you in a deep depression .
- Cheryl LaBonte
  April 7, 2020 at 6:55 pm
  
  I have been receiving UI payments for 6-8 weeks now. I tried for two days to long in and clam benefits… the system is overloaded and is not working. My benefits were due two days ago to be credited to my account, nothing! Can’t reach any one by phone, can’t get online and can’t get answers to when or if my benefits will go into my account. Who else is having this issue- we have car payments, mortgages, as well as other bills….
Kim
April 7, 2020 at 8:12 am

So this morning at 7:35 I get through to someone to verify my credentials that they say just not match my login information. I speak to the woman for over 35 minutes she’s having trouble with her computer and then asks me if she can put me on hold. 20 minutes later the call drops I mean what in the hell is going on here. You talk about incompetence!!!! I am beyond livid and I guarantee you for the rest of the day I will not be able to get through this is unacceptable
Frantz
April 9, 2020 at 11:50 am

I am in struggle to pay my rent my job stop me cause covid19 I claim unemployment Florida now they told me I have to wait a determination until they send me a response they might deny me I don’t know what I need to do in that situation. I am a hypertension man even all my pills are finish no money to buy them and you know the coronavirus attact people with at risk hypertension only God can do something for me.also the stimulus check I will not receive cause my back child support. They already get my first check was 1,538 dollars they don’t send nothing for me and they will get 1.200 dollars check again. How I will survive. Please I need help

Jesse A Wood

April 2, 2020 at 8:16 am

I’ve been trying to report my identity for 6 days called over 200 times each day ain’t none of us going to get that extra 600$ in unemployment cause by the time we start getting checks we will all be employed again and homeless or starving it’s ridiculous that they don’t have something on there where you can add a picture of your i.d and your social security card and be on your way but they got to make it difficult where you have to call them and all of there offices are closed so you can’t go there. So as Floridians needing unemployment where all screwed.

Kathy
April 8, 2020 at 4:44 pm

The message for identity verification will give you a fax# 321-332-6608 or email [email protected] to send the following documents

Name, phone #, last 4 digits of social security number

Attach front and back copies of signed social security card and valid drivers license or state ID.

Give them 3-4 business days before you check your status. I did this and 3 days later the site had updated when I signed in to that although they have not authenticated my identity, that there was no further action required by me which means they received my identity docs and are working on it. They do not respond to the email but they update your sign in page.
- Robbin
  April 13, 2020 at 12:10 pm
  
  Thank you for sharing
Laura
April 9, 2020 at 5:08 pm

I know the feeling I filed on the 22nd got the same message via text message but nothing in the inbox I do have a husband that is a RT at the hospital so at least I do have some income coming in I’ll pray for you and God help the idiots that are run in Florida I hope the golden rules true
Marcia E Fair
April 12, 2020 at 8:27 pm

No way

Ramona Hamilton

April 2, 2020 at 8:21 am

I have been trying to have my pin reset for two weeks now still no luck with that yet

ANGELA FLANDERS
April 2, 2020 at 10:50 pm

yes, me to this is very frustrating….we need someone to help us.
Addy
April 6, 2020 at 8:03 am

I have tried to call and have been hung up on i even sent messages but no answer i had unemployment 11 years ago my pin is gone so i need help to reset my pin

kevin

April 2, 2020 at 8:21 am

Calls get dropped Everytime. Very frustrated . Can’t do anything to get unemployment . Government lies and say 600 but I can’t even get ahold of a human all to . It’s a setup and the government says they will pay 600 a week for anyone unemployed but yet try to take credit for a setup hoax. This is all lies . Can’t get ahold of deo on phone . Impossible

SB
April 7, 2020 at 10:41 am

agreed, The political administrations in Florida on up to capital hill are full of deceit, and lies. Trust me no one will get an “extra $600” in their unemployment check.. Florida is one of the lowest in the country at $275 a week and still can’t provide benefits because they rigged the system to fail. Good luck to all, I really hope we all get through this, unfortunately not by the help of our government… but don’t forget to pay your taxes kids!!

Paul

April 2, 2020 at 8:25 am

I complete the application on 3/22. It says to verify my identity. I call at least 50 times a day, never get through. Emailed scans of my DL and SS card with my Claimant ID and Claim ID to Identity Request as I found on the website. Sent it with read receipt. Got the read receipt back yesterday, still show that my identity cannot be verified and I need to call immediately. Super frustrating.

Adam Agosto
April 2, 2020 at 2:29 pm

what eamil did you send too?
- Paul
  April 2, 2020 at 6:58 pm
  
  Identity Request
  - Bertrand McBroken
    April 3, 2020 at 4:13 pm
    
    Paul, I have the same problem. But it doesn’t tell me what documents they want emailed. It doesn’t even say to email them. It says to call the 800 number immediately, but no one answers when I do. It just goes to a recording about heavy call volume and to try again later. I’ve been trying to call for 4 days.
    
    Where are you getting the info about which documents need to be sent? I need to know what they want so I can email them. I’m desperate. This is the worst timing for me personally, savings wise, as I’m sure it is with others.
    
    Thank you
    - Mark Morales
      April 8, 2020 at 3:50 pm
      
      http://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/apply-for-benefits
    - Margaret
      April 13, 2020 at 8:23 pm
      
      Hi….i emailed them every kind of ID i have and haven’t heard from them. If you want to try its
      [email protected]
  - Kelli R.
    April 7, 2020 at 5:00 pm
    
    I have the same problem. I started filing on 3/21. It took at least 2 days to finish it. Then, I get a message saying to call this number immediately to Authenticate my ID. I’ve been trying to get ahold of someone everyday for the past 2 weeks. I put my info in to be connected with an agent. It rings, then says they are unable to do the virtual call back and then hangs up. My anxiety is through the roof and it’s pissing me off. I call when they open and try all day.
- Paul
  April 2, 2020 at 6:59 pm
  
  [email protected]>
- Latisa Williams Johnson
  April 3, 2020 at 11:17 am
  
  [email protected]
Jessica
April 3, 2020 at 1:25 pm

Did you get any update? I am about to do that now with a read receipt.

Gaby

April 2, 2020 at 10:32 am

Does anyone know if we will get checks even if our identity isn’t verified as long as we log in on our designated dates to claim? I also wanted to add I was able to file successfully on the website back in 3/22 however it took me 4 hours of error messages and dropped connections. For those frustrated be patient and keep doing the online application over and over until it’s completed. Stay safe everyone!

Rafael Alvarez
April 4, 2020 at 10:12 am

Im on the same situation, i read in the FAQ if you fail to verify, then the application will be invalid. I hope they give us a break. I have emailed several times and i’ve been calling 100 times a day.
DB
April 8, 2020 at 9:23 am

No, you will not receive a check until your identity has been authenticated. We are at the mercy of DEO to sort through each claim and authenticate your identity. I worked at the DEO in Orlando and it was a complete nightmare when Hurricane Irma hit a few years ago. This is much worse situation. We couldn’t keep up with the claims. The agents are working in the same computer application. A little hint, If the claimant can’t can’t get their application processed, neither can the agent.. I’m in the same situation waiting to be authenticated. Honestly, I hate to be a Debbie downer, but I don’t see any of us getting paid for months.

Hans Gruber

April 2, 2020 at 10:44 am

Another issue with the application is that even though there is a statement “suspended search contacts,” the application is still asking for job search contacts. DeSantist has failed the people of Florida. Programmers need to be hired to fix the app, not hiring people at call centers which are running on antiquated telephone technology.

Arthur C Phillips
April 2, 2020 at 6:56 pm

Governor desantis is lost he extended property tax last weeks date by 2 weeks now what is going to be different in two weeks people still out of work and dying he is lost.

Judith OBrien

April 2, 2020 at 11:11 am

If you cannot get through the phone line to Identify yourself then you cannot file?
Why should we be sending our ID and Social Security Number via Email?
I would think in a time like this throw out all that stuff so people can file?
Desantis should look how Colorado has there unemployment set up as a good
friend was furloughed and it took her 30 minutes to file.
Desantis dropped the ball he knew of the issues a year ago and turned a blind eye?
The good old boys in Tallahassee it a joke.

Ayman Sirieh
April 2, 2020 at 11:26 am

I’ve been trying to reset my pin but I can’t so I can’t do anything I’m worry I have two children I pay very high rent I’ve been without a job for almost 2 weeks .My family needs help we couldn’t file for any assistance without resetting the Pin please S.O.S help us to get through this hard time.
- B
  April 3, 2020 at 3:10 pm
  
  what county do you live in?
Tina Dessemond
April 2, 2020 at 3:54 pm

I totally agree. Where are the genius IT coders to fix this mess? Someone call Silicon Valley, I’m sure there is someone there that can help. And if DOE can’t fix their system do they they think I’m sending my SSN and DL through an Email. No Thank You! I don’t trust that it will be secure. All I need is identity theft on top of this nightmare.
- Valerief
  April 5, 2020 at 6:06 pm
  
  I did manage to file my claim online but like you, I have not sent my ID by email or fax due to concerns of ID theft. I have called the office of DeSantis, Marco Rubio and my state reps, Gus Billirakis and Sprowls. I have also called ABC action new in my area hoping they might take up this story and my suggestion was to have Unemployment waive the ID verification for now and just process the damn claims and when this settles down have a by appointment verify our ID’s at the Career Centers. Billions/Trillions are given to corporations who use it for stock buyouts and to pad their pay but go after the “little” guy who in unemployed through no fault of their own. What a country!
  - Lisa Moraitis
    April 9, 2020 at 5:46 pm
    
    Want to know about the added benefit of$600a week. When will this amount kick in? I’m one of 3 unemployed persons who finally got the assistance. One filled the same day and still pending. Employer checks daily and hasn’t received info to verify the other employee request. So, only one UI benefit is currently done and getting the assistance… But no $600(why hasn’t that been issued?).

Jordan Palmer

April 2, 2020 at 12:37 pm

I have been trying between 100-150 times a day and nothing. I started running a tally of all the times per calls I get dropped. I have yet to speak with any one. I am getting worried I wont be able to pay for groceries or my bills until this is all over and I can go back to work.

Angry Woman

April 2, 2020 at 12:48 pm

I am having the same issue with identity verification. I thought it was just me. There has to be a way around having to call the 1-800 number dealing with dropped calls, being told to call back later by a recording or not hearing anything on the other line but silence. I am trying not to get frustrated. But everyone’s bills need to get paid.

Kimberly Dombroski
April 3, 2020 at 2:28 am

I’ve been trying for two solid weeks what exactly does it mean when it says login credentials could not be found
Kyla
April 3, 2020 at 5:02 pm

Does One fix to this issue is updating the address on your driver’s license. At first my application said it could not identify me so I went online and had to update my address to match the application.

Follow my Youtube channel:
Kyla Kleopatra
https://youtu.be/GIJWC_WG3Ts

Patricia Robinson

April 2, 2020 at 1:46 pm

None of the given numbers to call for a PIN Reset arefunctioning (800-204-2418; 800-342-9909; 800-681-8102; 800-297-0586 and800-204-2418).The approved 2.2 trillion stimulus bill is slated to providean additional $600/week. If people can’twork the CONNECT system to qualify, they won’t be able to qualify for theadditional federal assistance. I’mbeginning to think this hiccup with the PIN reset, is designed to delay time inorder not to pay the additional assistance. If not, why won’t they just do an overall PIN reset so everyone can, atleast, get in?

Christina Sheldon
April 3, 2020 at 1:22 pm

I have tried 148 times in one day! This is a crime…the system is failing and offering no substance for people out of work. Ive been pending, denied, then pending again. Our leaders are still collecting a paycheck tho….lets issue SOMETHING to those who have applied, push those apps thru, and leave the room for others to apply! Or lets issue the checks quicker…Desantis should had taken control of this site, when the orginial issues surfaced. Perhaps, there would had been less issues now. Outsourcing requires tranning and time. Meanwhile people starve, esp the children. We do not have time.
Give the individuals who have applied an idea of what is going on with the claim, and an idea of when they will see the monies.

Aimee

April 2, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Something MUST be done to fix this, IMMEDIATELY!! I have been calling for 4 days now, busy, calls dropped. I have called over 100 times each day. I have sent emails and no return phone call or return email. Today at 7:35 this morning I was put on hold for 2 1/2 hours and then disconnected!! This is such bullshit!! By the time they fix this we won’t get our desperately needed money, $600 included, and that is NOT FAIR AND NOT RIGHT!!!
GOVERNOR DESANTIS PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!!

Wanda P Phillips

April 2, 2020 at 2:37 pm

I have several tenants that told me they can’t file so I have spent several days trying to help them just get registered. All 4 have gotten “We cannot verify your identity” even though they all have valid FL Drivers license, social security cards, etc… We have tried all the browsers they recommend, have been calling every day starting at 7:30am when they open, calling all day til late in the day,(call just drops or says call back later) They do not address the “Cannot verify Identity” issue on their FAQ or on the call menu. Seems like its a big issue – so how about just putting some info on the site that says what to do when this happens.

Dan

April 2, 2020 at 3:14 pm

I have been having the same issuing trying to verify my identity and resetting my pin so I can file for unemployment benefits. I have tried to called the 1-800-297-0586 over a week with no success. The system keeps on hanging up on me every single time. Frustrating Indeed. It can’t keep going like this!!!! This is a nightmare…:) Please fix this soon.

Pamela McDonald

April 2, 2020 at 3:18 pm

SUPER FRUSTRATED!! This broken down crappy DEO site is going to cost someone a lot of grief! Floridians will not forget that in their time of need, the government failed them. This Identification verification and dropped call and email meltdown is exactly what us suckers get when times get rough. But don’t worry, Florida will fix this after the crisis. Great Job!!!

Patricia Robinson
April 2, 2020 at 4:23 pm

Yeah, just in time for us not to get the $600 additional assistance.
Donna
April 4, 2020 at 4:00 pm

Haha! Sly comment about Florida fixing this AFTER the crisis is over…It’s a tradition, just like holding the Florida election results until after the nationwide election is over…no, wait, I guess we never did complete that count…

Don’t dispair. The Florida economy has been wrecked by the COVID-19 crisis; getting the Cares Act money to the people and out boosting the economy is a necessary step toward our economic recovery. It will happen, and soon; I’d expect to see the website functional next week and money available by Friday the 17th or the 24th at latest.

ashley m rohlfing

April 2, 2020 at 3:53 pm

I am now at 56 hours over an 11 day span of trying to verify my identity. My poor 5 year old, has been playing Mario nonstop (not that he’s upset) and we have done ZERO of his schoolwork because my #1 priority has to be getting through to this line so that we can pay for necessities… food, rent, etc.

I would love to just be back at work, and not deal with any of this, but unfortunately this is not our reality at this time.

I have emailed and tweeted the DEO, Governor DeSantis, my local house rep, and several others and nobody seems to care. We’re drowning here!

We need an alternate way to verify our identities! Someone please help!

Martha Gautreaux

April 2, 2020 at 4:48 pm

On my second week trying to get through- it’s like my new and ONLY JOB! NO MATTER if you start early it’s the same story- busy line or simply it drops. It’s Frustrating to say the least 🙁

Bart Plaskoff

April 2, 2020 at 4:52 pm

The online system is worthless. It throws you into continuous loops back to the first page, is bottlenecked, stalls out, has runtime and script errors. Basically, the infrastructure simply can’t handle the load. DEO basically trying to use bubblegum to fix a dam. Perhaps pull your head from your rear end, hire network experts, use solid servers and real programmers. This is what happens when government uses lowest bidder! Time to pull out all the stops! If people become desperate and can’t survive, things tend to get very ugly. Please don’t use the too little too late approach that our Governor uses. He went to the Tremendously Tremendous School of Trump Moronism. Wishing all Floridians safety and health.

Angry Resident
April 3, 2020 at 11:55 pm

Isn’t this the result of the previous governor (although the current team’s response to it is shameful and unacceptable, no doubt). I just want people to realize that it’s in its current state due to the incompetence- or, worse, the strategy of the previous guy. It’s really, really bad. Either fix it because it’s the right thing to do or fix it out of political self-interest. I don’t care at the moment. Just fix it.

But, if you’re listening, which I doubt you are, you really should be taking some serious action here if you want to be re-elected. You have tons of people who have never filed for unemployment before and now they’re getting a taste of it. Or at least hire some people to answer the phone about why someone’s identity could not be verified (my current problem). Isn’t there 2T of stimulus money out there? Surely you can hire some cheap labor to answer phones. I’ll do it. I want to help.

BETTYANN

April 2, 2020 at 5:19 pm

Please be aware that 30 days after Trump signed the relief bill (which leaves about 20 days and counting down..to 0) we are no longer eligible to apply to receive the Federal benefits $600 and then the State is required to add 50% of the average State benefit for each applicant. That is the trouble with the computers. Complete a blind poll and see registered Political Party affiliation of those who are “BLOCKED” and you will begin to understand why some are not getting through. WE NEED TO MAKE HARD COPY APPLICATIONS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND MAIL IT CERTIFIED TO THE DEO AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (NOT SURE WHO YET) and take a snapshot of the “BLOCK” message as evidence of denial of your rights. No Politician has yet agreed to take such applications to the Governor. We are on our own to find a way to apply before the deadline.

Ilene T Grier
April 7, 2020 at 1:20 am

I am a Democrat and I am blocked!

James Jarvis

April 2, 2020 at 5:29 pm

The CARES act sounds wonderful but it’s useless if none of the aid gets to the recipients. This will be reflected at the ballot box in November.

Johnny

April 2, 2020 at 5:31 pm

What a sad time we are facing, The greatest Country on Earth? As taxpayers we deserve better, We elect the people to support us in the time of need.
For days I tried and tried to Call for many hours and when someone answered I was relieved just to reset my Pin, I was told that this is the wrong Department and was asked for my info for someone to call me back, I am still waiting for that callback……. Not sure how long I need to wait?

Maria

April 2, 2020 at 5:44 pm

This is ridiculous… remove the dam PIN number requirement and we should be able to get on.. I’ve been trying since 3/21… everyday I call all day from 725 to 635p.. still No one to help.. I’ve email my information 2 times.. still
Nothing..

Pomato Head

April 2, 2020 at 5:51 pm

The DEO has pathetic employees that manage their servers and infrastructure. They need better servers, load balancers, and especially programmers.I feel like I’m on windows 93 using Netscape with servers running on potatoes.

BETTYANN

April 2, 2020 at 7:39 pm

SUCCESS: finally the Governor has agreed to go into contingency mode. He is allowing paper applications and sidelining the 77 Million dollar computer that does not work. This is no time for blame or shame. We thank the Governor for preserving our rights to the pandemic unemployment assistance program before the deadline. This was my main concern, not to take away from the suffering of persons with kids or without who are in a place of desperation because of the ‘BLOCKOUT”… I suggested contingency mode be enacted and paper applications (which I was going to file anyway for myself but was concerned for all others – we are in this together) be allowed. PLEASE SAVE A COPY OF YOUR WRITTEN APPLICATION AND MAIL IT CERTIFIED OR WITH RECEIPT CONFIRMATION AND KEEP A COPY OF THE RECEIPT WITH THE APPLICATION AS YOU MAY NEED IT LATER. ATTACH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ALONG WITH YOUR APPLICATION SUCH AS YOUR DISMISSAL OR FURLOUGH LETTER, AS THIS WILL AVOID FURTHER DELAYS. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH DELAYS. SEND A COPY IF YOUR DL AND SS CARD.
If there is no form by early next week, (REMEMBER LESS THAN 20 DAYS ARE LEFT) then make application (call it an application for pandemic unemployment assistance program) in letter form and register the letter. Note the date you first applied and was locked out always.

marcia e fair
April 3, 2020 at 4:28 pm

I believe as far as the line to verify your identity this is the government’s way of preventing people from actually getting the unemployment in the benefits that they are trying to keep us all, calm I think that they’re lying to us and that’s why we can’t verify identity which is a very simple process specially when you’ve lived in your ear town for your whole entire life and everything matches there’s absolutely no reason the system should flag you to have to verify your identity except I believe this is the government’s way or our state’s way of preventing us from getting our unemployment and then they’re blaming it on system overloads
Maureen
April 4, 2020 at 9:06 am

Thank you for your invaluable information. I am curious to know how you will be receiving a paper application? Were you informed of a website where one can be downloaded? If so, can you pass that on to me? I’m in dire straits and a single mother of 5. I simply cannot afford to wait for a “possible” computer fix. Thank you again!
- Marzena Kiernan
  April 5, 2020 at 7:17 pm
  
  http://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/rapaperapplication
sylvia shectman
April 4, 2020 at 9:33 am

Thank you for your informative message. How did you get an application or did you create one?
Rebecca
April 5, 2020 at 12:25 pm

The address listed is a PO Box. How can I send it certified? I’m sure they will be receiving thousands- I doubt they will sign for it.
Neil Donnelly
April 8, 2020 at 11:27 am

what?
Peter
April 8, 2020 at 12:06 pm

The fact that people need to send an application for funds they are entitled to by registered mail, just shows how corrupt the State of Florida’s government is. First and foremost the governor. Registered mail is generally for people you don’t trust to say it was received. And if blame isn’t assigned then the problem is never fixed in the future. Voting is the best way to fix problems like DeSantis, Rubio, and Scott. Nobody has heard from Rubio, wasn’t he elected to help and work for the people of Florida. I guess he needs time to plan on how he’s going to spend his share of the employment funds not going to be paid to the people of Florida.

Tammy

April 2, 2020 at 8:31 pm

14 days of calling over 150 times , i need a pin reset! Why the heck can’t they make it where a pin is not necessary to file? This is so frustrating!By the time y’all figure out your crappy system were all going to be freakin homeless! I had to cancel my life insurance policy because i couldn’t pay that!

Joe Screwed

April 2, 2020 at 8:40 pm

The unusual volume of requests that cause a website to respond slowly is totally understandable at a time like this (of course, buying some more servers is the most straight forward solution). However, the numerous bugs on that site is absolutely unacceptable. I never in my life have seen such a terrible application. eg, clicking a button to add a document- and it logs me out and sends me back to the home page (just when I was getting close to the end, too, after literally my 7th attempt!. Note that each attempt is up to 30 minutes at least to answer all the questions and wait the 90 seconds for a response).

Also, why in the world do you not save the information so when something like this happens, the user can pick up from where they left off?? It took me NINE times through that 5 step process (note that each step has 2-3 sub-steps, so it’s really like 15-20 steps, and to get close to the end and having to start over repeatedly, it’s just beyond belief). I started at 1am and didn’t finish, i’m not kidding, until 5:45 AM. I actually started to cry. I moved to this state 5 months ago and it cost me a lot of money. I’ve not been able to rebuild my savings. This is desperate. Now it doesn’t even recognize my identity!. I cannot remember feeling so damn helpless. No one to contact, everything’s closed, rent is late, etc.

Whoever is in charge of the development of that website should be ashamed (and punished). It’s simply outrageous and unacceptable. And worse, it’s careless. You can tell that no.one.cares. And you cannot blame the coronavirus on the things I’ve described here. (I could go on and on describing more stupid bugs). This isn’t a normal website, it is a critical piece of software that people in need rely upon. Peoples’ lives are at stake if they cannot get assistance, especially during a time like this. Absolutely reprehensible, shameful, and unacceptable in any civilized community. You could have hired one competent developer for 100K a year to clean and fix this piece of garbage. The anger I felt cannot be overstated. I actually started to think that it’s like that on purpose, to dissuade people from trying. Never know. It’s obviously the least important priority, at least.

jolie

April 2, 2020 at 10:29 pm

they want us to get the money, it’s money for this state, they just did not anticipate anything like this happening> if anyone finds any way in post it everywhere so all can know.

EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED/ANGRY MOM

April 3, 2020 at 12:54 am

Tallahassee NEEDS to work harder and faster to fix the problems we are all experiencing trying to file for unemployment. I can relate to everyone who posted, I need my PIN# reset because I filed in 2008 12 YEARS AGO!!! God knows I’ve contributed more than my fair share for this benefit and YES, I’m entitled to it as well as the Federal Assistance money. I have been trying for 2 weeks, hundreds of calls to several numbers and to no avail, I don’t even remember the last time I heard a busy signal until now. I wonder where Florida is getting their unemployment statistics? How are people filing???
My fear is when I finally do get through, what if the call drops?!

Governor DeSantis, your constituents need help IMMEDIATELY! Some of us can afford groceries and we have children to feed. In this day and age with so much technology how is this even possible. Call Jeff Bezos and ask for his help, Amazon is operating business as usual. Since you are incapable, be a Leader and ask for help from someone, anyone!

ann

April 3, 2020 at 2:12 am

It is now 1:30am and the site still does not work. The phone system has been crazy for weeks. It does not work! Either busy or hangs up after going thru long process. Two questions. How to resolve adjudication. I have worked in Florida for 14 years. This is holding up payment. Can I have past employer send information? If so, what is needed and who can it be emailed to? Second question. Do we need to log job searches? If so, how does that happen when site does not work? This week site showed no job search needed on home page however phone recording says job search information is needed. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. While I understand the phone issues it seems hard to believe the online end in this day and age can not be resolved.

Kimberly Dombroski

April 3, 2020 at 2:26 am

I’ve been trying for two solid weeks what exactly does it mean when it says login credentials could not be found

Jeff Arnold

April 3, 2020 at 7:12 am

2 weeks I’ve been calling and emailing to reset pin. This is so screwed up!! Its like nobody could give a crap?? I have 2 kids. Never been in this situation.

J franD

April 3, 2020 at 8:00 am

I agree. I tried to file and was locked up as a pin was not recognized. I sent on March 20 by email what was asked 4 times. Still no answer. I’ve called each day hundreds of times. Busy, or get through and get disconnected. Save your emails and screenshots of the hundreds of times you called. Maybe someone will figure this out.

John publoc

April 3, 2020 at 8:06 am

This is why some people shoot up government buildings or regular joe citizens rob stores

JARED HICKSON

April 3, 2020 at 9:51 am

People are suffering because of a stupid pin and are not being able to prove their identity. Nobodys bills are getting paid because of a pin reset…

Gabrielle

April 3, 2020 at 10:00 am

I’ve also tried for two days now to speak to someone on the phone or fill out the form on line. It continually just loops back around, doesn’t accept your login information or gives you an error page. People are hurting! I understand the pressure that the entire state is under but this needs to be a priority on the governors list. It must be resolved so people feel a little secure that some money will get to them.

Claudia

April 3, 2020 at 11:04 am

I filed online, but unknowingly gave wrong information about an employer. I have no way to contact them to correct it. I got a text message that said to go to my inbox on CONNECT, but there were no messages for me there. I don’t even know what the request was. I tried everything to contact them. Nobody answers the phone. Their phone disconnects on you while you wait. I tried to reply to their message. There is no email that I can find. On their website, I can’t report that I’ve been applying for jobs. Today, they message me that I have to file by April 9th. Well, I go back to the website, and it’s totally down and not working properly. What kind of operation is this? I cannot contact them. Now, they are acting like I did not even request benefits at all. They are asking for a huge lawsuit. This is not how you treat your workers in their time of greatest need.

still waiting

April 3, 2020 at 12:01 pm

I filed a week ahead of the mass of people filing after the start of the Covid-19 layoffs and have been in the system since 3/13/20. The website was slow before the deluge of new filers. I would have to do the SSN and PIN login 3x in order to access my account.

To date, I have yet to receive any money. I’m well past my “waiting week” (which I just discovered they are waiving – news to me!) and waiting on a response from a former employer can take between 2-6 weeks.

I have a letter from DEO saying that I am approved for benefits but still haven’t received anything and attempts to login to the website on 4/3/20 are met with this message:

“Error: The system has experienced an unexpected technical error. Please close your internet browser, then reopen it and log back in to CONNECT through your normal process. You may need to try this once or twice to be successful and we appreciate your patience. If this error continues to appear please contact the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) at 1-800-204-2418.”

I have closed the browser out 6 times in an attempt to login. It returns to that message every time.

It’s been 22 days since I filed and I have yet to receive a payment.

Eric
April 4, 2020 at 2:45 am

This is where I am as well. Nothing is moving forward at all, and its really frustrating me as well. The wheels of Govt are slow to move, but this is ridiculous. Can anyone go after the unemployment agency for damages?

Carolyn Czaplicki

April 3, 2020 at 12:14 pm

I got registered for unemployment on March 25th, it took four days – started on March 20th and 11 hours, after being kicked out of the system so many times I can’t count.Thank God I’m registered, but I now have two weeks of benefits to claim by April 9th or you forfeit them. I only get so far and get bootef Out of the system or the server dies -I’m on there everyday- tried all hours of the day and night same thing. Tried calling cannot get through and ahold option is not available- even with Governor DeSantis stating that there are new call assistant people hired- where are they- not on the phones since you can’t get through.Paper applications now-really! That may be something for people that aren’t yet registered in the system,but What happens to those that are already registered, but can’t claim their benefit because the website still not working? That issue hasn’t been addressed! At this point I think the President needs to be contacted and he has to get serious with Governor DeSantis to take action immediately!! Also if this is not fixed within the time frame for the $600.00 benefit-the President needs to extend that so we don’t loose out because of Florida’s Govenor lack of concern and action.

Kimberly A Dombroski
April 3, 2020 at 4:19 pm

That is my situation exactly and I’m beside myself if you’re already in the system you need to claim your next week’s what happens to the claim you already put in so freaking frustrated
sandra
April 3, 2020 at 6:22 pm

i am having the same exact problem. i have not been able to request my benefits! everytime time i try it sends me back to the beggining. i have until april 9 to request benefits and been trying for dsys !

David lane

April 3, 2020 at 12:40 pm

Hey it’s extremely frustrating to call a number that simply drops every single call. I like most people are locked out because of a pin or security questions you never set up . I know I have some time on my hands so calling over 5000 times in two weeks may not seem excessive. The problem is that’s 70 hrs of phone time and 50 emails to never get a response or help. When do we vote again 🤬

steve

April 3, 2020 at 2:14 pm

If you voted for Rick Scott , this what he left you.

Thom

April 3, 2020 at 2:45 pm

I am having a different problem filing a claim. It starts and then I complete a page / hit next or submit and it throws me out to start over again. I have had to log on 123 times in the last 27 hours and have checked the “Fraud Page” 173 times. I have never gotten beyond General Information to the Employment History. It says all the work I have done for the past 27 hours will be deleted if I don’t file the claim by midnight Saturday which I say will be impossible since I can NEVER EVER complete the application.
This is an embarrassment for the State of FLorida.

Patricia Anderson

April 3, 2020 at 2:59 pm

I was able to get on the site after several excruciating hours and completed The application TWICE! When I hit submit claim at the end of the most frustrating process, it only reverted back to page one!! I could have just screamed!! I have friends who have been able to get the claim completed in 3 days, and others it took 3 weeks! This is horrible and unacceptable! I cannot express my stress and frustration, there aren’t enough words In the English language!! I’m not afraid to work! And I’m a healthcare professional as well. So, Where do I apply for the DEO call center job? Where? I haven’t even seen anything listed! I have excellent customer service experience and Inbound call center experience as well! Give me that damn state job and I’ll show you how it’s supposed to be done!! Give me their hourly wage and and benefits and I wouldn’t need to apply for unemployment!! Get us some help ASAP!!

Barb

April 3, 2020 at 3:10 pm

I have been on the phone now for 5 days attempting to get in touch with a person….to no avail….over 300 calls per day!!!! But, just got in on a phone queue with them and have been holding for almost 6 hours…..the recorded music stopped playing about 4 hours ago and now total silence. Now I’m wondering if I’m still in the queue. Can anyone out there advise if I should continue holding? Help!!!!

RonHelpUs

April 3, 2020 at 4:08 pm

Dear DeSantis and supporters: The anger and fear is justified. There are so many people, your constituents, who have never filed for unemployment before and are seeing what it’s like- and this is terrible for your career. With all the furious comments and examples of your website and service exploding on the internet, and the pressure being exerted… why hasn’t anything been done? My team was furloughed and after 9 hours I was lucky to be able to get through the claim submission, but it tells me it cannot confirm my identity. It says to call an 800 number immediately but that phone number doesn’t respond. It says “we are having high call volume, please try later.” EVERY TIME. SURELY YOU CAN TAKE SOME STIMULUS MONEY AND QUADRUPLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN ANSWER PHONES! I mean, this isn’t the engineering problem, it’s simply answering phones and providing guidance. Hire me, I’ll do it. I want to help, I want to be helped! This is bureaucratic incompetence at its worst. Help. I MOVED HERE RECENTLY AND IT WAS EXPENSIVE AND I’VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REBUILD MY SAVINGS! I’M ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF MONEY. AND THEN I’m GOING TO GET EVICTED BECAUSE YOUR NEW “45 day non-eviction policy” IS TERRIBLY INADEQUATE, IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO LONG ENOUGH GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY. I DON’T WANT MY CREDIT RUINED AND I DON’T WANT TO BE OUT ON THE STREET. HELP ME!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING? DON’T YOU AT LEAST WANT TO WIN RE-ELECTION, IF NOT HELP US?

How do I get a hold of someone who can take action and get things done?

Sonny H

April 3, 2020 at 4:46 pm

Hey Everyone … unfortunately this is all a direct result of the last crisis in 2008 when the housing market crashed. At that time, our Governor Rick Scott (who is our Senator now), wanted to paint a rosy picture regarding unemployment numbers declining so the agency was renamed Department of Economic Opportunity (someone fact check me on that timing) (all the while grants to build infrastructure for high speed rail from Tampa to Miami were turned away and sent back to the federal government — and we were one of 12 states (approx) to REJECT an increased Medicaid package leaving thousands if not hundreds of thousands of single men without children without the ability to get healthcare via Medicaid – it simply doesn’t exist without having a major disability. Part of this “plan”, in my opinion, was to create one of the most frustrating, non-intuitive platforms to file unemployment — or rather re-employment benefits on …lol…..I am very familiar with software systems and this system was antiquated, buggy and frustrating. There are so many errors within the programming that lead people on loops to search for time sensitive responses that are housed among multi-tiered selection boxes. I am lucky to have a PIN from having to file for $2750 worth of assistance in 2018 but it still took me 12 hours to file the application. It’s really set up to weed out people who can’t put up with the system and just abandon their efforts. After logging in, the system said “due to unusually high volume it is taking longer to verify your social security number” — I was already in the system and in the end even verified credit bureau questions I believe. Then I found a buried announcement about emailing my SS card and driver’s license — I’m sure the state’s systems are encrypted to protect our data (haha) .. the Social Security Admin website states that you do not have to show your SS card to get benefits anymore because everything is online. Guess FL decided against that. Lastly — the tab “CoVid” with the attached FAQ is full of TONS of ERRORS. The legislation that passed on Friday (legislation that was known in advance to be passing among government officials — heck, we have access to the bills online and can see what’s going to happen — well the State as of Wed still had NOT updated it’s Frequently Asked Questions inlcuding: If I am self-employed or an independent contractor, am I eligible for benefits? The answer it give is: No, bc generaly self-employed do no pay unemployment insurance. This is a HUGE error because a) The Department of Revenue is after you like a hawk to pay quarterly for re-employment taxes or at least report them if zero .. I was told over and over that as a sole proprietor or single owner of corporation that I am an employee of myself and therefore tax due .. so I paid on it for 5 years. When I had a major health issue come up and I could no longer work, I filed for unemployment on my own 1 person company –after 6-7 weeks, I won the appeal, and was able to obtain the 275/week benefit for 10 weeks … after 5 phone calls, 20 emails, calls to Department of Revenue, answering all the requests on the company side. SO the FAQ is inaccurate….in addition, one of the main provisions of the Cares Act that passed was relief for the self employed — also the govt was increasing the weekly benefit by 600/week and the waiting period reduced to zero and retroactive. Instead of being proactive and taking the 30 minutes to update their COVID FAQ pdf, they left it with false information. That is not a staffing problem nor is it a technology issue. It’s further evidence of the state trying to limit access even though they are reimbursed by the federal government. It’s quite dangerous to have such dated information during a crisis as we are talking about people’s families. Shame on the state leadership for this!

Jessie Ramsey

April 3, 2020 at 4:56 pm

I guess my account on unemployment is locked and I call everyday about 100 times a day and can’t get through. All I need to do is reset my pin so I can file it is going on two weeks that I have been trying this is Bs. Then I have sent emails to them that go unanswered. They say it’s supposed to be fixed but when it’s starting to make me believe that they don’t want us to file for it. And are they going to pay us for the weeks that we have been trying to get through. How long is it going to be.

Marisa Murray Cavoli

April 3, 2020 at 5:20 pm

On Tuesday I called over 165 times no luck, I wake up at 7 to start my calling at 730. I’m beyond frustrated at the DEO for this failure of epic proportions! The US government knew what was coming and they where ill prepared. My first email from 3/26 is still not answered, I tell you what why doesn’t DEO pick some of the people who are trying to file for unemployment and hire them to help!!!

Danny

April 3, 2020 at 6:52 pm

I spent all day yesterday trying to file online, only to be continually looped back to the beginning. I just tried again today and got further than I was able to yesterday, I made it to add employer info, only to be looped back to the beginning. If there is a hell, I think this would likely be a part of it. >_<

The federal government should just put up a support site for people who lost their job because of covid-19, as I don't think state run unemployment, like Florida, can be counted on for anything.

David R.

April 3, 2020 at 7:37 pm

As with all of you, I am having trouble understanding why my application is not complete. Here are the comments on my online file.

Important Information You have not completed full work registration with Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM) as of yesterday.
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE UNTIL YOU COMPLETE FULL REGISTRATION.

Click here to verify your current work registration status, to register via EFM and for instructions on how to fully register. This notice will be removed from your Home page Messages when you have met the requirements for the full registration.

Messages – Notice of events, status changes, and other available actions
• Your application for Reemployment Assistance benefits is incomplete. Select the “Apply for Reemployment Assistance Benefits” option to complete your application. If you do not complete the application by 04/04/2020, your claim application will be deleted, and you will have to reapply.

When I click the link to find out what’s missing, I get this message.

Workforce Registration Information
Workforce Registration: Required

Status of Workforce Registration from Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM)
Fully Registered: Not Available *

Full Registration Requirements and Status:
Email Address Provided: Not Available *
Resume Completed: Not Available *
Background Wizard Completed: Not Available *

The User is Not Found in the EFM Database – The CONNECT SSN, DOB and/or Gender may not match. Call 800-204-2418 for assistance.

I have provided them this information that they say is missing. Also have called their 800 number for over a week and never get a hold of anyone. Emailed them several times through their online form with no response. Just tried again and received a message saying Oops. Something went wrong, try again later.

This is totally BS since they have known for at least a year that their website is faulty.

Now I did receive a call back from someone at Employ Florida. She said everything looked good and to ignore the messages from DEO website. Hope she’s right.

All I know is that if by Sunday I have to start over from scratch, the world is going to hear from me.

I did receive paperwork from the DEO today that talked about the debit card fees. Of course, I chose direct deposit on my application. Either way, since I received this letter, does this mean they are actually working on my benefits or is just a standard letter they send out to everyone that has applied?

Good luck to everyone and stay safe. We will get through this together.

Claudia

April 3, 2020 at 7:46 pm

I also had to confirm my identity…I tried the number for over a week! It was either busy, busy and then hung up, or rang and hung up or a machine would say that all the lines are busy and then hung up! I FINALLY got thru Sunday morning! I called at 7:59 AM and ALAS! I got thru! Then I ended up holding for another hour and 15 minutes! There was a recording playing for half hour and then after that silence, but I did not hang up. Another 45 minutes passed before someone picked up. She was a very nice lady and I said I was calling to verify my identity. She asked for my ss#, address, phone#. She told me to hold for a moment and that she would take care of it. She put me on hold for about 30 seconds then came back and told me that I’m all set!
So the frustration and anxiety of not being able to get thru for over a week and then it was fixed in less than 30 seconds! Why do they even do that? Why does it tell you that you need verify your identity anyways? Isn’t your social security number good enough??? The drama doesn’t end there….now my application has been pending for 11 days! I’m so stressed out right now, all these bills that need to be paid and I don’t know what is happening with my application!

Kathy
April 6, 2020 at 9:16 am

After 147 attempts (not joking) over 3 days,
I finally got in the queue (been here for 60 minutes so far). The message for identity verification will give you a fax# 321-332-6608 or email [email protected] to send the following documents

Name, phone #, last 4 digits of social security number

Attach front and back copies of signed social security card and valid drivers license or state ID.

Give them 3-4 business days before you check your status. This is the same procedure for resetting pin if you can’t verify security questions. In subject box put in reset pin or identity verification. I am going to stay on the line to see if there is anything else needed. Will update after I speak to a representative. I hope this helps a little. Stay safe.

Spoke to Customer Service Rep. She said that if I had emailed my docs to wait the 3 business days and then log back into site to see that it has been updated and message gone about calling them to Authenticate. For pin reset, if you are able to answer security questions, She is able to give a temporary pin which then you can enter and then change pin. Temporary pin is good for 1 day. If you can’t answer questions you will be directed to send in identity docs as described above. It’s crazy that the email and fax number are not available until you are lucky enough to get through to the queue. I started calling them at 7:29 am and after 10 calls got into the queue.

David R.

April 3, 2020 at 7:59 pm

Suggestion to everyone like me who needs money to pay our bills. Check with every vendor about possible deferment of your payment obligation. You will still have to pay it back, but at least you will have a 30 day to 6 month reprieve until you do without interest or being reported to the credit bureau. By that time, hopefully we all will have been paid by the state to repay our deferred payments.

Our mortgage company has agreed to 3-6 months before repayment is due and with possible extensions. Verizon is delaying payment for a month. Still working with others that will hopefully offer the same repayment plans.

michael knotts

April 3, 2020 at 9:35 pm

i have been trying sun up to sundown since march 23 to get a ” locked” message away from from my application. I’m jobless, put on furlough from 2 jobs, hungry and behind on bills. I need to get through if i have to drive to Tallahassee or where this DOE facility is located. I haven’t eaten in two days. I’m losing hope in everything.

Tina s
April 5, 2020 at 9:16 pm

Hi Michael! Not sure if you were able to get through to unemployment or not but, I can definitely help you where food Is concerned. We’re all in this together:( I also got let go from my job but i can help you need to get food to eat.
Tina s.
April 5, 2020 at 9:18 pm

Send me your cash app information if u have one!

Maria

April 3, 2020 at 11:21 pm

I have been unsuccessful with claiming my weeks. I am depending on this income. My employer said to file look after we got laid off. This is crazy. Why can’t be a facility with help that we can go to. If not in the small towns.

Every county at least should have a sub area. DeSantis please fix the issue. We Floridians have paid our taxes. We deserve to be treated fairly.

Debbie

April 4, 2020 at 4:14 am

April 4, 2020 @ 4:09am after they shut it down at 3pm for maintenance- still cannot get a PIN number. And I have never filed for unemployment before but it tells me under new claim that my ss number is already in the system being used. This software is not working – I desperately need help!!

shannon

April 4, 2020 at 7:35 am

It’s April 4th and I still cannot get into the website to complete it. I spent all day yesterday getting kicked out of the system before I could even enter my social security number and driver’s license information. I was finally able to do that and got a claim id number. When I clicked the tab to go to the next page, I was kicked out of the site again. I have not been able to get back in using my social security number or the claimant id. I am hesitant to start over again since I now have a claimant ID. Please give me some direction.

shannon

April 4, 2020 at 7:36 am

It’s April 4th and I still cannot get into the website to complete it. I spent all day yesterday getting kicked out of the system before I could even enter my social security number and driver’s license information. I was finally able to do that and got a claim id number. When I clicked the tab to go to the next page, I was kicked out of the site again. I have not been able to get back in using my social security number or the claimant id. I am hesitant to start over again since I now have a claimant ID. Please give me some direction.

Elizabeth

April 4, 2020 at 12:14 pm

Please it is bad enough that left with out a job. But not to be reset your pin and not be able to talk to anyone, is really bad how can anyone continue living like this. Fix so that that can do there unemployment please…

Elizabeth caldero

Alejandro Tejas
April 4, 2020 at 1:36 pm

I tried calling over 200 times and is always the same message . I would like to have my unemployment founds available.
I’m desperate! Please advise

Jim Chatwin

April 4, 2020 at 2:59 pm

Florida DEO has really dropped the ball here. wife has been trying for days online to submit application for unemployment , only gets so far and crashes. Now the site is totally crashed,.
DEO Director needs to be fired for incompetence , Gov DeSantis has proved he can’t govern in a crisis. He is a one term governor.

Somebody in Florida needs to take over so people can get their unemployment benefits!!!!!

People in this state, will be living on the street by the time it takes Florida to start paying benefits!!

jon

April 4, 2020 at 4:13 pm

Call me crazy but that’s why the R’s were elected. To make it near impossible to collect unemployement. Florida accepts 1 in 10 for it, and business pays the lowest insurance in the country for insurance. Extremely unabashed pro business and anti anyone that might get something for free.

It also offers if you lucky enough to get it the 3rd lowest payout in the country.

The elected official did his job exactly like you asked for.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/florida-unemployment-benefits-desantis-trump-rick-scott.html

WebDevForHire
April 4, 2020 at 7:48 pm

Well, they certainly screwed themselves because many people, many R voters, are filing unemployment for the first time and seeing what it’s like. Their constituents are getting screwed.

Believe me, I’m a web developer and the site appears as if it was created by a 10 year old kid with almost no experience. It’s a joke, but a very sad one because this is a critical piece of software especially at a time like this. Many of the problems have nothing to do with the volume of applicants (which would be understandable). Many are just stupid logical bugs and bad design. It’s an outrage and totally unacceptable.

sylvia s.

April 4, 2020 at 4:29 pm

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241769146.html

I just saw this link for paper application. Read entire article. We could mail it in but they are figuring out a way to send electronically. I personally will be sending in old fashion way with tracking. Who knows how long it will take them to figure out electronic method. Nothing to lose at this point. Good luck all and stay safe.

samson

April 4, 2020 at 5:13 pm

me and my wife have been both out of work over 3 weeks, i been trying every day some times i stay up at night to try to finish application, its impossible, i am trying to finish my wife’s application first but when i reach the bank information it logs me out, and i have to start all over, we moved to Florida from Virginia in September, worst timing, we got enough money for only food, i am not paying my car payments my insurance, my landlord is using last months rent for this, how long will we last? sad day.

Enmanuel Valera

April 5, 2020 at 8:31 am

A whole week passed, and not luck trying to validate my SS#. I read this article that my explain why.

https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2020/04/03/its-a-sh-sandwich-republicans-rage-as-florida-becomes-a-nightmare-for-trump-1271172?fbclid=IwAR1FO_pqJTl6XnaObLHiUxuKmVbBdPag8H3Wu40thLw7pf2PBTOFX9BdJFU

Kerri

April 5, 2020 at 5:11 pm

So aggravating, i filed an application and it kept saying under review (which is fine) and now all of a sudden it says it cant verify my credentials . and when i call, im on hold for hours just for the call me to dropped. I need to know whats going on with my case..i have no money at all because of COVID-19, Job completely shut down..this is absolute non-sense.

Deborah Thurman

April 6, 2020 at 1:31 am

I applied on 3/22/2020 and have trying since then to call in to verify my identity to not be able to get through. I have gotten up early to get in line but it says we are not open 1 minute before. Then when I call back its busy or they have too many people on hold already at the opening of the day. I have sent 3 emails asking for what they need like they tell you but no one answers or responds to my email 3 weeks later. I am destitute and live in a rural area with no car and rely on Uber normally plus my rent needs to be paid and thats all I care about. Stop telling people to email if they are going unanswered. DCF can verify my identity easy and can see I have a claim why can’t DEO. I am frustrated have emailed my sentator with no answer either. I will email the governor if needed. I am at standstill and need answers soon. I am allowed to claim my weeks as of Tuesday but that doesn’t mean I am getting paid anytime soon. What is the big issue and I thought you didn’t have to wait a week also.

Martha Gautreaux

April 6, 2020 at 10:22 am

Another week and this is just plain crazy!!! What are they doing to fix this problem?!? 3 weeks and can’t get someone on the phone bc still doesn’t work!! Families are in need of this resource- I personally will have to move out of my place at the end of the month as this continues and have no income 🙁
I can’t imagine what other are going throu and with kids.
Just don’t acknowledge the problem… FIX IT!!!

Ken

April 6, 2020 at 11:31 am

The legislature knew it was an over priced piece of junk but did nothing to fix it. This is a total government failure.

You. An it call as the system won’t take the calls. You cannot enroll as you cannot get past looping through first 3 screens.

Kathy S Pita
April 7, 2020 at 2:15 pm

I emailed my copy of front and back of social security card and drivers licence to the identityrequest email, waited 3 days and the message on my online application changed from no longer having to call the number given immediately to no further action on my part necessary. I still am not authenticated but I know they are getting to it. I never received an email saying that they had received so they must not be answering emails and just updating on applications

Pete Wheat

April 6, 2020 at 11:40 am

Maybe we should all go back to work?

rose griffin

April 6, 2020 at 12:13 pm

DEO not answering again at 800-204-2418. i just need to verify my ID. I emailed [email protected] several times my driver’s licence and ssn card nut no email response. I filed on 03-17-20 for unemployment online but have been trying for 2 weeks to talk to someone.

Kurbee

April 6, 2020 at 1:14 pm

Why is NOBODY talking about filing a law suit on these scumbags?

Kasey Muise
April 6, 2020 at 2:18 pm

CLASS ACTION SUIT??
- G. McGehee
  April 7, 2020 at 5:49 pm
  
  I would join a class action lawsuit. This manipulation of our civil services since 2015 for their own political gain is CRIMINAL!
  
  We need competent representation and to make these corrupt politicians pay for their self-serving choices.
  
  If we run a red light or park in the wrong place, we are expected to pay for those choices, regardless of the reasons. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON these people who chose to allow suffering and distress to HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS should be allowed to do so without equivalent repercussions.
Ana
April 7, 2020 at 12:40 am

I agree

Belinda J. VanHorn

April 6, 2020 at 5:02 pm

i HAVE TRIED ALL DAY TO NO AVAIL, GO FIGURE, WE ARE DEALING WITH FLORIDA!!!! I HAVE TRIED THE NUMBERS THE SUGGEST YOU USE!!! NOTHING, CANNOT LEAVE A CALL BACK NUMBER, EMAIL OR ANYTHING, CANNOT GET A HOLD OF ANYONE TO CHANGE MY PIN i AM BASICALLY SCREWED. THANK YOU FLORIDA FOR ALLOWING ME TO WORK MY WHOLE LIFE FOR YOU TO SCREW ME OVER!!!! I cannot wait to SUE you!!!

Jacki

April 6, 2020 at 5:12 pm

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FLORIDIANS WILL REMEMBER THIS UNEMPLOYMENT ATROCITY HAPPENING ONLY IN FLORIDA, ON EVERY SINGLE ELECTION DAY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. COUNT ON THAT.

Brooke

April 6, 2020 at 5:49 pm

I was denied Benefits even though my job was closed due to Corona- This is such a joke. I have two kids to feed.

John Seger
April 6, 2020 at 5:55 pm

What,? What was the reason you were denied unemployment? When did you file and when did you get the denial?

Steve Cook

April 6, 2020 at 7:16 pm

SUBJECT 1/3:
I was a network programmer until 2013 when I retired here from Minnesota. I had a system of help desk customer service people and we had to answer the phones within 60 seconds or it rolls to the next level, if no answer, then it goes to the programmers, then to another group etc. It would keep rolling the phones until someone answers including the CEO of the 600 employee company.

My suggestion is to hire Amazon network programmers and tech. Remember the day after Thanksgiving AND also the Monday after Thanksgiving when the internet traffic to amazon’s website would go up exponentially and they were always able to handle that influx of new orders coming into their website. Hire as a temp basis Amazon programmers and techs, put them up in a hotel OR remotely do the work. Within 7 days they would get new servers installed, guaranteed.

Comcast is my home phone landline service and their reports show 410 calls since 03/16/2020 as of 04/06/2020.

SUBJECT 2/3:
UNEMPLOYMENT / REEMPLOYMENT employees lie too. They say on their website that we don’t have to apply to 5 companies per week. THAT IS A LIE. I filed on 03/15/2020, and then did my bi-weekly request to get payment on 03/31/2020, and both weeks (my waiting week and the week after) required me to put in the contact information of at least 5 companies for each of the weeks). I had about 20 for each, so it was not hard to pick 5 of them. But they LIED when they say

The Department of Economic Opportunity has suspended the requirement to provide work search contacts beginning the week of March 15, 2020 through the week ending May 2, 2020.

The Department of Economic Opportunity has suspended the requirement to complete the full work registration through Employ Florida for any claims filed with an effective date of March 15, 2020, through the week ending May 2, 2020.

SUBJECT 3/3: Have the telephones be supported 24/7.

carolina rojas

April 7, 2020 at 5:28 am

This system is truly made for people to fail in their purpose to claim valid benefits to the DEO, I been trying to fill my claim and it does not allow me to report a compensation from my employers, If I don’t do it I’ll will be in jail for the not disclosing information,

DEO There is not way to correctly report a compensation properly in your web site.

ANY SUGGESTIONs?????

carolina rojas

April 7, 2020 at 5:35 am

SHAME ON YOU RICK SCOTT I am a hard worker, and you are the worst human being I have know in my life…… I PAY thousands of dollars in taxes so the state pay you a salary,
and you don’t do anything good for us.

JUSTIFY YOUR DAMN SALARY!!! YOU work for us in florida and as for me you are fired!!
and my decision will BE reflect it next elections!!!

Anna

April 7, 2020 at 6:37 am

Trying to apply for unemployment since few days. This unemployment website is a bad joke unfortunately we are hurting now .
I tried in the middle of the day , mornings , nights no luck .
Can anyone help ?

Derek

April 7, 2020 at 8:07 am

The system received an update last night. I tried this morning and receive “Error: the system has experienced an unexpected technical error. Please close your internet browser, then reopen it and log back in to CONNECT through your normal process.”
This is the second time it happened. The update really did nothing last night. The system still has bugs and still creates frustration. Can’t wait to vote out our current Governor.

David Borges

April 7, 2020 at 8:29 am

The governor is purposely making it inaccessible. He has gone out of his way to not help the Florida working class that has paid taxes, kept the state progress and voted him in. This is not a conspiracy this is living proof. We are the laughing stock of the nation and help will never be available to us.

ANGELA FLANDERS

April 7, 2020 at 8:56 am

I have to say, this is the MOST frustrating experience I have had. One to lose your job due to an uncontrollable situation and then to reach out to a system that is designed to help you and can not get through, to only be constantly hung up on. I have been calling for 2 weeks just for a pin reset so I can file my claim just so I can eat, pay bills and survive as I was before this hit us and as of today I am still unable to successfully get through. I have been on hold for
two hours at a time only to be hung up on each time. I have emailed my ID and SS card and sent via messages through there website as well with absolutely no reply. I feel like we have two “Invisible Enemy’s” at this point and they both are working against us, to hurt us and that’s just sad. As people are losing there lives, physically from COVID 19 while we as a people are losing ours spiritual and financially by the Government, the difference is one has a cure but no ones willing to fix it because it doesn’t directly affect them so instead they watch us suffer great loss. I know GOD cares and I’m praying for EVERYONE.

Danielle

April 7, 2020 at 9:44 am

If this system received an update, it didn’t do anything. It actually made it worse. I was able to complete the application last week but now since the update, I cannot log in. I now get a message that says “The login credentials you have entered could not be verified. Please contact DEO at 1-800-297-0586 regarding access to your account.” I tried calling the number for days to no avail. I also tried calling the main number to only get disconnected. I can understand the high call volume and would be patient to wait to my turn for help but it frustrates me beyond belief when the headlines say “the system should not be able to handle the volume” when obviously we know it cannot. Please fix this!

Kim Newman

April 7, 2020 at 9:54 am

This is really unacceptable. Applied for unemployment due to the COVID 19 March 22, 2020. This shows PENDING UNDER REVIEW. There are bills to pay and food to buy. Why can’t someone help? You call the number and get recordings not available, when you finally get through and press option to speak with someone, you get the recording that you can be put in a virtual line to be called back and then the line just disconnects before you get an option to request. There has got to be a better way to handle this. Trust me, we are all waiting on way to SURVIVE, but it doesn’t seem that our state or government is trying to fix the problem. PLEASE HELP US! FIX THE PROBLEM AND START PAYING OUT!

Cathy

April 7, 2020 at 10:04 am

PLEASE HELP!!!! I am UNABLE to sign up for unemployment. i was laid off due tot he corona virus!!

cathy

April 7, 2020 at 10:06 am

I am still unable to sign up for unemployment and was laid off due to the conrona virus

Rob

April 7, 2020 at 10:42 am

I am in the same boat. Frustrating to say the least!!! I have been trying to get my pin reset for almost 2 weeks now with no success. It feels like we are playing phone tag with DEO with no answers on the other line. They need to fix this and fix this quick as our bills are piling up and we have family to feed. PLEASE FIX THIS!!!!!

tim d,

April 7, 2020 at 10:42 am

Does anyone know if you can verify your identity w/o sending the social sec card and drivers licenses .I hate to send them blindly and not knowing what could happen with my info but at the same time I have been trying for 3 weeks and over the 100 mark on calls this morning .I do not want to find out 2 or 3 weeks later if I can get someone on the phone just to find out I need to send my DL AND SOC SEC CARD and wait 4 more weeks just to apply? Also does the paper app allow for you to verify identity also ?

jess
April 7, 2020 at 4:20 pm

I was able to log into my page and they updated in the messages that states “We are unable to authenticate your identity at this time; however, there is no action required from you. Once your identity is verified, you will be notified through your CONNECT portal.” I hope that helps.

Johnny Reeves

April 7, 2020 at 11:06 am

Fix the damn website.

rose griffin

April 7, 2020 at 11:18 am

try to go to floridajobs.org .. scroll to the bottom to the About Us and click on contact us. click on reemployment assistance contact form … go to bottom of page to the To contact us by email and select YES. This may help you or may not. probably not but worth a try. i tried today and will hope someone contacts me back. i already tried ph # 877-846-8770 and 800-204-2418 for the last 2 weeks and still cannot talk to a live person … i also emailed them at [email protected] and [email protected] . they said i need to verify my identity but how can you verify your identity if you cannot talk to someone. heads should roll about this DEO unemployment problem and the politicians who still have a job and paycheck. hopefully, people will remember during election years .. local and national elections.

David R.

April 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm

We are being told how their failed website has been updated, yet I fail to see any improvement. Each page I go to still takes forever to load or times out or I get a system failure message.

We are being told that they have hired more people to man the phone lines. Yet I still can’t get through and now also being told by their phone computer that they are having technical issues finding my record.

By the way, if you are going to make us listen to your long recorded messages, please update it. Obviously you no longer offer virtual hold, so don’t mention it any more.

Also, instead of offering that you are sorry for any inconveniences, how about just fixing all the damn issues.

Florida is now Trump’s home state. You’d think that he would fast track to get all these issues resolved if he wants to be reelected in November.

If we didn’t still have family here, I’d be willing to move out of Florida. I can be unemployed anywhere.

No more lies. Get the problems fixed NOW!

jose sanchez

April 7, 2020 at 2:08 pm

It’s very sad to see how we the tax payers get treated in America.
Sad to see this administration Lie about everything. The governor had a news conference yesterday were he said that the Website had been fix. I am an IT Eng. and I been trying to complete my application for the last seven (7) days and the Website is not working property.
The state spent 70 million dollars on this Website with the preview’s administration and probably a few more millions with this administration and the Website is trash.
How much longer are they going to be stealing our money blindly?

arale norimaki

April 7, 2020 at 2:19 pm

despite the state temporarily waiving the
requirement to prove that an applicant is searching for a new job, the
website doesn’t allow you to skip that section without entering
information. Questions about being impacted by COVID-19 come at the end
of the online application, when they should come at the beginning,

Robert Roy

April 7, 2020 at 2:30 pm

Disgraceful Excuses Overwhelming,the hard working people of florida, get your act together Governor.

M.Snow

April 7, 2020 at 3:21 pm

Same here been calling for days! When is not one thing is another, technical difficulties,no one answers the phone or a website that doesn’t let you proceed because supposedly i am already in the system and i have not applied yet.Where are the 500 staff members the are supposed to be answering phones today. What a fiasco! Please will someone help us! We are not just a number out here we are human beings. Fix the problem. I am pretty sure if it was time to count votes for the election they would fix the problem right away.

Alex

April 7, 2020 at 3:33 pm

It is NOT fixed as of today. Horrid, disgraceful, shameful to take taxpayers money and waste it on a crap website that does not work. Not only that, but the morons do not modify the format based on the fact there is a national emergency. Get your act together, you should all be voted out of your positions. Anyone else would be fired for such a crappy system. Florida, you are way behind other states and you pay meager unemployment, step up to the year 2020…

Doc

April 7, 2020 at 4:21 pm

When unable to get into the system Sunday night due to system upgrade there was cautious hope that afterward would be able to get all the way thru getting signed up.
On Monday after the upgrade biggest difference noticed instead of mostly being randomly sent back to previous first few pages over and over before getting kicked out of the system now get kicked out of the system straight away. Tuesday so far finds instead of being kicked out keep getting sent back to the first page. Have also seen a new feature a few times over the past couple of days. Getting kicked completely out of the system with a page “Server Error in ‘/’ Application.” which talks of “”
So far it appears the net result of this upgrade “increased to handle 120,000 simultaneous connections” is now more people can experience the same problems at the same time. And still not able to get signed up.

Mark Miller

April 7, 2020 at 4:58 pm

Please hire me to fix the site. It does not work anything like it 2014 documentation. I have created many applications and have worked with the government for the past 10 years in Minnesota. There is a lot of work that needs to be done. Even without the pandemic the site is so outdated. After applying you still may need to make changes. Most of us are new to this, and it makes everyone incredibly frustrated. For instance, never default to anything, have tabs or drop downs, so that everything can be edited. It is not rocket science, this is 2020. Please make it so. I would love to help.

John

April 8, 2020 at 12:06 am

The paper application I downloaded is not the same as the web application. If you are not a W2 wage earner it doesn’t seem to include what you need. Also I made it through the web app and they tell you to call a number to authenticate. I called 100 times to get through and was on hold 6 hours to find out they just want you to email your ss card, drivers license or state ID, name, phone #,and last 4 digits of social to [email protected]

J Anderson

April 8, 2020 at 12:17 am

The Fed Gov knew that dumping the task of stimulus distribution onto State unemployment agencies would result in long delays in paying out benefits, and it’s almost certain that many benefits will never be paid out. This allowed the Fed Gov to create the perception that they did something bold and beneficial for U.S. citizens, relieving themselves of the responsibility and dumping it on State agencies. The fact is, what the Fed Gov did will likely prove to be of little benefit, as by the time the benefits get paid out, it will be too late for most small businesses and households that hung on as long as they could, but the money didn’t come in time.

Millions of lives will suffer grave consequences and many will never recover. What many don’t understand or consider is the domino effect. Recovering or rebuilding from financial ruin requires far more than the sum of what was lost. Your credit rating will fall dramatically, which may disqualify you for housing, loans, etc., and if you are able to finance anything, you will pay more due to a bad credit rating. The last thing you need at that moment is an even higher cost than what you were paying before the crisis, and it may prevent you from being able to finance anything.

Every utility will be more difficult and expensive to turn back on. You may lose your phone number and need to contact everyone to let them know the new number when you eventually can afford phone service again. You may still be on the hook for any payments not made to entities (mortgage, phone, utilities, etc.), which may lead to lawsuits and garnished wages if/when/as soon as you’re earning again. You’ll likely acquire penalties and fees for non-payment to credit cards.
A particularly sinister hit is overdraft fees on your checking accounts. When you do get some money to deposit, those fees will be deducted right off the top. Again, the last thing you need in that moment. Banks are looking forward to that additional revenue that cost them nearly nothing to earn.

Those are just a few of many examples of what you will likely suffer in addition to the obvious individual financial hardships. Don’t blindly believe the message of optimism coming from the Fed and State reps. Getting your life back to financial zero or balance will require far more than the sum of what was lost, and some will never be able to recover even after years of focused effort and doing the right thing. For many, American life as they knew it will change for the worse and their quality of life will never return to what it was.

In 2020, considering the technology that’s available, there is absolutely no excuse for the inability of Fed and State Gov agencies to distribute funds. We put a rover on Mars, people. The problem is not the virus nor the volume to be distributed. The problem is that these agencies did not spend the money to keep their systems up to date and robust so that they could handle fluctuations or special conditions. After 30 years in IT, I assure you the capable technology is readily available. You, the citizens of your state, just aren’t important enough to be a high enough priority to spend the money on apparatus that serves you. It’s that simple. The level of incompetence of those elected into positions of power is stunning, especially against the backdrop of all the flag-waving and chest-beating about “American exceptionalism”. There is nothing exceptional about how the Fed and State Govs are handling the stimulus package – a critical determiner of whether businesses, families and individuals will or will not plunge into financial ruin.

It’s possible, or even likely, that much of the money sent from the Fed Gov to State employment agencies will never be paid out or distributed at all. What do you think will happen with all of that money? Will the Fed Gov ask for it to be paid back? Doubt it. The status of that leftover money will become ambiguous and fall into a grey area – the perfect status for theft to occur. It will stay with the State and almost certainly, ultimately, be allocated to other projects or end up in the pockets of politics, politicians, and/or further laundered through unknown individuals close to those who are in control of the money.

Keep in mind that there’s little incentive for the DEO to pay out all of the money, but a big incentive to retain as much as possible, claiming that you, for one bogus reason or another, didn’t qualify.
Keep that in mind every time your effort to complete the application, or progress through the myriad of incoherent, inconsistent pages to request a payout, is blunted for one reason or another, including kicking you out of the system after all the time spent to get that far into the process.
Keep that in mind when considering the lack of, conflicting, and inconsistent guidance and instruction among those pages. Some have attempted to get through the process by trying every possible combination of selections, just to test to see if it’s even possible. While some have reported success, most report that the process is packed with confusing, conflicting, ambiguous, inconsistent questions that require choosing answers that don’t apply to the applicant. This starts a domino affect and builds-in reasons to deny the applicant in later pages of the process, making it actually, factually, impossible to satisfy the process and receive any benefits.

Although completely justified, it’s doubtful that complaining on social media will be enough to change that outcome. Those in State Govs are counting on you to eventually tire, give up, and turn your attention to other things so they can quietly repurpose the money that is due to you, for their own self-interests. When Fed Gov officials are made aware of what’s going on, they simply deny it and boast about what a great job they’re doing, so don’t expect any help from them. They’ve washed their hands of it and just refer you back to the same entity that’s the source of the problem.

They’re all asking you/us to be patriots and stand strong, do the right thing, tough it out, and show what we’re made of. Maybe the same should be applied to how we respond to the unpatriotic, disgusting, shameful denial of benefits that were promised and due, but intentionally or recklessly or irresponsibly or unlawfully made impossible to collect.
If most of our protest is going to be through social media, at the very least, we need to quadruple the volume and focus it on those with their hands on the levers. Make it clear that we’re not letting up and not going away until every last dime that is due is paid out.

sonha nguyen

April 8, 2020 at 9:07 am

please sign petition on change.org … tell your friends. this is my first time doing anything like this … time to stand up and let our voices be heard …. and, any input would be appreciated too

To change unemployment benefits in Florida and to fix the broken system that is the FL DEO.

http://chng.it/tnXjn2yR

Peter Amirault

April 8, 2020 at 9:34 am

If the people of Florida don’t remember this come the next few election days, they will have deserved what is happening now. Not only convince yourself but everyone you know. Don’t waste your time telling the politicians your plans, JUST DO IT!

Darryl Desirant

April 8, 2020 at 8:41 pm

My NEW PIN# doesn’t even work. It still says my credentials are not recognized. And of course NO ONE answers the 800#. That’s because NO ONE IS THERE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. And then they want me to email a copy of my Drivers License and SS Card to this email address via my email which is not a secure site. No way would I do this. DeSantis said he is hiring another 250 people to handle the calls. He needs to hire another 2500 people and actually have them answer the phones!
All you should need is your SS# to set up your new PIN# yourself.
Hire a hi-tech company to fix the site or probably a few high school kids could do it.
I’m going to mail a paper copy and hope I might see some un-employment money this year !!!!!!!!!!!

Barbara Vaught

April 9, 2020 at 7:20 am

I was on unemployment before all this happened and my funds has ran out on 3-15-2020 i couldn’t find work before and I dang sure can’t find work now but yet I can’t get no one on the phone to find out why I haven’t gotten the extension this is sad we work our buts off and for what to be put on the back burner and get crumbs to live off of I made 350.00 a week and only received 292.00 every two weeks I could barely make it on my pay check then no pay check to apply wait then get next to nothing

Paul

April 9, 2020 at 10:54 am

Finally got through to the identity verification line 800-297-0586 today after literally, several hundred attempts. I spent 1 hour and nine minutes on hold. Finally spoke to a human being – only to be informed that they are only able to reset PINs and they are not able to assist with ID Verification, despite being the published number for ID Verification.

She said that I’d have to resolve the ID issue through the “Connect Florida” toll free number and automated system. She couldn’t transfer me to the number, only recite it to me. So I dialed 800-204-2418 and input my claim number only to have the system tell me that they could not access my account due to technical difficulties. I have been at this since 3/27/20 and still have no idea if and when this money will come through to me.

Bill

April 9, 2020 at 11:20 am

Hello Someone help,People of Florida are starving out here,this has to be the worst agency of all time in the nation,im a out of work, and my industry is closed down,i exhausted my benefits and cant do anything with this site i can never get through to this 800 204 2418 number,im starving i have no money what is this state doing to fix this problem,ive got nothing but lip service from the governor and this guy who is in charge of the unemployment (Lawson) lip service thats all these officials are good for,they do nothing and get paid with our tax dollars,something tells me i got involved with the wrong job at least i wouldnt be hungry right now.You all should be ashamed of yourselves for letting down your people !!! Shame on you !!!

jon

April 9, 2020 at 6:54 pm

Finally got through, after weeks of trying to contact the DEO to verify my credentials, 100’s of phone calls. The person answering said we do not do that here. Then why does the website specifically say contact deo at # to verify credentials.

Somebody screwed up and now i’m at a dead end.

Is there another “secret” contact number I don’t know about???

Jessica Beninger

April 10, 2020 at 8:17 am

This is crazy! I was able to claim the 1st week out of work but nothing since. You would have thought when they decided to shut down restaurants and bars they would have had a system in place to deal with the massive unemployment calls. especially since florida is 75% or more restaurants and bars! We didn’t get a choice in this. We have families to feed and cant get any help.

David R.

April 11, 2020 at 12:42 pm

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that the old DEO website finally worked for me just now. Although 2-3 weeks ago I started the online application, I finally was able to finish it today with no hiccups or delays. Each screen changed quickly. Not sure if it was my turn to get lucky or if they finally did actually fix their website.

Good luck. I hope it all works for you now as well.

Happy Holidays!

John Seger

April 11, 2020 at 12:46 pm

Hey everyone. I filed in March 20. Today I logged in and I finally see what my weekly benefit amount will be. It shows $275.00 a week but nothing regarding the extra $600.00 a week everybody is supposed to be getting. At least there seems to be some progress and my case isn’t pending any longer.

Karen Settman

April 13, 2020 at 8:16 am

What does it mean that my claimant ID is locked (see example below)

Claimant ID: 1234567 (Locked)

Does this have anything to do with the identification verification?

James Palminteri

April 13, 2020 at 8:34 am

The system is complete mess. As of Apr 13, the same problems still exist. Scott and DeSantis will pay in November. No GOP gets my vote.

Celeste Hill

April 13, 2020 at 5:35 pm

Hi I am looking for help, I filed on 3/27 due to furlough of COVID virus, it shows processing and pending proof of identity and pending monetary. I cannot find anywhere on connect somewhere to upload my ID and there is nothing shown in pending issues. I received a letter on 4/9 asking me to provide my birth certificate and social security card signed but doesn’t tell me where to send them or how to get this info to Florida Unemployment. This is absolutely insane, does anyone know where to send this documentation to? I need to get paid and I am starting to panic. Thank you

James Palminteri
April 13, 2020 at 7:23 pm

DEO needs to fix their BS system.Floridian workers need the money to buy food!Walmart don’t take IOUs!
Peter
April 13, 2020 at 7:27 pm

I found this and used it to send my social security card and driver’s license. Make sure your social security card is signed and you can send a photo from your smartphone. Also, make sure you included your full name, Claim Number, email address and phone number. You won’t get a response back but I did this and never received any messages on the website that they still needed the information.

You can submit documents verifying your identity to the department. Please provide a signed copy of your Social Security card and a copy of your valid driver’s license or state ID. These can be sent by fax or email to, Fax: tel:321-332-6608 or E-mail: mailto:[email protected]

Kasey Muise

April 14, 2020 at 12:51 pm

If we mailed our paper application last week, and now the online process is working smoothly, should we ALSO be filing an immediate online application as well to cover ourselves?

Also, is there actually the manpower and a process now in place to actually retrieve, open, read, upload and process all the many thousands of written applications that will be pouring into the PO Box at the DEO?

Jeff K.

April 14, 2020 at 3:10 pm

Applied on 4/9 using the new system. Response was “resolved-completed. Thank you? This claim has been routed appropriately.” My claim on the website still shows, “resolved-completed.” Tried calling numerous time. The recording says that technical difficulties do not allow them to find my claim number, and I cannot reach a rep. Emailing is gets nowhere, except a huge “error” message. Tried emailing the appeals division (for lack of another email). Of course, I received no response.

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