System error deems thousands of unemployed Floridians ineligible for benefits
First Coast News sent 1257 claims to the Department of Economic Opportunity and asked for answers as to why this was happening to them. Author: Josslyn Howard Updated: 7:12 PM EST December 30, 2020
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. Thousands of unemployment claims have been riddled with problems after the CARES Act expired on Dec. 26.
Thousands of claimants who utilized the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA) were switched to a regular state program they don’t qualify for. This caused them to have an ineligible status for future benefits.
First Coast News sent 1257 claims to the Department of Economic Opportunity and asked for answers as to why this was happening to them.
The Monday after Christmas, unemployed Floridians got a glimmer of hope, after President Trump had signed into law the congressional relief package that would extend their jobless benefits. But that feeling soon turned to confusion when they logged onto the website the state uses to handle claims.
Federal unemployment aid won t arrive for weeks orlandosentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from orlandosentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Federal unemployment aid won t arrive for weeks - South Florida Sun-Sentinel sun-sentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sun-sentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
/
Some states carved out single-day poll workers from being denied unemployment benefits. Florida did not.
After losing her job at a Montessori school in Hollywood, Krista searched far and wide for another job as she collected unemployment benefits for the first time in her life.
And then in the lead up to the November elections, she took notice that elections supervisors from across the state were desperate for poll workers. Elderly residents, who tend to work the jobs, were opting not to do so because of the coronavirus pandemic.
WLRN is committed to providing the trusted news and local reporting you rely on. Please keep WLRN strong with your support today. Donate now. Thank you.