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Many Floridians awaiting unemployment benefits are at their breaking point

"The information that the state still needs to make the application complete is information you can only submit on a broken website.” - Rep Carlos G. Smith

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — We are hitting about nine weeks since many people lost their job due to the pandemic—those are nine weeks of bills and food costs stacking up and wiping many people out, and it’s getting harder to hold it together.

“I can’t pay my rent. I can’t pay my electric,” cried Jessica Burton.

As the days pass, the tears pour for the many who have yet to receive unemployment benefits payments or even finish their application

The main reasons Governor Ron DeSantis says unemployment benefits claims aren’t being processed:

  • The claimant did not provide info for all required fields in the application
  • The claimant’s identity cannot be verified/authenticated
  • The claim has been locked for suspected fraudulent activity
  • The claimant did not provide sufficient work history information

“It’s insulting to say 'they’re not doing something right,'” said Clinton Primm, who has been trying to submit his application for those nine weeks. “I’m doing everything right. I know how to fill out a form.”

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is mentally and emotionally drained. His constituents are crying out for his help, and unfortunately he can’t do much more than beg the Department of Economic Opportunity to contact them.

“It’s a slap in the face,” Smith said. “It’s an insult to them. It pours salt in the wound. It’s not their fault if the application isn’t complete. Why? Because the information that the state still needs to make the application complete is information you can only submit on a broken website.”

At that same news conference, DeSantis mentioned that 97.6% of applicants have been paid—a statement that fired many applicants, still without their payments, up.

That 97.6% represents those who, after finishing their application, were deemed eligible.

What the governor has not said is what percentage of money owed has been paid to those people.

That 97.6% does not include people whose claims have been stuck pending for weeks. And as they wait—their livelihoods are dwindling away.

“People have told us they’re starving,” Smith said. “They’re rationing food at home because the state has failed them and they cannot get ahold of DEO.”

Burton has literally been in pain as her savings dwindles…she’s had to choose between a dental procedure for excruciating pain and feeding her kids.

 “Kids take first priority,” Burton said.

Smith said he can no longer tell his constituents to be patient—but keep trying, keep their heads up and their day will come.

RELATED: Not a hack: Seeming 'spoof' email is legitimate request from Department of Economic Opportunity

RELATED: Unemployment Maze: 8 weeks of waiting, still no answers for First Coast woman who applied for aid in March

RELATED: Unemployment Maze: 'Zeroed out' wages leading to 'ineligible' status, state does not acknowledge problem

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