Florida’s new unemployment benefits website, like healthcare.gov, the federal health insurance marketplace, has operational problems.
Overseen by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, “CONNECT,” the new system through which people seeking unemployment benefits must file their claims should have become operational on October 15. But, according to state officials and lawmakers throughout Florida, there have been numerous complaints from users who say the new system isn’t working properly. Users have also expressed their frustration with the difficulties encountered in reaching customer-service representatives on a telephone help line.
Today, Florida House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston urged Gov. Rick Scott to provide the Legislature and the public with an update on the inoperability of the website, “CONNECT.”
“Floridians in the precarious position of collecting unemployment compensation should not have had to experience barriers to claiming needed funds that they are justly owed,” said Thurston, in a statement.
Thurston added: “The first barrier against these folks was laid in place when it was decided to require computer access to apply for unemployment benefits. As Democratic legislators have previously said, many people face hardships that limit their access to computers with Internet connection. It’s unfortunate that Governor Scott failed to consider the realities facing many hard-working Florida families. My hope is that Governor Scott will take action to correct a system that’s supposed to assist working Floridians and their families when they most need the help.”
Thurston’s request to Scott follows a call by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) earlier this week, for a federal investigation into the launch of “CONNECT.”
Officials from the Department of Economic Opportunity are scheduled to brief House and Senate committee on the CONNECT system, as well as make a presentation before the House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee.
“CONNECT” comes with a price tag of $63 million to Florida taxpayers.
It is working better. !!!!
I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS HORRIBLE WEB SITE SINCE LATE JULY. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES. LAST TIME I HAD TO WAIT ON THE PHONE FOR 3 HOURS. SPOKE WITH A MAN WHO SAID I WOUILD GET ALL THE BACK PAY THAT THEY OWE ME. SO FAR NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. THIS SITUATION MUST BE ILLEGIAL. NOT TOO SURPRISED, WHEN ONE REMEMBERS WHAT LAWS WHERE BROKEN WHEN RICK SCOTT WAS THE CEO OF COLUMBIA HEALTHCARE. I W0RKED FOR COLUMBIA AT THAT TIME. I REMEMBER IT WELL. THIS HORRRIBLE MAN NEVER SEEMS TO HAVE TO PAY FOR HIS ACTIONS. HE BOUGHT THE GOVERNERS SEAT IN FLORIDA. I GUESS THE STATE WAS FOR SALE AT THE TIME. AND NOW THIS HORRIBLE MESS. THE MAN IS A CRIMINAL . WILL GO TO THE GULF TO BAY OFFICE TOMORROW AND KICK UP A LITTLE DUST.