Millions of unemployed Americans have watched their unemployment benefits cease since early summer, as Congress debated whether or not to extend federal emergency benefits to those who have exhausted state level benefits. A bill was passed July 22nd, and signed by President Obama that same evening. For most states that was all it took to restore benefits for their citizens. However, here in Florida, an expiration date of June 5th had been set for the state to receive federal extensions. Calls went out to have the existing wording amended or the date removed all together. The Senate was in special session Tuesday, July 20th, but refused to place the item on the agenda, stating they had to wait and see what happened at the federal level. The Florida Senate is not scheduled to reconvene until September, which meant benefits could stall until then. Luckily, Governor Charlie Crist has a heart and on Friday, July 23rd, signed an Execution Order amending the expiration date to November 20th.
Here we are some two weeks later and extended benefits still have not been restored for some 250,000 Floridians. According to the Agency for Workforce Innovation, which oversees Florida’s unemployment compensation division, they were waiting for guidance from the Department of Labor, yet they set August 9th as the magical date claims would begin to pay. The Agency for Workforce Innovations states recipients should receive a letter stating they are eligible and for what tier. If you ask those anxiously awaiting confirmation, most will tell you no such letter has been received; and if by chance you do find someone who has received a letter it is one generated in error that should have gone out when they exhausted funds in their last tier.
To add to the frustration that most are experiencing, Florida seems to have an old antiquated system that requires systematic input of claims. This process, according to the agency could take up to a week, meaning for some their records will not be updated until August 13th. This tidbit begs the question, what has the agency been doing since July 23rd?
I am sure the phones will be shutdown (yes, it is just as outdated as their computers) Monday morning from the overwhelming number of callers wondering why they still can’t claim their eligible weeks. If by chance you are lucky enough to get through, be forewarned, the average person answering the phones knows about as much as you do, in terms of when you will be able to file your claim. To read the latest press release on claiming benefits visit: http://www.floridajobs.org/publications/news_rel/GuidelinestoUCcusotmers.htm
Much Love,
Tracy
Tracy L. Darity is the author of “He Loves Me He Loves Me Not!” and “Love…Like Snow In Florida On A Hot Summer Day.” To learn more, visit www.TracyLDarity.com.
© Tracy L. Darity 2010
