SARASOTA – More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits just last week, setting a new record in the U.S. In Florida many residents in the hospitality industry have felt the severe effect. A total of 227,000 Floridians filed for unemployment benefits for the week that ended in March 28. For many, working through the process of obtaining desperately needed unemployment funds is fast turning into a huge hassle.
“I don’t really know what the status of my claim is, I guess it’s pending, but as far as trying to get through to Florida unemployment it’s darn near impossible,” said a Suncoast resident.
Furloughed nearly two weeks ago, this Suncoast resident doesn’t want to be identified. Since then he filed for unemployment benefits but can’t get through to anyone to complete the application. He says he was asked to verify his identity – That’s as far as it things are right now.
“There’s an 800 number on the website saying please call this number immediately to authenticate your ID. I’ve called that number at least two weeks and either the call does not go through,” he said. “When it does go through you get a recording saying that due to heavy call volume we cannot offer a call back service at this time try your call again later.”
New unemployment filers are not the only ones worried about the jobless impact here. Late last week, Politico.com reported Florida’s sudden and staggering unemployment has become a factor in President Trump carrying the Sunshine state in November. Politico goes on:
“Already anxious about Trump’s chances in the nation’s biggest swing state, Republicans now are dealing with thousands of unemployed workers unable to navigate the Florida system to apply for help. And the blow-back is directed straight at Trump’s top allies in the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott.”
Politico adds:
“Privately, Republicans admit that the $77.9 million system that is now failing Florida workers is doing exactly what Scott designed it to do — lower the state’s reported number of jobless claims after the great recession.”
Suncoast Republican, State Senator and State Party chair Joe Gruters was blunt in his assessment of this Sunshine state of affairs: “$77 million? Someone should go to jail over that.”
A Suncoast couple has been trying to login to an existing claim but having forgotten their pin, they’re trying to reach out for help.
“We need to call this 800 phone number to apparently reset our pin number, but that number busy all the time during business hour and otherwise,” they said. “We’ve tried several times to repeat the process and it continues to reject us.”
After a record number of claims were reported late last week, Governor DeSantis said the state is exploring paper applications, building a mobile app and hiring more call center workers.
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