DEO

Sara Marie, of Fort Myers, is one of thousands of Florida residents tired of waiting for unpaid unemployment benefits, wondering if they will ever get paid.

The mother of two faced another system glitch that locked her DEO account in July, blocking an estimated seven weeks, $1,200, in back-benefits.

A single mother of three and a man have been living the same Department of Economic Opportunity benefits delay for the last 6 months.

From mid-March to May 2020, the DEO was automatically requesting payments for people. “All I drew (for unemployment) was about six weeks,” Watwood said. They’re among those dealing with the latest round of overpayment notices from DEO. Read: City of Winter Park hosting job fair to fill 50 open positions“Navigating this has been one of the newest crises of the unemployment system,” State Rep. Anna Eskamani said. “While the system automatically processed your Reemployment Assistance benefits, claimants will now need to recertify these weeks in the system.

A missing 1-year-old boy last seen in Marion County on Tuesday may be with two adults heading to Illinois, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Hurricane season is slow and may close up shop early, and that’s a good thing!

A wide range of outdoor festivals are popping up across our area on Saturday.

Instead of a check for $1,000, a Titusville waitress received a check for $175 with an explanation that the missing funds were directed to the DEO because of an unemployment benefits overpayment.

A local audio engineer and his family are out of sync after trying to acquire his “expired” benefits from the Department of Economic Opportunity for the past six months.

When Orange County Fire Rescue veteran Erik Siena lost his 5-month battle with brain cancer this past May, his wife Cristy filed for the death benefit provided under Florida Senate Bill 426.

ID.me, the company hired to verify the identification of Florida unemployment account holders has launched a full-court press to stop cybercriminals employing social engineering to steal the personal information of claimants applying for unemployment assistance.

ORLANDO, FLA. — After 18 months of people reporting problems receiving payments from the state’s unemployment system, now many are receiving bills; the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) says those claimants were overpaid. “All I drew [for unemployment] was about six weeks,” Watwood said. Neither of them have thought about Florida’s unemployment system since they stopped collecting benefits more than a year ago, until they received bills from the DEO. “Navigating this has been one of the newest crises of the unemployment system,” state Rep. Anna Eskamani said. Although the system has automatically processed re-employment assistance benefits, claimants will now need to recertify these weeks in the system.

Good morning, it’s <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/team/G2WRTMN7I5GORLWJ3QHI7LBSVA/" target="_blank"><b>Mike Holfeld</b></a> with the latest edition of <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/topic/Make_Ends_Meet/" target="_blank"><b>Make Ends Meet</b></a>.

Volusia County schools is reopening its online learning application for students Friday morning.

An ambitious security protocol launched by the Department of Economic Opportunity is aimed to help protect claimants in Florida.

Stephanie Lindgren had been waiting since April of last year to get a claimant ID number issued by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity so she could collect state and federal unemployment benefits of more than $30,000.

A Port St. Lucie man’s five-month battle to recoup more than $11,000 in state and federal unemployment benefits may finally be resolved this week, thanks to the Department of Economic Opportunity and News 6.

The now infamous DEO PIN reset debacle was successfully addressed and updated this week; however, the software remedy saw thousands of people still unable to apply for weekly benefits because their state unemployment accounts were locked and, in some cases, their identifications needed to be verified again.

The Department of Economic Opportunity starts the first wave of PIN reset instructions to claimants stuck in the PIN reset loop.

Thousands of state unemployment accounts were locked without warning this week in a move to counter a potential data breach.

A leasing agent handling properties near the UCF campus has been waiting three months to collect unemployment benefits after a cyber thief collected state benefits in her name while she was still working.

The Department of Economic Opportunity says there was a data security incident involving potentially fraudulent activity connected to claimant accounts within the Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System, commonly known as CONNECT.

Anna Maria Brown’s unemployment benefits have been stuck in “pending status” because a five-day job with a Miami pet clinic last October triggered a returned to work status from the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Kelly Salter’s decision to undergo knee replacement surgery was supposed to coincide with a scheduled layoff from her kitchen supervisor job at Rollins College.

Lisa and David Fontana never imagined they would be dependent on state unemployment benefits when they moved to the Orlando area from Chicago in 2020.

The couple told News 6 there were no problems with their DEO accounts until they “recertified.”

A Florida graduate was convinced his missing federal benefits check worth more than $4,000 dollars would never be found after it had been processed but unaccounted for since June 9, 2020.

News 6 has uncovered a plot to steal personal information from residents who are trying to obtain state unemployment benefits.

On Monday, Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity announced the state will be withdrawing from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program.

Tamika Nixon is convinced she is a victim of inaccurate business records.

Francisco Mojica admits he never would have survived the past four months without the financial help of his mother because he had no access to state or federal unemployment benefits.

Navarro had been fighting to get access to thousands of dollars in state and federal benefits since November 2020.

A single mom facing divorce and mounting bills is in the middle of six-month stalemate with the Department of Economic Opportunity to receive $6,700 in back unemployment benefits. Jada Jordan, a physical therapist assistant, told News 6 she lost her job in July 2020 but was deemed ineligible for unemployment benefits until October 2020 because her salary did not meet the minimum earned in the previous quarter. “I have not gotten one payment,” a frustrated Jordan said. Even though her DEO account status shows it is active-eligible, Jordan has never received the benefits to which she is entitled. News 6 presented Jordan’s unemployment documents to the DEO office in Tallahassee this week.

The state Department of Economic Opportunity reported Monday that Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in January, down 0.3 percentage points from a revised December rate. AdFlorida initially reported its December unemployment rate at 6.1 percent, but that number was subsequently revised to 5.1 percent. “But towards the end of the year and continuing in January, we’ve seen people coming back into the labor force. The Jacksonville metropolitan area was at 4.4 percent, and the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area was at 4.6 percent. The statewide 4.8 percent unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted, while the local rates are not.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Alicia Warren and Alexandra Marshall blame the Department of Economic Opportunity for leaving their families without thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits. Warren, a single mother of three, told News 6 she earned about $184 at a temporary job with Manpower USA only to lose the job after a week. “I just got a letter (from DEO) saying, ‘Congratulations on returning to work,’” Warren said. “I thought, Are you kidding me?’”Finding work to fit her children’s schedule has been a challenge for the Orlando resident. Hamrick said holding onto to a full-time job with benefits will be difficult despite Florida’s easing jobless claims.

When the Department of Economic Opportunity asked Cherryl Faye to return the $3,300 unemployment benefits she received last year she said she started to panic. AdIn a second letter written in August the DEO presented a different monetary summary that showed Faye earned no wages in 2019. Despite the conclusion, Faye was told she would still have to appeal the decision to avoid going to court or collections. A few days later, Faye was contacted by a DEO employee who helped her apply for PEUC benefits. News 6 and the DEO found she is eligible for 18 weeks of state unemployment benefits she never collected.

click to enlarge Myvaccine.fl.gov interfaceThe state of Florida has gone live with a website for Floridians to "pre-register" to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. We can only hope it functions better than the DEO virtual waiting room to register for unemployment benefits.The site, myvaccine.fl.gov , aims to offer a central online hub where residents can get in the queue to receive the vaccine in their home counties.Once you have used the site to pre-register, you will be contacted by phone or email when vaccination appointment slots become available in your county.Currently there are only four categories of the Florida populace eligible for vaccination: Florida residents 65 or more years of age; long-term care facility residents and staff; healthcare personnel with direct patient contact; and individuals deemed especially vulnerable to COVID-19.Those who don't meet any of those criteria may sign up through that same website to receive email updates on changes in eligibility requirements.

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Denisse Higgins-Tuffley says her business as a courtroom analyst for insurance defense cases went from flourishing to flat when COVID-19 forced courts to shut down last year. When her business came to a halt, she told News 6 she applied for unemployment benefits, complete with 1099 tax forms. “I have a spreadsheet and it looks like they owe me $14,000,” the frustrated courtroom analyst said. She told News 6 the DEO needs a separate website to accommodate self-employed workers who find themselves out of work and in need of weekly benefits. The DEO is usually able to update accounts presented by News 6 in five business days.

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Bonnie Nasset, 70, of Winter Park, had been waiting for jobless benefits since July despite being told her Department of Economic Opportunity unemployment account was active and eligible. “They’re ignoring me!”The semi-retired gig worker was taking temporary jobs in Orange County for Kelly Services in 2019 and the start of 2020. | Fifth-largest lotto jackpot up for grabs]However, in the middle of March 2020, the job opportunities stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everything (on the DEO account) says ‘hold, hold, hold.’”Nasset said she refused to give up and turned to News 6 as her last hope. This would never have happened w/o your effort.”If you have an unemployment issue email: makeendsmeet@wkmg.com or mholfeld@wkmg.com

“But now I’m in some kind of technical error loop.”Jernigan was furloughed from her transport coordinator position with Lux2 Transfer in Merritt Island in March but was unable to receive unemployment benefits until June. “We have sent Ms. Jernigan’s information to our Reemployment Assistance team so that they can take a look into her account,” Landrum said. Landrum said each new quarter provides the “opportunity to reapply for benefits” on a quarterly basis, following federal guidance. [MAKE ENDS MEET: News 6 debuts initiative to provide budget guidance for viewers]According to Landrum, the DEO must determine if individuals who are currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) are ineligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits. If you have an unemployment benefits issue, email News 6 investigator Mike Holfeld at makeendsmeet@wkmg.com.

“The last time I was paid (by the Department of Economic Opportunity) was the week of July 5 to July 11,” she said. News 6 found the DEO website had the mother of two listed as having been discharged from BR Interviewing . When COVID-19 hit she was furloughed after just one month on the job. The Department has put together this video to help claimants navigate their CONNECT inbox. If you have an unemployment benefits issue send an email with a copy of your DEO account to makenedsmeet@wkmg.com

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Stephan Golub never imagined a job application with the Census Bureau would leave him ineligible for unemployment assistance from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for 11 weeks. He applied for the position to earn extra money but because of COVID-19 the hiring process was frozen until August. “I was on their [Census Bureau] files to work for them but never did,” Golub said. Golub presented Census Bureau records that confirm he was deemed ineligible for the job because his residency had changed from Orange to Seminole County. The agency had Golub listed as “returned to work” leaving his current unemployment benefits claim of 11 weeks or $1,500 in payments on hold.

PALM COAST, Fla. – Jennifer Perry has seen her Palm Coast condominium evolve from a five-star Airbnb to a reservation casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Before COVID, I was 100% booked,” Perry told News 6. [READ MORE: News 6, DEO help single mom unlock 12 weeks of unemployment benefits | News 6, DEO unlock unemployment account ‘suspended’ for 17 weeks]“I’ve lowered my prices probably 20-30%,” Perry said. Perry told News 6 she has been waiting seven months for some sort of financial relief. "It’s not even a matter of frustration, I’m worn the heck down.”DEO Press Secretary Paige Landrum said Perry’s case is unique.

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Casey Thorner operated a prosperous home cleaning service in Marion County until COVID-19 created a wave of cancellations and forced her to file for unemployment benefits with the Department of Economic Opportunity. “It was like my whole world shut down,” Thorner told News 6 from her Ocala home. “I filled out my (unemployment) application, obviously I put this is how much I made,” she said. News 6 presented the records to the DEO’s Tallahassee office last week in an attempt to move the account review along. "There are great people at the DEO just as frustrated as we are, Thorner told News 6.

When Kimberly Kleckly and Dominique Fusco emailed News 6 for help to secure unemployment benefits from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity they had already been waiting 13 weeks to receive financial relief. Both women had DEO unemployment CONNECT accounts that were active, eligible and on hold. Kleckly said she reported the new job to the DEO which suspended her benefits and placed her account on hold. Meanwhile, Dominque Fusco lost her Pensacola apartment to Hurricane Sally on Sept. 16 adding to the stress of waiting for unemployment benefits. “I can find a place to live now,10,000 pounds have been lifted from my shoulders.”If you have an unemployment benefits problem email us at makeendsmeet@wkmg.com

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Department of Economic Opportunity will be temporarily taking down the online portal where Floridians can apply for unemployment benefits in order to fix some errors that have been causing glitches for users. The Connect system will be unavailable beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Thursday. [TRENDING: Trump supporter hit girl in face, deputies say | This Central Fla. city is the best place to live | Were 3 Orlando cops poisoned?] Records show that more than four million claims have been filed between then and now, nearly 3.8 million of which have been paid out. If users still have trouble accessing the Connect portal after it returns online Thursday, they’re asked to call the customer service center at 833-FL-APPLY.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jack Stroming could be the face of a state unemployment benefits tale that has been repeated dozens of times since job layoffs began back in early March. “I’ve done this for 31 years,” the frustrated live events manager said from his South Florida home. After eight weeks of checks paid through the federal paycheck protection program, Stroming was forced to tap every resource he had to make ends meet. On June 6 the PPP benefits ran out but his application for unemployment benefits was caught in a DEO delay. If an employer is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program, this may affect claimants' eligibility for state or federal Reemployment Assistance programs.”If you have an unemployment benefits issue email us at makeendsmeet@wkmg.com.

For 17 weeks, Eugene Rosenquest waited for some response from the Department of Economic Opportunity to issue much needed unemployment benefits. He said his DEO account had been suspended after an apparent mix up that left the account claim status suspended and the monetary status pending. On Thursday, Landrum said Rosenquest’s account was already under review. News 6 reviewed his DEO account and confirmed the funds were issued on Thursday. If you have an unemployment benefits issue, email us at makeendsmeet@wkmg.com

News 6, DEO unlock unemployment account ‘suspended’ for 17 weeksPublished: September 18, 2020, 7:27 pmFor 17 weeks, Eugene Rosenquest waited for some response from the Department of Economic Opportunity to issue much needed unemployment benefits.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Joshua Arroyo is a chef without a job, unemployment benefits or his own place to live and he blames the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for his predicament. The 30-year-old Ocoee man was furloughed from his job as executive chef at the Wyndham Hotel on March 20 and said he filed for unemployment benefits the same day. Arroyo said he called the Department of Economic Opportunity to “notify them” that he had found employment and was told to keep the last $256 unemployment payment. State Sen. Linda Stewart (Orlando-D) has been making trips to Tallahassee every two weeks to personally deliver unemployment claims to the DEO office for constituents like Arroyo who are still waiting for their unemployment benefits. In Joshua Arroyo’s case, the DEO team was able to issue a payment but an issue prompted a delay on additional checks.

The first private call center contracted by the state of Florida in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to handle unemployment assistance inquiries answered just 8.3% of the calls it received in June, records show. According to the contract, DEO reserved the right to increase or decrease the number of calls above or below the 10,000 call estimate. As of August 20, more than 6,200 customer service representatives have been trained to assist individuals seeking additional information about their reemployment assistance claim, said Landrum. Average wait times for the Reemployment Assistance Customer Service Center are less than 25 minutes, and wait times continue to decrease, Landrum said. The answer rate in the Customer Service Centers increases weekly.The Department continues to issue proactive correspondence to claimants to ensure it maintains its reputation of transparency and to help decrease demand for Customer Service Representatives, Landrum added.

The DEO told her a question regarding possible fraud triggered a rejection for her first application for benefits in March. She said she was told to file again and was approved for state reemployment benefits but denied Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Her DEO unemployment claims sheet confirms she started receiving state and federal jobless benefits on June 6. DEO press secretary Paige Landrum said because Black was eligible for state jobless benefits, the PUA benefits were no longer available to her. According to the DEO reemployment assistance claims dashboard, an estimated 651,000 claims are still listed as ineligible but 95%of Florida’s jobless claims have been paid.

The Busch Gardens restaurant supervisor told News 6 the DEO notice indicated there were some issues that suggested she might not be eligible after all. When she called the DEO to get some answers, she said the conversation with the woman checking her account was very confusing. ”I said, ‘I just received two checks from you guys.‘”Brannon’s W2 confirms she has been an employee with Busch Gardens and is eligible for unemployment benefits. The single mom of a 17-year-old boy said she has worked for Busch Gardens for “nearly 23 years” and was surprised to see a list of employers and a Social Security number that didn’t match her personal information. Brannon’s account was locked due to duplicate claims (one with a wrong social security number), but our team has been in contact with her and we have resolved her issue,” Landrum wrote.

click to enlarge Screenshot via DEO websiteOver the past couple weeks, Floridas unemployment claims have skyrocketed and the $7.7 million website meant to handle it all has been a catastrophic failure.However, yesterday the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity debuted a new mobile-friendly site that, so far, seems to actually work.The new site can be found here: www.FloridaJobs.org/RAApplication On Wednesday, the state of Florida also rolled out a new mobile-friendly coronavirus page, which can be found at: www.FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19 . The new site features links to the new job site, as well as info about paper applications.According to the site, before applying be sure to have the following: Social Security number Drivers License or State ID number Your employment for the last 18 months including for each employerAdditionally, if you are one of the following, make sure you have this additional information available: Not a US Citizen: Alien Registration Number or other work authorization form Military Employee: DD-214 Member 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 may be used Federal Employee: SF 8 or SF 50 Union Member: Union Name, Hall Number, and Phone Number