5 weeks in Florida fails to fix unemployment

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida, like many states struggled to pay the avalanche of unemployment claims in the wake the COVID-19 pandemic. But, while other states have started to catch up, Florida remains the worst in the nation in unemployment claims processed.

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Data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity shows just how poorly the state is performing. According to the state’s numbers, as of Tuesday night only 14.2% of claimants have been paid and only 25.5% of claims have been processed.

“The bills keep piling up and everybody is being gracious, but by the time things pick back up, I’m going to be so far behind,” says Javier Cortes who was furloughed from his job driving a shuttle between Port Canaveral and the airport.

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Cortes says he filed with DEO right after he was furloughed, but still has not seen any money.

“Now the one that pops up says that I am eligible for monetary benefits but where it shows where I’m supposed to get money it says that I’m disqualified,” says Cortes. “I’ve been calling and it is a constant can’t get through, can’t get ahold of anybody.”

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