Frustration grows as thousands spend hours trying to file for unemployment

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 130,000 Floridians have filed for unemployment this past week.

The number is likely even higher than that because many people have said they can’t get through online.

For those that have gotten through, they say $275 isn’t enough to pay their bills.

Lynne Reback said it took her two to three hours to file for unemployment benefits.

The mother of five was laid off two weeks ago from her job as a bartender at Ruby Tuesday’s in Orlando’s airport.

Reback and other workers are asking for the governor to do something so they can feed their kids.

“I am asking that he do something to expedite this unemployment system,” Reback said.

Reback and many others are waiting hours to get their claims filed.

Many have said an overloaded website continues to kick them out, and when they try to call the Department of Economic opportunity no one answers.

Channel 9’s Shannon Butler tried to navigate the site herself.

The first time she tried it she was kicked off just three minutes after she started.

She started over and the website couldn’t verify her Social Security number but let her continue.

Butler said she got through a few more steps but was ultimately kicked off with a message that said there was an unexpected technical error.

She kept trying online until she decided to call, which didn’t seem to make the process any easier.

With several more failed attempts, Butler’s frustration grew. She never was able to file for unemployment.

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com