ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s unemployment website was down Thursday night and was malfunctioning again Friday, which is the latest in a series of frustrations for Central Floridians not getting paid.
Hundreds of people have been reporting that they can’t get in to check their accounts, claim weeks still unemployed or upload the paperwork the state tells them they must.
Now, three and a half months in, one woman said she is fed up with the unemployment system. The state dashboard told Tammie Bricarell that 100% of all eligible claims have been paid out, and she wants to know where all her money is.
“One night, the governor was on there saying there’s only 0.1% who have not received their benefits and I was like, ‘baloney,’” Bricarell said.
Bricarell walked Channel 9 reporter Deanna Allbrittin through the full timeline of her battle for nearly $10,000 in unemployment benefits.
The benefits date back from March 18 when she was laid off. Three days later, she made a mistake while filing for unemployment, when she received her first and only payment, the federal $600. Then, two months later it was corrected.
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Since then, her claim has been disqualified and she’s noted every time she mailed, emailed and faxed while trying to figure out why.
“You hear from people, ‘I just sent in my application. I got it right away.’ And I’m like, ‘I was one of the first ones,’” she said.
The confusing part for Bricarell is that her claim shows “no action need” but she keeps getting letters in the mail telling her she won’t get a dime unless she submits a monetary reconsideration. However, the letters are very delayed.
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“I threw the envelope away and I had to dig it out and I looked at the postmark date on it and my husband said, ‘That’s crazy!’” she said.
The first letter said it was mailed May 18 and it gives her 20 days to submit what’s needed.
But the letter wasn’t postmarked until June 8, which is already past the 20 days.
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She said she’s gotten two more letters like it in the past three weeks. Both letters were mailed after the deadline for her to respond.
“I was patient, very patient, very patient and when I started sending you emails, I was at the point where I need help,” Bricarell said.
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