WHAT'S GOING ON?

Was just on a COVID 19 update regarding Unemployment claims for my news paper and listening to the woes of our community is heartbreaking! So, I'm writing a letter.

Dear Governor Ron DeSantis John Satter Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is there a community task force that's established to help people understand the hold up in receiving their benefits?

Is it accurate that the Unemployment claims are waiting for employers to verify information from applications BUT because some Human Resources are working themselves remotely, that paper communication possibly has NOT been received or reviewed - and until it is, the claim remains in a PENDING status?

WHAT ARE FURLOUGHED AND LAID-OFF PEOPLE TO DO WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR THEIR EMPLOYERS TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION?

With all the money Florida has spent on hiring contractors to address the unemployment disaster, is there no designated team to reach out to Employers to find out why the EMPLOYERS are not responding to your office unemployment claims team OR assist in intake of the information since EMPLOYER are DISPLACED or working remotely?

ALARMING! the Agent Assist representative cannot pass the call to a manager who can explain better what happens during the waiting period "Pending" on the applications and the Agent Assist does not know their manager or supervisor.

Another issue that was brought up is that some people will receive INELIGBLE Letters for the additional emergency funds and are unsure of how to even apply for this money.

SHELTERING IN PLACE FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS (or longer while waiting for a determination), COULD BE AS LETHAL AS THE VIRUS ITSELF IF THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY, NO MEANS AND NO HOPE FOR THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA.

We totally understand that these are UNPRECEDENTED TIMES - we hear this a thousand times a day; so, let's do something about it... Let's flood our community people with updates and effective town halls. Perhaps like the COVID 19 testing sites, have "Get Your Claims Questions ANSWERED" sites at credentialed food drives.

Thank you,

The Relevant Book Writer