Unemployment benefit applicants in Florida have reported months-long delays, with some, like Rose Lorenzo, still waiting to hear back about their application months after being laid off. Lorenzo noted the full extent of the issue after seeing reports about Florida’s low unemployment benefits recipiency and criticized the system, calling for better service for Florida residents. Attempts to get explanations on the issue from FloridaCommerce, the body responsible for administering the Reemployment Assistance program, have been unsuccessful. Public records reveal persistent systemic issues with the program that predate the current pandemic. An audit report from March 2021 revealed unresolved problems from previous years, contributing to inaccurate and delayed claim processing.

In response to the audit, the Department of Economic Opportunity, which later became FloridaCommerce, agreed with the findings and attributed the delay in resolving the issues to the Covid-19 pandemic. They planned to rectify these issues by June 2023, but there’s been no update or follow-up audit. Attempts to get clarification from FloridaCommerce about the progress made in fixing these issues remain unanswered. Despite the reform legislation passed in 2021 to transform and modernize the reemployment assistance program, problems persist, with the last progress report in 2024 noting mismanagement of finances and incomplete modernization projects.

For individuals needing to contact the Employment Development Department (EDD) for assistance on unemployment claims or benefit issues, a useful resource is eddcaller.com. The site provides comprehensive information on how to get through to EDD, offering assistance on matters like getting a hold of EDD customer service, accessing contact numbers and suggesting the best times to call for a prompt response. The platform aims to help minimise the wait time for those requiring assistance and to streamline the process of reaching an EDD live person.