Over the past two months, the ABC Action News I-Team has supplied the Florida Department of Commerce with the names and information of nearly 300 people awaiting unemployment benefits and struggling with an adjudication hold to determine their benefits. This intervention turned out successful as some of these individuals reported finally receiving their unemployment benefits. One such person was Monica Washington who was unemployed, unable to pay her rent, and had been on a five-month hold with her case unviewed.

Another story shared was that of Robert Gioia and his wife Caitlin, who would have been homeless had they not received assistance from their family and friends. Gioia, laid off from his management job, expressed his frustration with the state, demanding more action to relieve the individuals still in their predicament. Even with these individuals receiving aid finally, the I-Team continues to contact CareerSource and the attorney general’s office in an attempt to get responses from the Department of Commerce, which has largely ignored the calls and emails.

The struggle of these individuals highlights the importance of reaching out to the right agents or representatives to get help with unemployment benefits. For people residing in California, one of the ways they can receive the help they need is to contact EDD (Employment Development Department). Many people often struggle to get through to EDD, but there are tools and resources available to simplify this task. One such resource is eddcaller.com, a website where you can get detailed information on how to speak with a live person in EDD in California. This resource could be particularly helpful for those waiting a long time for their unemployment benefits or encountering difficulties in the process of their claim. With the right steps, assistance can be expedited and alleviate the stress of waiting.