TAMPA, Fla. — The state is still earning millions in interest on its unemployment fund as out-of-work Floridians wait for the checks they are owed.
Back in May, I-Team Investigator Kylie McGivern found Florida was earning more on its state unemployment trust fund than any other state in the country — nearly $25 million in the first three months of the year.
State unemployment fund earning millions in interest, as Floridians wait on unemployment checks
The I-Team obtained new accounting records and discovered Florida’s unemployment fund earned $21 million in interest in the second quarter, between April and the end of June.
That’s again more than any other state in the country.
In Texas, the state unemployment fund earned $5.4 million in interest in the second quarter. California’s unemployment fund earned $5.5 million. New York earned $3.9 million in interest on its state unemployment fund during that time.
Florida has been slow to pay out unemployment checks. Thousands are still waiting to receive all of state and federal unemployment checks they are owed.
So far, ABC Action News has sent the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity the names and information for about 23,000 people who reached out for help in getting their unemployment money.
The I-Team contacted five random people from that list this week and four people responded. One person told us they finally received all of their unemployment checks. Three others said they are still waiting.
I-Team: Fighting for your unemployment claims
If you’re still owed state or federal unemployment, we have instructions on how to send us your information.
