TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The state’s unemployment office says it’s retraining its customer call center staff after I-Team Investigator Kylie McGivern found operators giving out wrong information.
Out-of-work Floridians contacted the I-Team after they were told by the state’s unemployment call center operators that they would have to contact the U.S. Government to ask about their federal unemployment checks.
But that’s just not true.
Florida is responsible for distributing those federal unemployment checks, approved through the CARES Act.
The I-Team contacted the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to ask about the false information being given to claimants.
In an email, a spokesperson told the I-Team, “DEO is engaging in additional training with our Customer Service Center staff to ensure misinformation is no longer disseminated. DEO does send the federal payments.”
ABC Action News continues to press for answers from DEO on a daily basis, about why thousands of Floridians continue to wait for unemployment benefits they are owed, including $600 weekly federal checks.
The state is still not giving any specifics on when people can expect those retroactive federal unemployment payments.
If you are one of the thousands still waiting on unemployment benefits, please fill out this form in this link. ABC Action News is sharing that information with the state to hold government officials accountable.
RECOMMENDED: Still waiting for unemployment benefits? Fill out this form and we'll send it to FLDEO