Two U.S. Senators have called for a federal investigation into Florida’s Department Of Economic Opportunity as millions of Floridians have yet to receive all, if any, of their unemployment benefits.
Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Ron Wyden sent a letter to Scott Dahl, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Inspector General.
The letter asks Dahl to investigate FLDEO, mentioning while all states have seen record increases in unemployment, Florida’s performance has proved uniquely poor.
Schumer and Wyden’s letter mentions DEO’s failing CONNECT system, even stating that there were concerns about the system long before the pandemic.
The senators said they found a series of reports, from 2015, 2016 and 2019, where the State of Florida’s Auditor General repeatedly mentions problems with the CONNECT system and the department’s continued failure to correct them.
Website flaws included problems with the system’s accuracy, efficiency and security.
The senators’ letter points out that Florida’s Unemployment Trust Fund grew by nearly $17 million from March 1 through April 16, a time period one would expect the fund to decrease as benefits should be dispersed.
The senators said, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, Florida is the only state in the nation whose trust fund gained money during that time period.
Tiffany Vouse with DEO sent a statement about the matter to First Coast News:
“Senator Schumer and Senator Wyden unfortunately have their facts wrong and we would urge you to review the Reemployment Assistance Claims Dashboard. As of June 7, DEO has processed 2,015,205 claims which is 92.5% of confirmed unique claims. As of June 7, DEO has paid eligible claimants a total of $4.6 billion ($4,618,940,050).
Serving Floridians during this unprecedented economic and public health crisis continues to be the number priority of DEO.”
RELATED: Senate Democrats ask Department of Labor to investigate Florida's failing unemployment system