Benefits for the unemployed in Florida have turned stingy as unemployment problems in the state continue. This was the observation of many Floridians, especially those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis. Many observed that the state's program is "the stingiest" in the country, having the lowest, shortest and slowest payouts.

News outlets reported that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is presently far behind other states when it comes to pacing the distribution of federally and state-backed unemployment benefits.

Reports also said that since mid-March, the DEO has granted $1.5 billion in state claim, and $6.4 billion more in federal joblessness claims as part of an agreement with the US Treasury.

The $600-a-week federal benefits are more than the state's weekly claims of $275. These claims, as the claimants have observed, are the shortest as they only have a 12-week period. 

Florida law reportedly provides an extension of the benefits, though with some cautions. It said the state's law provides "an extra week of benefits for each 0.5 percent Florida's unemployment rate increases above five percent" with a maximum benefit disbursement of "23 weeks."

Nevertheless, the rate of unemployment would need to hold more than five percent, and the said extended assistance would not take into effect until October this year or the third fiscal quarter.

Identity Theft, Making Unemployment Benefits' so-called 'Stinginess' 

Just as many Floridians await action from the government regarding the additional, extension and faster disbursement of unemployment benefits, another problem occurred, making the program even stingier. 

An online news site reported the case of Monica DaSilva, and the first identified Florida target of an apparently "interstate plot get to use the identity of taxpayers" when applying for unemployment claims in another state.

The veteran hotel employee said she got a letter from Massachusetts indicating she was qualified for the 39-week "state of unemployment benefits" and the federal joblessness benefits. Dasilva continued, she never applied for such grants in that state.

Learning about this convinced DaSilva, there is a link between the date of what she called "phantom application" and a recent Florida DEO report that about less than a hundred people had "personal data breached" when there was an accidental sending of Social Security numbers to a third party last month.

The notice DaSilva received from the state of Massachusetts suggested the completion of the application several days after the breach.

The DEO's Initiative

In late-May, Florida DEO already said, it was already dealing with a "data security incident" linked to unemployment benefits.

The department advised when applying for unemployment claims, and they need to include personal information which includes not just their social security numbers but their names and addresses, too.

In addition, the DEO said it already reached out to those affected by the incident and offered protection services available for their identity for free.

Paige Landrum, the DEO Press Secretary, said in an email, the issue was solved within an hour after they learned about the occurrence. 

And, while the issue was addressed with just an hour, Landrum added, "In an abundance of caution," they are making available for affective people, identity protection services free of charge. The department has advised as well, any affected individual, to report any unlawful activity related to their financial accounts.

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