State's Unemployment Claims Site To Go "Dark" For A Week
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – If you rely on unemployment to get by, take note, your next check may be a little late.
Florida's online system that processes unemployment claims is going dark for several days. The state is switching to a new $63 million computer system to process what the state calls "reemployment assistance."
State officials tout the new system —called CONNECT — as a huge improvement over the current 30-year-old system. The new system will also feature new anti-fraud measures.
Floridians who are jobless will not be able to apply for unemployment insurance benefits starting at noon on Wednesday. The claims system will remain unavailable until Oct. 15.
People who fail to put in their claims in time may have their payments delayed.
There roughly 240,000 people in Florida receiving unemployment insurance benefits.
The state in 2011 began requiring that unemployed people file their claims online.
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