WASHINGTON-
Florida has become one of the strictest states in regards to their unemployment
and welfare requirements. This year’s new requirement has created an immense
obstacle for struggling applicants.
According
to the Huffington Post, “Earlier this year Scott signed legislation that
will make Florida the stingiest
state in America for people laid off through no fault of their own.
Once the law takes full effect in January, jobless Floridians will be eligible
for fewer and fewer weeks of benefits as the state's unemployment rate goes
down.”
This bill is already in effect and has made it even harder
for citizens to receive unemployment benefits. Now, applicants must take an
initial skills review. The initial skills review is a standardized reading and
math assessment.
It is stated in Section 443.091 of the Florida Statues
“[Applicants] must ‘complete’ [the initial skills review], not required to
pass”.
According
to this bill, applicants who are “unable to complete such review due to
illiteracy or a language impediment” are exempt from taking the review. But,
citizens who are not in this category are having difficulty completing the review,
such as citizens born in other countries.
“I
can read and do basic math, but my job does require me to use these skills,”
Vorna Ross, a 45-year-old Nicaraguan native and former nurse, said.
Now
that the application is online, it has become harder for older applicants to
get benefits because they are not used to the technology. Every job does not
require the use of math and technology. Nora Del Medico has been a nurse for
the elderly for 20 years. Her job never required her to use a computer or know
higher-level math.
“Everything is on the internet now, I barely
know how to operate my phone. There used to be offices where you can go and
talk to people. Now they barely have that,” Del Medico, a 60-year-old Florida
resident, said with extreme anger and frustration.
As
the requirements become more strenuous, applicants are becoming less patient
when waiting for their unemployment benefits. In some cases, it could take a
whole month to receive unemployment benefits.
“I
applied in mid- January and I’m just receiving my check. It’s ridiculous,”
Vorna Ross said.
The
unemployment benefits are entitled to these recently unemployed citizens, but
cannot be obtained until they complete a difficult math and reading test every
time they apply.
“Every
time I apply, the test makes me upset and frustrated. Sometimes I just give
up,” Nora Del Medico said.
