Florida Reemployment Assistance Program DEO review: Refusal to pay approved unemployment since April and then locking me out of the system

My Name is Phillip Merritt. I am reaching out today because I was in Pending mode since April. Then that was changed and now approved but the funds are not being released even tough a back pay was issued and you paid your self. I am about to loose everything.

I was hurt at work in Jan and had to have double hernias' mesh surgery. I was on workman's comp through March 30 when they abruptly quit paying as I had obtained an attorney because I was having complications from the surgery. Let's just say a pinched nerve to the scrotum. The day I was on the phone with the attorney my employer called and terminated me after threatening me from day one that if I haired an attorney he would fire me. I have been released to return to work as of April 1st. However being terminated I am having a hard time finding new employment.

Long story short, my attorney told me to file for unemployment. As you will see I filed April 18th. Then I got lost in the system as well. my wife reached out the the state represeitive etc. You cant call in, and if you do it will hang up on you on hold. I as well went to the local office. A wonderful helpful gal maned Brandi sent up emails etc. Finally 2 weeks ago DOE call and apologized etc and started the ball rolling. I was also in pending portal. I was approved as terminated and my status changed from pending under review after 12 weeks to active eligible. However I have yet to be paid.

What happened was apparently back when Erma hit I was over paid 1 week. Ok no problem as they owe me thousands. This last Monday someone went in and paid that from my funds, however they never took the disqualification hold off the weeks to be paid. Now I am still in holding portal. I have reached out to Brandi and she sent an email back up to DOE. Also back emailing the state rep. Note to add insult to injury you have locked me out if the Connect system.. Is this deliberate.

I have exhausted all my savings and have no money to even pay my electric for something that should have been paid back in April. One error has stopped all that was fixed 2 weeks ago. They really are terrible. I need help! I have worked my behind off since I was 15 and am a vet. I am more than entitled to my unemployment. However they have to many people in the system and are making many mistakes.

Please call me!

Thank you so much!

Phillip Merritt

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