The new jobs report for Southwest Florida will be out a week from Friday, but we already know a lot of people are heading back to work.
Still, many are struggling to get caught up on bills, and tell Fox 4 they can't totally rebound until they get all the unemployment money they're owed.
THE RESOLUTION DRAFT WILL GOBACK TO CITY COUNCIL FORRATIFICATION LATER THIS MONTH.THE NEW JOBS REPORT FORSOUTHWEST FLORIDA WILL BE OUT AWEEK FROM TODAY, BUT WE ALREADYKNOW, A LOT OF YOU ARE HEADINGBACK TO WORK.HERE’S THE THING THOUGH -- YOUSTILL HAVE TO GET CAUGHT UP ONYOUR BILLS, AND YOU CAN’TTOTALLY REBOUND UNTIL YOU GETALL THE UNEMPLOYMENT MONEY THESTATE OWES YOULET’S GO TO JESSICA ALPERN, WHOHAS BEEN GETTING YOU RESULTS ONTHIS, FOR MONTHS NOW.I’VE BEEN COVERING THIS STORYFOR MONTHS NOWTHE LATEST CLAIMANT I SPOKE WITHIS ONE WHO SAYS SHE’S STILLWAITING ON RETRO PAY FROM APRIL.YOU MAY RECALL EXACTLY ONE MONTHAGO, I DID THIS STORY.ABOUT A NUMBER OF SOUTHWESTFLORIDA CLAIMANTS, WHO SAID THEYWERE HAVING TROUBLE RECEIVINGTHE *RETRO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITSTHEY WERE OWEDTHE D-E-O SAID THIS...THAT CLAIMANTS SHOULD BE SURE TOMODIFY THEIR FILING EFFECTIVEDATE FOR REEMPLOYMENTASSISTANCE.AND THAT FOR PANDEMICUNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE... OP-U-A... NO ACTION WAS NEEDED.THAT CLAIMS WOULD AUTOMATICALLYBECOME RETROACTIVE IN CONNECT.BUT TERESA LETCHER, A CAPE CORALHAIRDRESSER, TELLS ME SHE’SSTILL WAITING ON *WEEKS OFPAYMENTS SHE BELIEVES SHE’SOWEDTeresa Letcher, Fort MyersI did get the one week in May,but I haven’t received any weeksin April, four weeks in AprilI’ve yet to see the regularunemployment and the $600 extrthat goes along with it.WITH THE DEADLINE TO FILE FORTHOSE 600-DOLLAR PAYMENTS ENDINGSOON... LETCHER IS ONE OF MANYWHO’S REACHED OUT TO ME.FEARFUL THAT THEY’LL NEVERRECEIVE THOSE CHECKS.SHE SAYS SINCE RETURNING TOWORK, BUSINESS HAS BEEN SOSLOW... SHE’S COUNTING ON RETROPAY TO GET BY.It’s a sick feeling in yourstomach, especially when yreally don’t have anywhere to goand there’s no business outthere.SHE SAYS MANY OF HER CLIENTSHAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO COME INBECAUSE THEY’RE PEOPLE WHO LIVEOR WORK AT LONG-TERM CAREFACILITIES, OR PEOPLE WHO AREUNEMPLOYED THEMSELVES.AND SHE’S LOSING HOPE.I just see really bad thingshappening to really good people,people who’ve worked very hardall their lives.BUTT(sighsI don’t know, I’m honestlyhonestly losing hope and I’mreally a positive person.AS LETCHER CONTINUES WORKING TO*REBOUND FROM THIS CRISIS...I’VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH THED-E-O ON HER CLAIM SINCE JUNE.I PRESSED THE DEPARTMENT FORANSWERS AGAIN YESTERDAY, AND ITDID CONFIRM FOR ME THAT IT’SLOOKING INTO IT.WHICH LETCHER SAYS IS GIVING HERSOME HOPE IN THE MEANTIME.I’VE BEEN PUSHING FOR ANSWERSFOR A NUMBER OF CLAIMANTS, WMAY BE EXPERIENCING SIMILARISSUES AS YOU WHEN IT COMESUNEMPLOYMENT.YOU CAN HEAD TO FOX4NOW.COM TOSEE ALL OF THOSE STORIES, ORREACH OUT TO ME PERSONALLY FOR
As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the country, many worry the pandemic will have a lasting financial impact.
As a commitment to Southwest Florida, Fox 4 is partnering with local organizations in the community to help Southwest Floridians..