Ferrell has been trying to apply for unemployment insurance benefits, but the state doesn’t have the capability to process his application. “Due to Covid-19, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is currently experiencing higher than average wait times,” Ferrell said, adding that he hasn’t been able to talk to anyone. But The Tampa Bay Times reported state auditors had warned him last year that the website was still suffering major problems. Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democrat, said every time he and others have tried to make improvements to the unemployment insurance benefits, Republicans have resisted. Florida is among the eight states in the country that offer less time in unemployment benefits.

MIAMI – Florida is among the eight states in the country that offer less than 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits. The others are South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Idaho and Arkansas. Florida only provides 12 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits. The standard maximum for most states is 26 weeks. If after 12 weeks, the applicant remains unemployed, the new emergency federal aid package will fund up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits at a weekly rate of $600.