DisCONNECT By Design?
Florida's Sen. Bill Nelson is calling for an investigation into Rick Scott's Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's handling of their new unemployment website that failed as soon as it launched back in October, delayed benefits for months, and is still facing problems. Add to the $63 million that Scott and the DEO threw at a company with a history of similar failures elsewhere, another $300,000 along with 250 new staff positions at $165,000 a week each, and the bill to taxpayers for little more than failure is really adding up.
While they claim they've largely solved the problems (which only came with the help of federal intervention), how much is solved remains debatable. Still, that's little comfort to those whose lives were ruined in the process.
Those due for claims now are still waiting for longer than a week, four months out, and counting.
So after asking for federal intervention twice, Nelson is also asking the U.S. Department of Labor's Inspector General to "investigate for any possible waste, fraud or abuse or violations of law or DoL regulations that have resulted in improperly delayed UI payments to thousands of Floridians."
Nelson's letter to the Inspector General:
The Honorable Scott S. Dahl
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Labor
Francis Perkins Building
Room S-5502
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
Dear Mr. Dahl:
Last October, Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity introduced a new $63 million web-based system called “Florida CONNECT" to process unemployment insurance claims. Unfortunately, this system - which was outsourced by the state to Deloitte - has not processed claims in a timely manner as required by section 303(a)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended, and associated U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) regulations.
I am writing today to request that your office investigate for possible waste, fraud or abuse stemming from the launch of a system that reportedly would result in unemployment insurance claims not being processed in a manner consistent with provisions in federal law requiring prompt payment to eligible individuals.
As recently reported by the Tampa Bay Times, the state so far cannot explain why such occurred.
Last October I first asked the Labor Department to look into complaints about the CONNECT system. In December, the department responded that the state had the situation under control and the department would continue to monitor it. I contacted DoL again last month to request more direct intervention. The department sent to Florida staff from the Office of Unemployment Insurance, after which they reported the claims backlog was cleared for processing while the site worked out its technical issues.
Yesterday, when asked for a progress update, DoL staff said the state reported that the 11,000-person backlog had been eliminated.
Meantime the FOX television affiliate serving the Fort Myers area was reporting that viewers there were still reaching out for help. I have enclosed that report FOX along with the one by the Tampa Bay Times that found the state cannot offer a full explanation.
Somebody owes taxpayers an explanation. They are the ones who paid the $63 million for this project. Therefore, I request you investigate for any possible waste, fraud or abuse or violations of law or DoL regulations that have resulted in improperly delayed UI payments to thousands of Floridians.
(Photo: Martha Jackovics)
