MichaelMoore.com

Unemployment Benefits Running out

By Whitney Ray / WJHG 7

Unemployment benefits will run out for more than 31-thousand jobless Floridians by the end of September. By year’s end 132-thousand Floridians will have exhausted their unemployment pay. Once the money’s gone many people will lose their homes to foreclosure.

Jamie Alexander has been unemployed since last November and his 300 dollar a week unemployment check will stop coming soon. He doesn’t like to think about it.

“It will be hard. I can’t really say.”

Vincent Smith, an out of work caretaker, is also concerned about living without an income.

“I have a mortgage I have to pay. I just came back from paying a utility bill. I want to make sure I keep my lights on.”

By the end of September more than 31-thousand Floridians will have used up all their unemployment benefits. And by the end of the year an estimated 132-thousand people will join the ranks.”

Marc Taps, the senior attorney with North Florida Legal services says once people’s benefits run out, it will be hard for many to save their homes.

“It’s very difficult to work out a modification or work with a mortgage company when there is no income.”

Florida has the highest rate of foreclosure in nation, and with thousands of more Floridians losing their income, it will make a bad problem worse.

The state already has already exhausted its ability to pay unemployment claims. The state’s unemployment compensation fund ran dry Monday and now Florida is borrowing money from the federal government to pay claims.