78-year-old real estate broker waiting 18 months for unemployment benefits turns to News 6
John “Jack” Sullivan never thought he’d be on unemployment benefits at this point in his life, but at age 78, the retired sales manager not only needed benefits, he’s been “stuck” waiting for those benefits since August 2020.
“It was really tough back then. There’s no money coming in,” Sullivan told News 6. “Then I saw other people getting money and I was like, ‘Wow, what’s wrong with me?'”
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Sullivan has been a successful commercial real estate agent since 2004, a job he developed after retiring from the auto sales business.
Between January and June 2020, sales plummeted due to COVID-19 and he needed help.
He told News 6 he didn’t think he was eligible for unemployment benefits because he was self-employed, but when other realtors started collecting benefits, he filed in August 2020.
“I never got a dime, no,” Sullivan told News 6. “I almost gave up, but then I heard your program.”
Sullivan saw a special report “Make Ends Meet” on News 6 that featured families receiving thousands in unpaid unemployment benefits. This convinced him to call for help.
“You guys have been great so far,” he said. “You’re my only one, I hope, I guess.”
The Department of Economic Opportunity has been working to update accounts faster.
News 6 presented Sullivan’s case to the reinstatement support team, and on Thursday a representative contacted him to begin the review process to retroactively date his accomplishments.
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“Thanks for your help. I’ll keep you posted,” Sullivan wrote in an email to News 6.
The DEO Connect system has been under heavy criticism since the start of the claim for unemployment benefits in March 2020.
Seminole County State Assemblyman David Smith said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle had assured him a new system would be in place by 2023.
“It’s broken beyond repair,” Smith said. “We can’t fix it. We have to replace it.”
Smith said that bids are coming in for the $74 million budget Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last year and the project is “on track and on budget.”
“I am absolutely confident that we will have a replacement system that meets the needs of Florida residents,” Smith told News 6.
If you have an unemployment issue, email [email protected] or text the words “Make Ends Meet” to 407-676-7428.
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