State officials tell legislators troubled system is fixed

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – State officials are insisting that Florida’s troubled system used by unemployed residents is fixed despite a scathing new audit.

State legislators on Monday heard about an audit that found a long list of problems with the online system used to process unemployment claims. One Republican legislator called the problems a “nightmare.”

The audit detailed problems with the processing of claims and questioned the requirement that applicants use social security numbers.

Tom Clendenning, director of workforce services for the Department of Economic Opportunity, contended that the audit was “stale” because it primarily focused on the system during the first few months it was in service.

Clendenning also said that the agency was following federal requirements for use of social security numbers.

Florida has spent nearly $80 million on the new system.