(FORT PIERCE, Fla.) - Our client, despite being over the age of retirement, continued to work her job to make ends meet. One day at her workplace, an altercation broke out between our client and her co-worker, leaving her unemployed. She believed herself to be a victim of age discrimination by her employer, as she was a victim of the incident and had to take shelter behind items in the workplace to avoid injury.
Our client applied for unemployment benefits but never received payments for the weeks she was unemployed. That's when she reached out to Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) for help filing an appeal. FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
At this point it had been months since she initially applied for benefits, and had taken up another job to be able to afford her rent. Although our client had secured another job, the FRLS team worked to file an appeal to secure the 20 weeks of unemployment compensation she was entitled to. We guided her through the appeal process, double checked her paperwork for accuracy, and offered her support through every step of the way.
After winning a favorable decision in her appeal, she was granted $2,160 for the weeks she was owed unemployment compensation. Our client walked away feeling relieved and thankful for the legal support our attorneys provided.
Our legal aid organization helps low-income individuals with public benefits denials, termination, and overpayments. Just like this client, we know many seniors live on a limited income and rely on unemployment benefits in situations like these. If you or someone you know needs help securing the benefits you're entitled to, reach out to us at 1-888-582-3410.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.