A middle-aged man came to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) for help after his unemployment benefits were denied. 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.

Our client had an accident at work which inhibited him from continuing to work. His employer argued that the client violated the company’s safety policy and shouldn’t qualify for unemployment. Food stamps were his only lifeline, helping him through until he was well enough to get back to work.

A FRLS attorney helped him file an appeal, and when the hearing came, the court ruled in favor of our client. The court found that the man’s accident at work was not willfully caused and was not in disregard of the employer’s policies. Because of this favorable decision, our client was given 12 weeks of retroactive unemployment benefits totaling $3,300.

For many low-income Floridians, missing even one week of work can be detrimental. FRLS has been providing free legal services to qualified residents across Florida since 1966. Reach out to us at 1-888-582-3410 or apply online at FRLS.org for help protecting your benefits.

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, 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.