ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando woman who collected unemployment benefits during the pandemic was caught in a Florida Lottery mistake that nearly cost her an $830 Pick 5 cash prize.
“I was stumbling away from the (lottery) window because I was in shock,” Precious Tanksley told News 6. “(I said) what do you mean I owe you money?”
Tanksley contacted News 6 and Make Ends Meet after seeing a similar News 6 report on the internet involving a man who had his money on hold to cover a state unemployment overpayment.
In Tanksley’s case, a waiver of more than $11,000 in unemployment benefits had been sent to her state unemployment account in 2023 but she admits once she started working again, she stopped checking the account.
“I didn’t know anything, I didn’t even know about a waiver,” she told News 6. “I’m here a week later with my check.”
News 6 met Tanksley at the Casselberry Lottery office last week to document the moment.
She said a Florida Commerce employee told her she had to pay everything back.
Once the waiver was confirmed, she was told it would take a month or more to get the money.
“They kept telling me four to six weeks, four to six weeks,” she recalled. “And instant results when I called you, it feels amazing. I don’t have to wait 4 to 6 weeks.”
The check for $830 was waiting for her when she arrived at the Casselberry office a week after she contacted the Make Ends Meet team.
As for the overpayment waiver, Tanksley said it was frustrating because the state never informed her to check her unemployment account.
“No one knows to do that,” she said. “So you’re going to win, you’re going to get here and then they’re going to take your money, and wait the four to six weeks if you don’t have help.”
Even if you are back in the workforce, residents should check their state unemployment accounts.
The former Department of Economic Opportunity is now known as Florida Commerce.
For more information go to floridajobs.org/about-us and hit the Reconnect Claimants link at the top right corner.
If you have an investment or consumer issue, email makeendsmeet@wkmg.com or text the words “make ends meet” at 407-676-7428.
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