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State's Unemployment Claims Site To Go "Dark" For A Week

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – If you rely on unemployment to get by, take note, your next check may be a little late.

Florida's online system that processes unemployment claims is going dark for several days. The state is switching to a new $63 million computer system to process what the state calls "reemployment assistance."

State officials tout the new system —called CONNECT — as a huge improvement over the current 30-year-old system. The new system will also feature new anti-fraud measures.

Floridians who are jobless will not be able to apply for unemployment insurance benefits starting at noon on Wednesday. The claims system will remain unavailable until Oct. 15.

People who fail to put in their claims in time may have their payments delayed.

There roughly 240,000 people in Florida receiving unemployment insurance benefits.

The state in 2011 began requiring that unemployed people file their claims online.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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