For regular updates on unemployment insurance, system disruptions, and general notifications, be sure to monitor the Department's "UI Newsfeed" at https://labor.vermont.gov/ui-updates.
Work Search Information & Resources
|
CLAIMANT RESOURCES |
WEBINARS AND RECORDINGS |
Overview and Frequently Asked Questions
What is the work search and what do I need to do?
In order to be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, you are required to actively search for work, and be able and available to accept work that is offered to you. Each week, claimants must complete qualified job contacts and report those on your weekly certification. The work search requires claimants to submit proof of conducting three (3) job contacts (or activities) each week while collecting benefits. Claimants report job contacts when submitting weekly claims online. In order to be eligible for benefits, you must complete this requirement. If you do not, you will not be eligible for benefits for that week.
Claimants must complete their weekly claim and job contacts using the online weekly certification. Claimants who can demonstrate a qualified hardship will be allowed to file your claim and work search through an alternate method.
Claimants MUST also:
- Create a profile in Vermont JobLink.
- Need assistance with setting up a Vermont JobLink account? Contact a local Career Specialist for assistance by completing our online form.
- While having an active Job Seeker account in Vermont Job Link is required for all UI claimants, you are free to make your weekly work search contacts using any online site, company career pages and other approved methods of contact.
- Keep accurate records of your job contacts, including the following information:
- Date of contact
- Employer name
- Employer address
- Person contacted
- Phone number
- E-mail if applicable
- Position applied for
- Method of contact; and
- Results of the contact
- Be sure to also keep copies of confirmation pages and or e-mail records for online and e-mail work search efforts
Who needs to complete the work search?
All claimants are required to complete a weekly work search in order to receive benefits unless you meet one of the following exemptions:
- Have a verified return-to-work date within 10 weeks of filing your initial claim.
- Enrolled in a qualified training or education program.
What is an acceptable job contact?
You can satisfy the work search requirement by providing information in the “work search” section of the online weekly claim that includes any of the following:
- Submitting an application for a job or jobs, you are reasonably qualified for.
- Online: Submitting application through Vermont JobLink, direct on company websites or other job board sites (Indeed, etc.)
- In-Person: Mailing a job application or resume to an employer directly.
- Contacting your former employer to inquire if they can bring you back to work.
- Contacting an employer in-person or email with a formal request for hire.
- Working Part-time? Your part-time job can count as one of your three weekly job contacts.
What is not a valid job contact?
- Applying for the same job more than once within a five-week period does not count as a valid contact.
- Contacting an employer by phone.
- Browsing online job boards, such as Vermont JobLink, or posting your resume at an employment website, is not a valid job contact. You must submit an official job application or request for work in order for it to be considered valid.
How many job contacts do I need to complete?
You are required to complete and report three (3) job contacts each week. Please be sure to document your work search efforts to report on your weekly claim. You are also encouraged to keep a record of your work search activities, and any supporting documentation, in case you need to refer back to them at a later date.
Can I keep contacting the same employers each week to see if they have any job openings?
You may not report the same work search contact within a 5-week period.
What if I am working part-time?
If you are working part-time, you will still be required to complete the work search requirement, but your part-time work may count as one of your job contacts.
- Each part-time job may count as one weekly contact (if you have two part-time jobs, each can count as a weekly contact).
- Unlike other job contacts (applying for a job online, etc.) part-time jobs may be entered each week as a valid work search contact. If eligible, those holding a part-time job would continue
What if my employer plans to bring me back to work, but hasn’t given me a date yet?
If you do not have a definite return-to-work date within 10 weeks of your initial claim, you must complete the work search each week. Please remember, an acceptable work search is contacting your former employer to see if they are able to bring you back to work but you can only use that employer as one contact within a 5-week period.
How do I prove that I have completed the work search?
When completing your weekly claim, you will need to provide the name of each business, the name of the individual you communicated with and their direct contact information. Additionally, you should keep a record of each job application you submit or email contact you make.
What if I forget to complete my work search?
If you do not complete the required work search on any given week, you will not be eligible for benefits for that week. You can resume filing the following week but will need to click the link after you log in to the Online Claimant Portal to reopen your claim. To avoid any delays in claim filings, you are encouraged to complete the work search each week.
How do I complete my work search if I usually file over the phone?
If you typically use the automated claims filing line to complete your weekly claims, you will need to begin filing using the online filing system. If you have a qualified hardship that prevents you from filing online, you will need to contact the Claimant Assistance Center to have someone review and validate your specific circumstance.
Am I required to accept a job offer?
You are required, as a condition of receiving unemployment benefits, to apply for and accept an offer of suitable work. If you fail, without good cause, to either apply for or accept an offer of suitable work, you will be disqualified for benefits and may be required to repay benefits you received. Although you may be looking for full time work, a refusal of suitable part-time work could also result in a disqualification.
What is "Suitable Work?"
Suitable work is generally defined as work that you are qualified to do based on your skills, work experience, and employment history and that pays at least the prevailing wage rate for the type of job in your local labor market.
Prior training and/or experience, prior earnings, length of employment, prospects of securing work in your local labor market in your customary occupation, the distance to work from your home, physical fitness requirements of the job, the degree of risk involved to your health, safety, or morals are factors involved in deter-mining if a job is suitable.
The longer you are unemployed, the more intensive and expansive your work searches should become. A job paying less than the last one you held will gradually become more suitable the longer you are unemployed.