When Governor Scott signed the State Budget into law on October 2, 2020, he authorized a $17,000,000 allocation to the Department of Labor to provide what is being called the Vermont Short-Term Supplemental Benefit. This benefit of $100 per week will be provided to eligible unemployed Vermonters who are receiving unemployment insurance benefits and is expected to last approximately four weeks depending on claims volume and funding.
The Vermont Short-Term Supplemental (VSTS) Benefit applies to the weeks ending October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and potentially the week ending October 31st. This benefit will be paid out in one payment at the end of the month to all eligible claimants. There is no additional action that a claimant must take in order to receive this benefit, other than to be eligible for benefits during the weeks listed above. Additionally, there is no minimum weekly benefit amount requirement like there was for the Lost Wage Assistance program.
The VSTS Benefit is independent from other supplemental federal programs such as the $300 per week under the Lost Wages Assistance Program or $600 per week under Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.
Claimants should not report the VSTS Benefit as wages on their weekly unemployment claim; however, claimants will need to report the VSTS Benefit as income for federal and state income tax purposes.
The Department of Labor will email eligible claimants when it is ready to release the funds, so that claimants can monitor their mail. Checks will be mailed first-class through the U.S. Postal Service to the address on file with the Department.
Sincely,
Michael A. Harrington
Commissioner