Dear Unemployment Insurance Claimant,
This letter is being sent to individuals who were mailed a prepayment of an unemployment insurance benefit claim in the amount of $1200 from the Vermont Treasurer’s Office. This check was mailed on Monday, April 20, 2020.
As an unemployment insurance claimant, you are receiving this check because you established an unemployment insurance claim between March 15th and April 4th with the Vermont Department of Labor and are likely eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. However, you have probably not received any benefit payment prior to April 20, 2020.
This check represents two-weeks of federal benefits in the amount of $600 per week, which you would have been eligible for starting the week of March 29th. This benefit is intended to help you in the immediate, while your regular claim is fully processed through the unemployment system. You will still receive the past benefits you are owed if you are eligible. Given the $1200 pre-payment has been expedited, the Department of Labor will implement post-payment quality control measures to ensure program integrity is maintained. This means you may be contacted directly by the Department of Labor.
If you received this check and have also begun to receive unemployment benefits, the Department of Labor advises claimants to mail the check back to the Department of Labor or write ‘void’ on the check and file it for your records. This will prevent your claim from being flagged for overpayment by the Department of Labor, which does require repayment.
If you believe you received this check in error or wish to return the check, please mail it back to the Department of Labor:
Vermont Department of Labor
ATTN: Unemployment Insurance
P.O. Box 488
Montpelier, VT 05601-0488
Please be advised that this $1200 is taxable income through the state and federal government. You will need to report this income on your 2020 tax returns.
As part of the traditional unemployment insurance claims process, please remember to file your weekly claims either through the online claimant portal at labor.vermont.gov, or by calling the automated weekly claims line at (800) 983-2300.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Harrington
Interim Commissioner
Vermont Department of Labor