October 8, 2020
The Lost Wage Assistance Program has begun to pay eligible claimants. Please review the information below to better understand when to expect payment:
Did you complete your certification by calling the Claimant Assistance Center? (Updated 10/8/2020)
- All claimants who successfully completed the certification by contacting the UI Claimant Assistance Center by October 2, 2020 are currently under review and payments for eligible claimants are expected to be processed on or before October 9, 2020. An email will be sent to eligible claimants once payment has processed. Claimants are encouraged to monitor their email for further updates and communication from the Department.
Did you complete your certification online? (Updated 9/29/2020)
- All claimants who successfully completed the online certification on or before September 14, 2020 were mailed their LWA payment(s) on September 19, 2020.
- Note: expected delivery is 4-6 business days via USPS
- Claimants who contacted the UI Call Center to complete their certification and are eligible will receive communication from VDOL when their payment has been processed
- All claimants who successfully completed the certification between September 14, 2020 and September 21, 2020 were mailed their LWA payment(s) on September 25, 2020
- Note: expected delivery is 4-6 business days via USPS
- If you are a claimant filing in regular UI and have not completed your COVID certification yet, please do so by contacting the UI Call Center at 877-214-3332.
- Please note: the UI call center can assist with completing the certification but is not able to track the status of payment at this time.
- For UI claimants, once completing the initial COVID certification, you will answer the COVID certification question on each weekly claim certification going forward
- Claimants who certified for the benefit weeks ending August 1, August 8 and August 15 will receive their payment in one check. For example:
- If a claimant certified and was eligible for one week, the check amount would be $300
- If a claimant certified and was eligible for two weeks, the check amount would be $600
- If a claimant certified and was eligible for three weeks, the check amount would be $900
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- Claimants in PUA do not need to complete the certification because the required question is asked when completing each weekly claim certification
- All LWA payments are mailed to claimants and are unable to be sent via direct deposit
- Payments are subject to state and federal tax withholding, and must be reported by the claimant when filing their tax return