Skip to main content

State of Emergency: Department Updates

UPDATES:

JULY 16, 2023

For Employers - Employers do not need to contact the Department of Labor when laying off employees. Employees can contact the Department of Labor’s Unemployment Insurance Claims Center at 877-214-3330, Mon-Fri from 8:30am-4:30pm. Additionally, if individuals have a hard time getting through to the Department, they will be able to file for unemployment insurance benefits online beginning Wednesday, July 19th at https://labor.vermont.gov.

There is no work search requirement for employees who are temporarily laid off for 10 weeks or less. Individuals filing for benefits will need to provide an estimated return to work date in order to have the work search requirement waived.  


JULY 15, 2023

On July 13, 2023, Governor Scott submitted a Disaster Declaration to the President which was approved on July 14, 2023. This Declaration authorized Vermont to receive what is known as "Individualized Assistance," which includes DUA. Now that the President has approved the Governor's request, the Vermont Department of Labor must submit an application to the U.S. Department of Labor for DUA authorization. The Department is working on the application for DUA now. 


JULY 13, 2023

The Unemployment Call Center is experiencing a high call volume. Because of this, callers will experience longer than usual wait times. Please be patient with our staff, as our team is working diligently to make this efficient as possible.

To avoid long wait times, claimants are encouraged to call either later in the day, or later in the week. If you need to contact the UI Claimant Assistance Center to file your weekly claim, you have until Friday at 4pm to file. 

Filing an initial claim later in the week to avoid high call volume will NOT impact your benefits or payment; you will not be penalized for a delay in opening a new claim.

If you are an existing claimant, please continue to file as usual through the claimant portal: uipublic01.labor.vermont.gov/Claimantportal/portal/login.aspx.


JULY 12, 2023

The Department of Labor’s Workers’ Compensation administrative offices are experiencing a temporary interruption due to recent flooding. This affects mail, fax, and phone service. Our team is working diligently to get everything back to normal, but in the meantime, we appreciate your patience with any minor delays.

If you have an urgent issue with an active claim, please call the Specialist assigned to your claim. Visit our Workers' Compensation contact page, for a complete list of contact information.


JULY 12, 2023

The Department expects there to be very high call volume in the UI Claims Center for the upcoming week. Because of this, callers will experience longer than usual wait times.   To avoid long wait times, claimants are encouraged to call either later in the day, or later in the week. If you need to contact the UI Claimant Assistance Center to file your weekly claim, you have until Friday at 4pm to file.

Filing an initial claim later in the week to avoid high call volume will NOT impact your benefits or payment; you will not be penalized for a delay in opening a new claim.

If you are an existing claimant, please continue to file as usual through the claimant portal: uipublic01.labor.vermont.gov/Claimantportal/portal/login.aspx.


JULY 12, 2023

All Vermont Job Centers will reopen today, including the Unemployment Call Center. 


JULY 11, 2023

The Unemployment Call Center and all Vermont Job Centers will remain closed today, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, until further notice.


JULY 10, 2023

Due to the extreme rain and flood conditions, State offices have abruptly closed as of 2:00pm July 10, 2023. State offices will remain closed on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.