Updates from the Unemployment Insurance Division are provided below. This page will be updated by UI Division staff as updates are available. For more information on unemployment insurance, please visit labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance.
[February 26 - 9:30 AM] We appreciate those individuals who helped bring to our attention yesterday that a fake Facebook page and personal Facebook account were attempting to spread misinformation and to communicate with claimants directly through the platform.
A few reminders for those communicating with the Department through Facebook, other social platforms and email:
- We will only ask claimants to contact us through official Department methods, which are listed on our website.
- We ask that claimants do not share personal identity information through social media messages as a way to protect yourself from potential fraud.
As a reminder, for anyone that received unemployment insurance in 2020, the Department encourages you to enroll in free identity theft protection services. While not connected to this situation, services can help protect individuals from cases when personal information is inadvertently shared.
More information about identity protection services can be found on our 1099-G incident page.
[Feburary 23 - 12:13 PM] Due to an issue with the unemployment insurance operating system, processing for weekly benefit payments filed on Sunday, February 21 and Monday, February 22 will be delayed until Tuesday, February 23. This will result in a one day delay of weekly benefits being delivered to claimants that filed on either Sunday or Monday. .
To allow for the processing of all weekly claims submitted from Sunday through Tuesday, the Department will close Claims Center lines at 4:30pm on Tuesday.
Further updates and information will be provided at labor.vermont.gov
[FEB 23, 2021 at 10:32AM] We are aware of an issue impacting the updating of claimant profiles for regular Unemployment Insurance. Claimants ability to file weekly claims or establish initial claims is not impacted at this time. Our teams are currently working to investigate and rectify the issue.
[FEB 16, 2021 at 9:56AM] Because of bank and post office closures on Monday, February 15, if you filed a weekly claim Sunday, Monday or today (Tuesday) your benefit payment will be processed tonight (Tuesday). For those that filed Sunday or Monday, this will slightly delay when your typical delivery of weekly benefits. However, payments are scheduled for processing, and will be delivered once completed.
[FEB 2, 2021 at 10:51AM] Due to a processing issue, the Department of Labor anticipates that some unemployment insurance claimants may experience a one-day delay in their ability to file their weekly claim or receive their weekly benefit amount through direct deposit. Some additional information is provided below, but further information and details will be sent directly to impacted claimants by email.
- Direct Deposit: Weekly benefit payments sent by direct deposit on Monday were delayed due to the processing issue. Claimants should expect to see a one-day delay in the processing of these direct deposits and updating of information on the UI Claimant Portal.
- Initial Claims Submissions: Individuals that established their initial claims with the Department online either on Friday, January 29 or Saturday, January 30, will have experienced a delay in their ability to submit a weekly claim for the week ending January 30. Processing of your initial claim is expected to take place Tuesday. Claimants have until Friday, February 5 to file their weekly claim for the benefit-week-ending January 30.
[FEB 1, 2021 at 6:40PM] As of now, the Department believes this issue is specific to the 1099s that were associated with the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program and a portion of the Vermont Short Term Supplemental benefit population; however, the Department is issuing a mass recall of ALL 1099s that have been mailed, regardless of program. This is being done out of an abundance of caution. The Department will be mailing further instructions to everyone who received a 1099, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to return the incorrect 1099 to the Department.
In addition, recognizing that there is the potential of the improper release of confidential and personal information, the Department has already been in contact with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office in accordance with state statute, and we will be providing all impacted individuals with the option to enroll in ID protection services. This improper release of data did not occur in every instance, but for those cases where an individual’s information was released, they will be provided the opportunity for identity protection. More specific information will be provided in a mailing to impacted individuals along with further instructions.
We are still in the midst of investigating this issue, the cause of the issue, and the next steps for impacted individuals, but in the immediate, individuals should do the following:
- If an individual receives a 1099 letter from the Department and the name and address on the front do not match, they should not open the 1099. The Department will mail them further instructions for returning the 1099.
- If an individual receives a 1099 letter from the Department and the name and address on the front do match, but when they open the 1099, the information on the inside does not match their information, they should hold onto the 1099. The Department will mail them further instructions for returning the 1099.
- If there is even the possibility that an individual’s confidential information was improperly released, the Department will mail them instructions for protecting their identity and how to enroll in consumer protection services through the Department.
- The Department will be issuing additional guidance to these populations later today/tomorrow along with next steps.
- This issue does not impact an individual’s claim or benefits. This issue is specific to the printing and mailing of 1099 tax documents.
- No incorrect tax information has been shared with the State or Federal tax departments, nor the IRS. The Department will ensure that correct 1099 tax information is sent to the tax departments and IRS for proper tax reporting.
- All claimants will receive a new 1099G tax document from the Unemployment Insurance Division.
- More information will be posted to the Department’s website at labor.vermont.gov.
[FEB 1, 2021 at 9:50AM] We have been made aware of the issue regarding 1099-G tax forms. We are currently investigating the issue and will provide more details. Updates will be provided through social media and our website. Please also note that Claimant Assistance Center representatives cannot provide assistance regarding 1099-G form issues at this time
[JAN 27, 2021 at 4:00PM] If you received unemployment benefits during 2020, you will be receiving important tax information from the Department of Labor in the form of a 1099-G. You will need this information in order to file your yearly taxes. More claimant tax information can be found at https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/claimant-tax-form-information. Further updates on mailing of 1099-G forms will be provided directly to claimants via email and through the Department's website.
[JAN 24, 2021 at 3:00PM] The Department has created two new webpages to provide claimants and employers additional information and updates with regards to claim adjudications and claim appeals. Click "UI Claim Adjudications" to find out more about the UI adjudication process and click "Appealing a UI Claim Determination" to learn more about the UI appeals process. Our hope is that these new pages will help answer a lot of questions about both processes and reduce the number of general calls to the Claimant Assistance Center.
[JAN 19, 2021 at 9:55AM] Due to State Office closure yesterday (January 18) in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, there will be a one day delay in claims processing. This means if you have already submitted your weekly claim this week, your claim will process tonight.
[JAN 15, 2021 at 6:00PM] State Offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2021 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The UI Claimant Assistance Center will still be open on this day from 8:00am - 5:30pm to provide assistance to UI claimants. The Claimant Assistance Center can be reached by dialing (877) 214-3332. Claimants can also chat with an agent by clicking Chat With a Representative.
[JAN 12, 2021 at 7:00PM] Some PUA claimants received their 40th week of PUA benefits before the CARES Act Extension was in place. Because these individuals received one additional week of benefits at the end of the December, their first PUA payment under the CARES Act Extension that began on 1/2/21, was offset to account for the benefits they already received. This was done in accordance with federal guidance. Claimants whose first week of the PUA extension was offset received the $300 FPUC benefit, but did not receive their underlying weekly benefit. An email was sent to this group of claimants this afternoon explaining the reasoning for not receiving their full benefits for the week ending 1/2/21. Most of these individuals received the 40th week of PUA benefits either for the benefit week ending 12/19/20 or 12/26/20. The reason this is significant is because the original PUA program only allowed for a maximum of 39 benefit weeks.
[JAN 12, 2021 at 10:10AM] Issues involved the UI mainframe have been corrected. The UI Claimant Assistance Center is open today from 8AM-5:30PM and can be reached at (877) 214-3332.
[JAN 12, 2021 at 9:45AM] We are currently experiencing a system outage involving our unemployment insurance mainframe. Claimants can still access claim information and file weekly claims through the online portal; however, limited assistance will be available through the Claimant Assistance Center while the system is offline.
[JAN 10, 2021 at 12:45PM] Additional information has been provided to claimant regarding tax document 1099G and 2020 tax filings. This information was emailed to anyone who opened an unemployment claim during the 2020 calendar year; however, only claimants who received benefits during 2020 will received the 1099G document from the Department. The full details of the email sent to claimants can be found at https://conta.cc/39hdssV.
[JAN 9, 2021 at 10:15AM] The UI Claimant Assistance Center is open today from 8AM-5:30PM and can be reached at (877) 214-3332. The issues involving the Department's 50-year-old UI mainframe were resolved early this morning. Thank you for your patience.
[JAN 8, 2021 at 4:55PM] The Department continues to experience technical difficulties with the UI mainframe resulting in a prolonged system outage. This outage did not prevent claimants from filing their weekly claims through the online claimant portal or the automated claim phone system for the benefit week ending January 2, 2021. If a claimant experienced difficulties in filing, they can contact the Claimant Assistance Center once the technical issues have been resolved. Our technical team is currently working to bring the system back online for Saturday operations. The PUA system is not impacted by this outage.
[JAN 8, 2021 at 1:40PM] We are currently experiencing a system outage involving our unemployment insurance mainframe. Claimants can still access claim information and file weekly claims through the online portal; however, limited assistance will be available through the Claimant Assistance Center while the system is offline.
[JAN 7, 2021 at 11:00AM] PUA portal is live with CARES Act Extension. The updates have been made to the PUA portal to allow eligible PUA claimants to file under the recent federal CARES Act Extension. Claimants who already have a pre-existing PUA claim can log into the PUA claimant portal to submit weekly certifications under the extension. New PUA claimants must complete an initial application for benefits before filing a weekly claim. Individuals in regular UI have already been able to file for the PEUC extension, which went live on January 3rd. PEUC claimants can log into the UI claimant portal to submit weekly certifications under the PEUC extension.
[JAN 6, 2021 at 2:00PM] High Call Volume Alert: The UI Claimant Call Center is currently experiencing a high call volume with extended wait times. Claimants are encouraged to call back during on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
[JAN 5, 2021 at 1:30PM]
[DEC 31, 2020 at 4:00PM] CARES Act Extension FAQ for UI as of December 31, 2020
[DEC 29, 2020 at 2:00PM] PUA Claimants Unable to File for Benefit Week Ending 12/26/20. If you are an active claimant in the PUA program and are unable to file for the benefit week ending (BWE) 12/26/20, it is likely because you have received the maximum number of weeks of the program under the original CARES Act. The CARES Act extension begins this week and eligible PUA claimants who have exhausted their original benefits will be able to file for the BWE 01/02/21 once the program has been updated with the federal changes. The new CARES Act extension does not cover the BWE 12/26/20 for PUA claimants who have already exhausted their benefits.
