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.
[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.
