If you are one of the millions of people currently laid off or unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may find yourself dependent on access to unemployment insurance (UI) to make ends meet until it is once more safe to resume business as usual. However, you might find yourself among the thousands of people struggling because you are not receiving UI. Here’s some information you may find helpful.
Accidental Overpayments
The VEC accidentally paid a significant number of people more than they intended in the initial Pandemic Unemployment Assistance release. They opted to compensate for that by not sending out funds to the affected people for the weeks of May 9 and May 16. The VEC did not state how many people had been affected, but If this is the case for you, you should have received an email from the third-party organization Gov2Go explaining the situation. Please be aware that this mistake will not change the amount of UI that you will receive; only the timeframe of receiving UI will be altered as a result.
Issues contacting VEC
Another possible cause of this issue could be with the VEC’s new automated response system. Users have reported that the VEC is having issues with the automated system dropping calls so people can’t make their weekly claims over the phone. If you are having issues reaching a VEC office by phone, you can email [email protected] for support; however, be aware that the email volume is very high and response time may be slow. If you have filed for unemployment, you should also have access to a PIN which will allow you to view and confirm your eligibility for UI online.
