COVID-19 News and Resource Center . Clifton, 55, said she signed up for unemployment in March at her boss’s urging, leaving her job at a southwest Virginia restaurant because she has hypertension and stage two chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which she said made it difficult to breathe normally and almost impossible to do so while wearing a mask. RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Additional funding for Virginians on unemployment is being delayed for a second time, partially due to a system outage that … ”You won’t be paid beyond the week ending Nov. 21, which is this week,” Joyce Fogg with the VEC explained. Northam Press Release) — On Tuesday, Gov. The four-week … RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia has begun paying unemployment benefits to some of the tens of thousands of people whose claims had previously been on hold - in some cases for many months - because they were awaiting a staff review. The $900 billion Covid relief law extends unemployment benefits in two programs (PUA and PEUC) by up to 15 weeks. The federal government stepped in to offer up to 13 additional weeks of benefits for job seekers. Northam announced temporary changes to Virginia’s Unemployment Insurance Program that will … NORFOLK, Va. — Thousands of Virginians are waiting on calls from Virginia Employment Commission staff members to review their case and get unemployment benefits. The number of Virginians filing unemployment benefits claims for the first time last week totaled more than 25,000, more than double the state’s initial claims for … NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Unemployed Virginians will have to wait a little longer for extra help. “My situation isn’t getting any better. Lawmakers say they plan to propose legislative fixes next month to speed unemployment claims in Virginia, which ranks last in the country for quickly … Nearly 678,000 unemployment claims were filed between mid-March and May 8, according to a presentation Virginia Employment Commissioner Ellen Marie Hess gave to a Senate committee Tuesday. Walton said the department will work with anyone who has to repay the money to set up an “accommodating” repayment process. RICHMOND, Va. (WHSV/Office of Gov. Nationwide, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose again last week to 885,000. ”Your weeks may get cut short because of this...We were expecting it to be maybe December but our rate has gone down faster,” Fogg said. “We’re doing this to try to resolve issues faster, and try to get people money faster. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A program that provided extended unemployment benefits to out-of-work Virginia ns will end Saturday. If Virginia’s unemployment rate goes back up, job seekers could then be eligible for those extended benefits again. A new federal program that would provide more money is … Since March, the commission has received more than 1.4 million claims. RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Employment Commission said it has an application available for self-employed workers to receive unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 outbreak. I got my bills to get paid and they’re not getting paid. Virginia News. … Fogg said in an effort to address the backlog, which stretched back to July, the commission collected the cases of applicants who originally qualified for unemployment and were paid but then had their money stopped after something in their claim was flagged. For the filing week ending December 26, the figure for seasonally unadjusted initial claims in Virginia was 11,890. Well now, that money has run out on the state level. The commission will not be paying out any claims that are awaiting a determination after being flagged for fraud, said Megan Healy, who serves in Gov. Employees at Henrico County Public Schools will start to be vaccinated for COVID-19 starting on Wednesday. A General Assembly subcommittee began work on marijuana legislation Tuesday, as a coalition of opponents spoke out against legalization. The last effective date for an extended benefits initial, additional or reopened claim is Nov. 15. It’s a … News/Announcements Governor Northam Takes Action to Protect Businesses from Increasing Cost of Unemployment Insurance Office Closings and Delayed Openings for December 16, 2020 Governor Northam Directs $30 Million to Support Workforce Training for Unemployed Virginians PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — People looking for unemployment help in Virginia, some of which who’ve been waiting months, are dealing with a website issues and slow service on Friday. I got a really bad situation I’m trying to make the best of. On Nov. 6, the Legal Aid Justice Center, Legal Aid Works, Virginia Poverty Law Center and other pro bono partners sent a letter to the commission asking that they fix problems with the unemployment insurance program or face a class action lawsuit. 5710 Midlothian TurnpikeRichmond, VA 23225(804) 230-1212. Some individuals had made multiple claims. This means the last payable week for extended benefits will be the week ending Nov. 21. "We establish the issue and that stops any additional payments from going out," Bill Walton, the Director of Unemployment Insurance Services for … NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia plans to start distributing an additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits to workers by the end of September, … About 44,500 individuals — who accounted for just over 50,000 of the claims — had been paid as of Thursday under the new process, Fogg said. She said the VEC has … At the height of the pandemic, so many people flooded the office with the same story. RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Employment Commission has been notified that the Extended Benefits Program is ending in Virginia. It’s a tough blow for job seekers in Virginia as the Virginia Employment Commission just received the news and is now working to notify job seekers who are … Those job seekers won’t be paid beyond the end of the week. Bill Walton, deputy commissioner of the VEC, said the change was not made in response to the threat of the lawsuit. Walton said the commission had been trying to find a way to address the backlog for months and made the change after recent conversations with other states and after reviewing guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor. RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Unemployed workers in Virginia may have to wait a little longer than they expected to get $300 in extra weekly benefits … The largest subsection - which Fogg said payment started going to Tuesday night - was people whose claim had an issue related to the way they left their job. The Associated Press . RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Additional funding for Virginians on unemployment is being delayed for a second time, partially due to a system outage that … ... News … Copyright 2020 WWBT. She said there are about 40,000 such claims. Now, even that is coming to an end. The number of continuing unemployment claims in Virginia was 85,000 for the filing week ending Nov. 14, down from a high of 400,000 in May. One client of Levy-Lavelle’s, Crystal Clifton, said Friday she hoped she would be among the group receiving the new payments, although she had not gotten any money or notification so far. “I’ve been trying to survive for four months with no money at all,” he said. All rights reserved. “We won’t know until they go through adjudication,” she said. It all boils down to the numbers. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia ns on unemployment will get an extra $300 on top of what the state pays out. Gov. RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Employment Commission said Thursday that the state will have to get assistance from the federal government in … But if the determination process finds a recipient was not due the money, they will have to pay it back. ** However, you should continue to utilize VAWC.virginia.gov to conduct an active search for employment. It’s a tough blow for job seekers in Virginia as the Virginia Employment Commission just received the news and is now working to notify job seekers who are relying on extended benefits. ... Va. -- Jack Ferraro loves getting innovative with Legos. These benefits are a lifeline for Virginians who are unable to work due to the pandemic,” Pat Levy-Lavelle, an attorney with the the Legal Aid Justice Center who has been helping clients with unemployment issues, wrote in an email. VIRGINIA, USA — With COVID cases increasing and the country entering month six of the pandemic, many are worried about unemployment benefits that still haven't arrived. Virginians are beginning to receive Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation payments as initial unemployment claims since January 2020 have exceeded 1 million. “We had dropped below the 5% threshold which is what you have to have, at least 5% on your insured unemployment rate in order to receive these benefits.”. Fogg said the commission does not have an estimate for how many of the people currently being paid out are actually due the compensation. In October, The Virginia Mercury first reported that the state ranked worst in the nation for quickly processing claims that require a staff review. The move will certainly be a relief for many Virginians who had been waiting for help. Virginia’s antiquated unemployment filing system — which Fogg said was put in place in 1985 — has strained under the demand for assistance unleashed by the pandemic. “We are very pleased that VEC is taking these proactive steps. RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Employment Commission has been notified that the Extended Benefits Program is ending in Virginia. Payments started going out Tuesday night, according to a spokeswoman for the Virginia Employment Commission, which has been swamped with an unprecedented flood of applications amid the pandemic. RICHMOND—The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) announced that the number of continued claims filed during the December 26 filing week dipped below 65,000 to its lowest level since early May, according to figures released today. Ralph Northam's administration said this … Take the survey, UVA adds five names to Memorial To Enslaved Laborers. File a New Claim for UI Benefits by Telephone: 1-866-832-2363 Available 8:15am to 4:30pm, Monday - Friday, and Saturday between 9am and 1pm (closed Sunday and state holidays). For instance, they may have been reported as having quit, which would only make them eligible for unemployment under certain circumstances. The employment commission says there are currently 500,000 available jobs on its website right now. Virginia’s unemployment rate fell last month to its lowest level since March, at 4.9%, but more Virginians continue to file claims for unemployment benefits. Northam Press Release) — On Tuesday, Gov. States like Oklahoma, Virginia and … Best States. She says some job seekers have already exhausted all of their eligible benefits but there are others who were expecting those 13 weeks of pay who will now have to settle for less. That puts a lot of weight on my family,” Roy said. Ralph Northam’s cabinet as his chief workforce advisor. Initial claims for traditional unemployment statewide fell nearly 19% to 11,890 during the week ending Dec. 26 compared with the previous week. This article was last updated on January 14 [Updated with latest extensions and program payment information] The Virginia Employment Commission has received an unprecedented number of unemployment claims resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.According to a spokesperson for the Commission, over 900,000 claims were filed in just over 4 months from mid-March through early July … The work of making that determination would fall to a deputy. Last month, the state reported the unemployment rate in the state recently improved. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — People looking for unemployment help in Virginia, some of which who’ve been waiting months, are dealing with a website issues and slow service on Friday. ”I lost my job,” Preston Roy said standing outside of the Virginia Employment Commission Wednesday. RICHMOND, Va. (WHSV/Office of Gov. The number of Virginians filing initial claims for unemployment benefits jumped nearly 45% to 28,227 last week compared with the week prior, according to the Virginia … Of those, about two-thirds have been paid, according to her presentation , which said that over $2 billion in benefits have gone out since March 15. Virginia making payments in backlogged unemployment cases By SARAH RANKIN December 11, 2020 GMT RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia has begun paying unemployment benefits to some of the tens of thousands of people whose claims had previously been on hold - in some cases for many months - because they were awaiting a staff review. The department currently has only 71 trying to make their way through approximately 70,000 claims pending adjudication, according to Fogg. Home » Virginia News » Virginia making payments in… Virginia making payments in backlogged unemployment cases. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - © 2002-2021 Gray Television, Inc. Extended Unemployment Benefits ending in Virginia. I just hope most of them qualify,” said Joyce Fogg, the commission spokeswoman. RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginians collecting unemployment insurance will receive an extra $600 added to their benefits for all claims from March 29 until July 31. To date, $9 billion in unemployment benefits have gone out. The data also showed 14,089 initial unemployment claims were filed in Virginia last week, up by several thousand from the … That prompted the federal government to put a stop to those benefits. Clifton said she received benefits for about two months before they were abruptly halted in May and flagged for a review. December 11, 2020, 1:14 PM. November 18, 2020 at 4:03 PM EST - Updated November 18 at 11:30 PM. ... the single mom immediately applied for unemployment … Nationwide, the Department of Labor reports 787,000 new filings for unemployment benefits, down 3,000 from the previous week. Groups that oppose legalizing marijuana speak out, COVID-19 vaccinations begin Wednesday for Henrico Schools employees, Teacher on leave after video circulates defending mob march, UVA Student writes thousands of letters to servicemen and women overseas, Want to know which vaccine phase you’re eligible for? News to Know for Nov. 19: Unemployment benefits update; Northam signs revised budget; Henrico virtual learning If Virginia’s unemployment rate … Unemployed workers in Virginia wondering whether they will get $300 in extra weekly benefits can expect to get a message within the next week if they are eligible, according to a Virginia … The commission is warning recipients through both mailed letters and a text messaging campaign that they may end up being overpaid and also may be required to pay any costs, fees and interest associated with the overpayment if the issue ends up being sent to collections. Use your new Gov2Go account to file weekly unemployment insurance claims (UI) online as long as you remain unemployed or by calling 1-800-897-5630. You will no longer access your UI weekly claim through the Virginia Workforce Connection site. She said she could not afford the oxygen she was supposed to use. Work is expected to continue quickly on the remainder, moving next to people whose cases were flagged for a refusal to return to work, she said. RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) — Coronavirus is a disease that’s not only harming the health of Virginia’s workforce — it’s also impacting the health of the Commonwealth’s economy. The Virginia Employment Commission said Thursday it expects to begin distributing $300-a-week in additional unemployment benefits in “about … The Rebound Richmond. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Virginia lags in implementing extended unemployment benefits Fogg said about 41,000 Virginians are expected to be eligible. The VEC broke that group down further based on the type of issue the claim was flagged for. “I’m getting ready to lose everything,” said Clifton, who’s been warned her electricity will be shut off later this month. 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