Work search requirement for unemployment insurance reinstated - Vermont Biz

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Vermont Business Magazine The work search requirement for unemployment insurance has been reinstated and is effective beginning May 9 – May 15. This means if you are fully or partially unemployed, you will be required to conduct work search activities and report those activities when filing your weekly claim unless you meet one of the work search exemptions explained below.

To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you are required to actively search for work and accept work when it is offered to you. Beginning next week, when you file your weekly claim, you will notice a new page on your online claimant portal where you will need to enter work search information. A valid work search consists of three job contacts each week, which you will need to provide when you file your weekly claim.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEGINNING THIS WEEK

(MAY 9 – MAY 15)

• Create a Vermont Job Link account. This can be done anytime but must be complete before submitting your weekly claim next week

• Complete three job searches this week. For each week you are unemployed, you will need to conduct three job contacts and report those activities the following week.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO EACH WEEK MOVING FORWARD

WORK SEARCH EXEMPTIONS

If you are filing in the regular UI, PEUC or PUA program, you are required to complete a work search each week. However, you may be exempt from conducting a weekly work search if you meet one of the following circumstances:

• You have a verified return-to-work date within 10 weeks of filing your initial claim.

• You are currently self-employed, an independent contractor or a sole proprietor filing in PUA.

• You have been instructed by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19.*

• You have been instructed by a healthcare provider to not return to work because you have a serious health condition and returning to work at this time poses a significant health risk due to COVID-19.*

• You are the primary caregiver for a child whose childcare is unavailable as a direct result of COVID -19.*

• You are the primary caregiver for a child who is attending virtual or remote school as a direct result of COVID-19.*

• You are caring for a family member who has been instructed by a health care provider to quarantine due to COVID-19.*

(*You may be required to provide documentation to verify you meet this exemption.)

VALID WORK SEARCH ACTIVITES

• Applying for a job you are reasonably qualified for.

• Contacting your former employer to see if they are able to bring you back to work (as a reminder, you can only use that employer as one contact within a 5-week period). 

• Inquiring about an open position or a job posting that results in an application for work.

INVALID WORK SEARCHES

The following information does not count as a valid work search.

• Applying for the same job more than once in a five-week period.

• Browsing online job boards without applying.

• Calling a business and asking if they are hiring without discussing a specific position.

• Posting your resume on an employment website. For this to be valid, you must submit an official job application or job inquiry for it to be considered valid.

• Creating a Vermont Job Link account.

INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK SEARCH

When you file your weekly claim, you will be required to report the following information:

• The date you contacted the business/employer.

• The type of work you would be completing.

• The employer’s name.

•  The employer’s address.

• The name of the individual you communicated with.

• The method of contact (e.g. phone, email).

• The result of the contact.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• If your employer plans to bring you back but hasn’t provided you with a verified return-to-work date within 10 weeks of submitting your initial claim, you must complete the work search requirement each week.

•  If you typically use the automated claims filing line to submit your weekly claim, you will need to begin filing using the online claimant portal. If you have a significant hardship that prevents you from filing online, you will need to contact the Claimant Assistance Center to have someone review and validate your specific circumstance.

• If you are working part-time, you will still be required to complete the work search requirement, but your part-time work may count as one of your job contacts. You can continue to work part-time and search for additional part-time work to return to full time work status. 

The Link Lonk


May 11, 2021 at 08:30AM
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Work search requirement for unemployment insurance reinstated - Vermont Biz

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