Virginia Employment Commission [VEC]
Reviews and Complaints

I, Gail D Walker, filed a 2 week claim in Dec 2020 and April 2021 and still have not received a penny..I've made numerous calls over 3 moves & have until yet been able to speak to anyone.I finally went to VEC in Roanoke Va only to be told no agents were there.Someone finally helped me set up an appt by phone on July 8, 2021.Waited two more weeks for that call & was told to go to Gov2Go, unenroll and reenroll & put in my info.I still wasn't able to submit anything because once I put in my SSN & PIN number it kept saying unable to process.Then in the middle of July I received a correspondence from VEC stating my weekly amount & to file through regular unemployment which I did.Then I received another letter saying I was denied because I stated unable to work and did not make an active search for work which is untrue.I filed through voice system & answered all questions truthfully.I still have not received my Dec or April money and my last day of work was June 11, 2021.I have depleted my savings account & could truly use my money as soon as possible.Please help me get this straightened out as I relocated to Charlotte, NC last month & signed up with NC workforce.Seeking employment now because I am 67 yrs old & not ready to completely retire.My email is [protected]@yahoo.com & my phone number is +[protected].Please help. Thank you, GDW..

Ok Vec, I have waited and waited and now my patience has run out...!
My payment stopped few months back. Vec said that I needed to Gov ID So,
I did that and no payment.! Needed documentation-did that and still no payment. (Sent certified letter to them and they did not acknowledge...$20.00 that I did not have because of them. I have called and no answer! Can not make an appointment unless it is 2 weeks out..! What is going on I do not know! Please help them help me! I know that the Governor has given money to VEC to hire more people, not sure how skilled that they will be. I got a call to them last week and the person that I spoke to did not know what was going on with my claim! I am at a stand still with them and my house payment and other bills! Still job searching as well of course.!

Thank you kindly,

Larry Scott John
[protected]
[protected]@gmail.com

My reopened Oregon Unemployment claim ended on April 4th, 2021. The week of April 5th I started calling VEC to get an Virginia claim started. It took me 3 weeks to get a hold of a person, approximately April 23th, 2021. I provided all the information asked for. The next week I received a letter requesting copies of my identification, proof of address, W2's for the previous year. I sent it certified mail. It was received 5/5/2021

I went back to work part time for 4 weeks ($13 an hour cut in pay since I knew I couldn't rely on the VEC), I quit due to an interview for a 40 hour a week 3 year IT contract ($29 an hour). Also the parttime employer would not let me take the time off for my second Covid shot, "you don't have any PTO". I was in training and I could not log into the system anyway since they corrupted my profile.

That contract ended after a month, financial issues? I reopened my claim. I have emailed, I have called several times a week to no response. "your claim has outstanding issues". Then there are no available agents and hangs up on me. I remember it being reported that you had a call back function, apparently this is not true? Apparently 300 additional agents isn't working?

So, I have been back on the job hunt trail for 5 weeks now. I have not gotten a determination or any concreate reason why there is a hold up.

Your system is very hostile. The women I spoke to initially asked why I was bothering since I was going to work part time.

Your job hunt reporting is ridiculous. I have been making on average 4 to 6 contacts a week but the trouble to post all of them is not worth it. You don't always talk to someone, you deal via email. I have applied to companies via Dice and LinkedIN. I am also registered on a dozen other company and job sites. I have a spreadsheet since OR still required minimum two job contacts and 3 efforts. ​

I have savings, no family, I do not qualify for any public assistance and the VEC does not see this as an issue. I got a letter telling me to apply for public assistance. That is shameful. I did get one email response stating they handle the claims in order of receipt, 3 months it has been.

So you tell me what the problem is? It has been 3 months since I opened my claim. So the VEC press is that they have caught up, does not ring true.

Jeanette Rouse

I recieved my last payment on april 14th. I have submitted all verify documentation. I have not worked since kids schools closed in april of 2020. No changes. Finally was told I had a claim against so turned in all proof to show false claim made by sister in law was indeed false. Still no benefits or child care payments due to mix up. I have 3 kids home. My vehicle is about to get repossessed and credit has fallen to 522. What is going on with my payments! Please help! [protected]
Brittney mullins
Rockingham va.

norton allows (they cant help me numerous of times i have recording and also witness) they only help fined job iv had this run around with them numerous of times since me and Amanda hale mccoy got into over her decision my unemployment claim with ppl out side of the vec with out my permission or my ssn or pin been gave or permission on my claims to b even be talked with i have this proof and she also stated that she was going to cause me problems on my pua claim over me not giving my brothers ways 2 go card to her i have messages from her and also screen shots i can provide and since all i have recieved is a run around and sonce me and my husband both have had problems on our claims and norton office refuses to help is also i will provide the proof of the amanda stuff if needed and also i have messages of her discussion my claim to some one in a message and about my brothers card also

Filed for unemployment in July 2020! I filed my inital claim was in July 17th 2020, I was denied regular unemployment and received a monetary letter saying I qualified for PUA.. So I started making my claims still wasn't receiving any payments for months. I couldn't reach no one from my local unemployment office, so I reached out to a office in Emporia and a representative looked up my case and told me I was filing claims in the wrong program, that they had me enrolled in both UI and PUA. she told me to call in for regular UI. and that she couldn't help me with receiving any of my back dated pay but she could get me started with my regular UI payments.. So I received my UI payments for a couple of months and without any notice at all my payments stopped with no explanation.. was able to file my claims for a while but was not receiving any benefits every time I called in to the main office the rep would tell me she only dealt with PUA claims and that she could not assist me with UI.. but when she ran my social she told me I was still enrolled in PUA as well. she told me to start filing with PUA and s he did it online, but still no payments. called n called no answer and when I did get through person would hang up on me or we some how get disconnected. very frustrating when your a single mother of three and kids got sick with covid. benefit stopped with no warning as well with my ending date for benefits stopped on July 17th 2021 and wasn't able to receive them and when I try to file it would say suspended contact unemployment... I need help

I am still filing and getting confimation numbers but no benefit amount is placed on my card for over 2 months. I have been filing as told to on gov2go but each week i file i get a comfirmation number and still get a message to file for the next week. I have confirmation numbers since May. Please let me know what is the problem. Please notify me a responce as soon as possible

I filed for unemploymet back in January 2021. My last day if work was on December 17, 2020. Apparently i was denied for regular unemployment January 31. 2021. I was told u had to file that way first then once denied for regular unemployment i could file for pandemic relief. Aa stated my denial letter was dated January 31 but i did not receive in mail until June 2021, the post mark was dated June 17, 2021, which means it was not mailed to me until 5 months later making ut to late to file for pandemic relief. My denial letter states that working in a covid infected environment was not a good reason to leave my job as a CNA. I recused to jeopardize the well being of myself and my family so i did not accept the position in health care at Westminister Canterbury where i was making 10. 80 an hr. Westminister is the retirement center that was on the news for having multiple deaths due to covid. I am 54yrs of age, ive worked since the age of 15 and have never filed for unemployment. Ive received 2 letters both with different benefit amounts but never received any type of assistance. Im sending a copy of my 2019 transcripts since it had been stated that i had no income coming in when i clearly worked that entire year. Ive called several times but always unable to get through, i left a message for a return call but never got that either.

This is my first time applying for unemployment and it has been very stressful! I filed my initial application almost 30 days ago. I have not spoken to a live person not one time. I followed all prompts and still have not recieved a pin code in the mail. I finally got a hold of someone who helps with the application process but not with the claims and they were no help! They reply "it is a long wait, yeah I know"...thats all! I have no idea what to do going forth, besides wait and pray!

I lost my job on 6/25/2021 I have filed my initial claim on 6/25/2021 and every week thereafter. I havent received any documentation from unemployment concerning my unemployment benefits, cant get anyone on the phone and the automated system is hard to understand and doesnt have the information i need. Please i have worked over 45 years not once have i every asked for assistance and the 1 time i do i cant get it. this is ridiculous as people have families, housing etc.

I filed for unemployment back in January 2021 after leaving my job because they wanted me to work in healthcare where several cases of covid-19 confirmed also deaths. I called several times over the course of several months with no answers. I received my denial letter in June when the date of the letter was January 31st. I called several times left several messages and have not received return calls. I have also sent several emails with no response. I was originally told to file for regular unemployment first and then if I was denied I could file for pandemic relief unemployment however since my letter set when he dusk for five months I was told I would it was too late to file for pandemic unemployment I would like some answers being that I am 54 years of age I have worked since 15 years of age never asked for unemployment before and now I'm being turned down please contact me by email [protected]@yahoo.com or by phone number [protected].thank you.

Morning I am contacting you because my case has been under review since June 9th 2021. I don't understand if cases are reviewed every week how is it that my case is not producing any info or progress. I have been actively seeking employment thru Indeed. Com and sending screen shots to customer service to prove the activity . Can someone please contact me at [protected] or by email [protected]@gmail.com to inform me of what is really going on with my case. Please and thank you I hope to hear from someone soon.

I was laid off on 06/16/2021 and applied for Unemployment that day with VEC online. I got the monetary determination a few days later and started to file my weekly claims every Sunday. The system showed my claims and their claim numbers. Still no payments to me.

The phone system says there no claims in my name yet their on line system does. Why?

Where is my money? I am overdrawn at my bank and am behind on all of my bills.

This is happening to all of those I know who are unemployed.

I know things are not perfect but the persisting problems must be solved so we can all get paid properly.

When will this be fixed

Bill

My name is Andrew Hughes i have been registered with the VEC since june of 2020 i have sent in all my paperwork and have been trying to figure out why i have not been paid my backpay since the work requirements.
June 3rd2021 was the last week i was paid
My last 4 of social is 0457
my pin for VEC 984695
I have contacted vec and they did state that the hold on my "claim" is being released but nothing besides that.
I just want to be able to get the money I am owed and to figure out why there was a hold in the first place.

I have been denied unemployment after VEC said all that I had to do was to ID GOV, which I did about 3 weeks ago. You need a direct line for complaints, hire enough people to cover those calls and hire people that know enough about the system to tell Virginians the correct information. They tell you that everything is ok, and it is not, or they do not just know. When VEC answers the phone, they do not know their job anymore! I got bills to pay and have been on unemployment for few months since Covid. My husband as well is waiting for his Unemployment money! Something needs to be done about this VEC ! Set up a direct line for Complaints or Problems to Resolve, get an educated VEC on the phone, and lets get this taken care of..It can not be that difficult! They have jobs, we do not...I am current seeking a job and that is what VEC is there for, to back me up while I am doing this. They are making it so difficult for the state of VIriginia right now and I am begging for help!

I applied for Unemployment in May 2021. I am unable to work and was taken out of work by my heart doctor due to medical complication due to Covid 19. I provided all paper work asked of me from medical to verification in a timely manner. I received many letters back to back one saying I was approved and the other saying I was not. The very next day I received a letter stating I was denied because I have NOT applied for jobs. Why would I apply for a job to a prospective employer knowing I can not work now? I have faxed MUILTIPLE letters to Deputy 582 (which cost me money I do not have) with absolutely no response. I understand letters are automatically generated. A simply conversation would solve all of this unnecessary back and forth. The amount of stress this has taken on me while dealing with medical complications from Covid 19 is absolutely unbearable.

I filed for unemployment benefits in December 2020 when my job laid me off. I recieved several different letter from VEC and talked with workers on numerous occasions. I was told each time everything is good and you should get paid in the next few days. I did the ID verification 3 weeks ago and have confirmation and was told i will get my back money in 7 days but have not recieved it. I have talked with several reps who said it nothing they can do.

became unemployed on jne 12 2021 recieved pin and monetary determination about a week later and have been filing weekly claims over the phone since. received a letter asking me to fax various documents to verify my identity. these were faxed to them on july 2 2021., tried to call customer service in richmond many times only to be told after numerous option choices that all reps are talking to others and hangs up. have also tried local office as instructed on vec website only to reach a recording telling me they cannot receive voice mails and to call the number i am calling and then hangs up. when i tried atromated phone inquiry about status was told first time they couldnt be processed because of outstanding issue and second time my benefit year had expired. if the latter is true why is the system still accepting my my weekly claim for benefits which is supposed to end 9/12/2021 according to my monetary determination letter.cant get human on phone i also scheduled an appt for them to call me and after a week wait no one called at the scheduled time and have not received any communication about them failing to call, my benefits being denied, or anything other than the letter telling me which documents were needed to verify my identity and the number to fax them to that was dated june 28 2021 and these were faxed july 2 2021 well before the 8 day deadline that was stated in the letter. I believe i have tried every option i can to communicste with them to get info about my claim and have exhausted all those options to no avail

Have been denied benefits from VEC . They claimed to have sent me letters in mail which i have proof that they did not. Need help . Have been waiting for my unemployment money for over a month. Have followed proper instructions, ID Me, registered with Workforce, and sent in my work searches.
Please help me as this has been the most stressful time of my life dealing with VEC office. You try to call and they will not answer, do not know how to answer, and lie to you when they do answer. They told me that everything was fine with my claim and now they have denied my claim after over 6 weeks being ok. I spoke to a person last week and she said that all was ok with my claim. Please go back and pull the conversation with the young lady so that she will know how to do her job! Please help with this matter!

Thank you!
Cathy Ray
[protected]

I had to wait from june. 2020 to february 2021 to get my pua got lump sum... Which they changed to end of june start date...Instead of date affected by corona... Missing 600 weekly bonus for 2 months... N now even tho I file weekly by phone havent had a payment since april.. No one picks up account review says nothing matches...,.. Even tho I got a letter in the mail assuring I get it till september at the minimum amount... 158 when I clearly qualified for more... Like wtf virginia last... Out of all the backwater states... Last..